Subject: The Soul Beat - 44 - Access & Communication


The Soul Beat - Issue 44 - Access & Communication
July 27 2005

From the SOUL BEAT AFRICA partnership - Soul City and The Communication Initiative

...African choices...critical voices...crossing borders...African stories...


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This issue of The Soul Beat focuses on information from the Soul Beat Africa network related to access. In this issue four different aspects of access are highlighted - access to information, technology, media and services.

If you would like to contribute your own communication experiences, please contact Deborah Walter [log in to unmask]

Subscribe to The Soul Beat - http://www.comminit.com/africa/soul-beat-subscribe.html or e-mail Bonolo [log in to unmask]


ACCESS TO INFORMATION


1. The Power of Information: Evidence From a Newspaper Campaign to Reduce Capture
by Ritva Reinikka & Jakob Svensson
The paper examines the effects of increased public access to information based on an information campaign in Uganda aimed at reducing the capture of public funds.  Schools (parents) were provided with information to monitor local officials' handling of a large school-grant programme. Data on monthly transfers of grants to local districts were published in newspapers.  Data suggests that while the degree of capture was similar in the groups with and without access to newspapers in mid-1990s, the schools with greater access to the newspaper campaign suffered significantly less from local capture in 2001.
http://www.comminit.com/africa/evaluations/evaluations2005/evaluations-46.html


2. Community Radio: The New Tree of Speech
by Steve Buckley
In this paper the author argues that radio has emerged, among all information and communication technologies, as the media best placed to bridge the digital divide, and meet the information needs of education and social development in Africa. He argues that there are many constraints that hinder access to information through various media such as telephones, television and internet and contribute to the "digital divide", including costs for building infrastructure, cost of consumption and purchase by the individual consumer, and the form of content. He states that the one electronic medium that can truly minimise the constraints on access to information which are today characterised by the digital divide is radio.
http://www.comminit.com/africa/strategicthinking/st2005/thinking-944.html


3. Librarians as Agents of Democracy
by Rachel More
This paper reflects on the transition and transformation of South Africa from apartheid to democracy in 1994. The aim of the paper is to challenge librarians in democratic countries to function as agents of democracy, with special reference to South Africa.  "As agents of democracy, librarians uphold, strengthen and promote the democratic ideals of our society. This is possible because libraries are the only institutions that make knowledge, ideas and information freely available to citizens." The paper lists those characteristics or roles of librarians as agents of democracy. Librarians can assist in creating an informed nation, both by providing access to information and  offering information literacy training, assisting citizens to identify and evaluate information essential to making decisions that affect the way they live, work and govern themselves.
http://www.comminit.com/africa/materials/ma2005/materials-2374.html


4. Erasing the Margins: Researching Disabilities in Higher Education - Oct 5-7 2005 - Johannesburg, South Africa
The focus of the conference will be on hidden disabilities, though research into all categories of disabilities will be considered. Topics will include: access to information in alternative formats; technological developments in access to information; disability in the African context; disability and employment; and social and cultural aspects of disability; socio-emotional barriers; and physical and infrastructural barriers.
http://www.comminit.com/africa/events_calendar/2005-events/events-3809.html


5. HIV/AIDS Library Project - Nigeria
The HIV/AIDS Library Project aims to make information about HIV/AIDS available to young people and others at risk of infection in Nigeria. The project was established by Teachers Without Borders (TWB) in an effort to address the lack of access to information in Nigerian homes, schools, and communities. The project involves advocacy to establish reading rooms at homes and HIV/AIDS libraries in schools, communities and community teaching and learning centres (CTLCs).
http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds82004/experiences-2648.html
Contact Raphael Oko [log in to unmask] OR [log in to unmask]


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The World Summit Youth Award (WSYA) is an international competition for youth-led projects that aims to encourage the active participation of young people in the emerging Information Society.  The three WSYA categories are Development, Creativity & Culture and Community Engagement. This awards competition is being held within the framework of the UN World Summit on the Information Society. If you have a cool emerging project on the web, are a young designer, web developer, music producer or artist looking for international exposure, and are passionate about using technology for social change, you can enter for an opportunity to showcase your project to the world!

For more information, visit http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?r=http://www.youthaward.org/wsya/


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ACCESS TO MEDIA


6. Improving Access to Rural Radio by 'Hard-to-Reach' Women Audiences
by Jennifer Sibanda
This paper examines the implications to women's access to the radio, and whether their issues are being mainstreamed on radio. Does the radio give women a voice? And how amplified is this voice? The paper also examines the structures of current media (radio) organisations and how gender friendly these are. Are they capable of addressing the women's agenda? Is there a need for a critical mass of women at these organisations especially at top management levels? The paper also shares the results of a radio ownership and listenership survey.
http://www.comminit.com/africa/strategicthinking/st2004/thinking-763.html


7. Mediaworks Community Media & Arts Centre - South Africa
Mediaworks is a communication and development programme that provides access and space for the creation of locally-produced cross-media content to be shared globally. Mediaworks targets marginalised communities with a particular focus on community and independent media, previously disadvantaged individuals seeking employment opportunities in the media, civil society organisations, youth, women and rural areas. Mediaworks provides: short courses in media and communication including multi-media production, social communication and management skills; access to equipment; capacity building for community based initiatives; and basic media training for high school students.
http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds32003/experiences-2368.html
Contact [log in to unmask]


8. Communication Rights Programme - West Africa
The Communication Rights Programme (CRP) aims to strengthen the role of media and people's access to communication as part of a democratic development process in West Africa.  CRP supports initiatives aimed at overcoming barriers that prevent people from exercising their communication rights. The programme facilitates people's access to communication through state-owned, mainstream commercial, and community media.  The CRP activities revolve around local initiatives to facilitate access in practice. The programme sees local community radio initiatives as important, as they in West Africa and elsewhere in Africa to facilitate a space for marginalised and illiterate people to express their views and obtain control over communication channels.
http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds22005/experiences-2967.html
Ibis Accra Office [log in to unmask]


9. Spacing Our Children - Benin
A theatre activity by the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) and project partners to inspire discussion and raise villagers' awareness of modern family planning methods. The project staff trained actors to administer oral surveys before and after the play and to hold short discussion groups with the villagers after each performance. The project also broadcasts radio shows and distributes printed educational materials to reinforce the messages of the play. Organisers say that in villages with no access to television or cinema, and in which many people cannot read, it's relatively easy to gather a large crowd - often up to 300 people - for a theatre performance.
http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds62005/experiences-3195.html
PATH [log in to unmask] OR [log in to unmask]

See Also:

Women's Media Watch, South Africa
http://www.comminit.com/africa/links/linksmedia/links-1305.html

Media Development & Diversity Agency (MDDA)
http://www.comminit.com/africa/links/linksmedia/links-1279.html


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Looking for information on access to media for children and young people? Please visit Issue 28 of The Soul Beat the focused on Children & Youth: Participation in Media http://www.comminit.com/africa/soulbeat/soul-beat-28.html

Or if you are interested in access as a component of Evaluation, visit our Impact Data in the Evaluations section:
http://www.comminit.com/africa/evaluations.html#evaluationsimpactdata


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ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY


10. Telecenters & the Gender Dimension: An Examination of How Engendered Telecenters are Diffused in Africa
by Kelby S. Johnson
"As the development paradigm becomes more technology-centric, success in the global economy will depend on access to information and communication technologies (ICTs). Despite the reduction of time and space constraints, unequal access to new technology and knowledge development resources has exacerbated the marginalisation of certain segments of the world community. Oppressed by centuries-old institutional norms, excluded from the public sphere because of cultural beliefs, and polarized by unequal power arrangements, these subordinate groups continue to be pushed to the margins as the process of globalization sweeps the world."
http://www.comminit.com/africa/strategicthinking/st2004/thinking-809.html


11. Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa (CATIA) - Africa
The CATIA programme aims to enable poor people in Africa to gain maximum benefit from the opportunities offered by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and to act as a strong catalyst for reform. It supports a package of strategic activities to improve affordable access to the full range of ICTs, from Internet to community radio. This programme is focused on the need for ICTs to address social and economic development issues. It will be working to help build capacity across Africa to achieve sustainable change.
http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds092003/experiences-2089.html
Contact [log in to unmask]


12. Access to ICTs for Agricultural Development
by Willie Currie
According to this article, using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to connect rural agricultural producers to markets through global information networks is key to helping advance rural development in developing countries. Currie believes that improved access to global information networks and adequate capacity building are essential for African agricultural producers.  Currie refers to specific provisions of WSIS which seek to ensure that ICTs are used to disseminate information in areas of agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry and food. There is a belief that as long as agricultural producers in developing countries do not have access to global markets through global information networks that they remain at an unfair disadvantage.
http://www.comminit.com/africa/strategicthinking/st2005/thinking-1063.html


13. Internet Access for Distance Learning Programme - Nigeria
Organised by the Fantsuam Foundation to increase Nigerians' access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT), this computer-based distance-learning programme provides affordable Internet access to the Mobile Community Telecentre (MCT). Based in Kunyai, Nigeria, the MCT is a van carrying up to four computers to rural communities that lack electricity and phone lines. Five villages within a radius of 15-20km will participate; they will also have access to email services from the MCT. The programme targets women, girls, secondary school students and teachers, and rural healthcare workers
http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds32003/experiences-2342.html
Contact [log in to unmask]



ACCESS TO SERVICES


14. Ethiopian Woman Lawyers Association (EWLA) - Ethiopia
An organisation that aims to raise awareness of women's legal rights in Ethiopia using diverse media, newsletters, print and the Internet. It aims to influence the drawing up of laws, ensuring that gender is taken into account and to support legal aid support for women.  EWLA aims to put women's rights on the government agenda and put in place practical measures to help poor women access legal services.
http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds12005/experiences-2883.html
Contact  [log in to unmask]


15. Bridging the Gap Between Policy, Research & Intervention - Oct 10-14 2005 - Dakar, Senegal
This conference is organised by the Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance (SAHARA). SAHARA is an alliance of partners established to conduct, support and use social sciences research to prevent further spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of its devastation on South Africa, the SADC region and sub-Saharan Africa. According to the organisers the conference will bring together stakeholders interested in the Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research in Africa.  The Conference should be of specific interest to researchers and policymakers who are interested in the following themes: the cultural and socio-economic environment of vulnerability and access to treatment; social, economic and psychological impact of HIV/AIDS on African women, communities and countries; gender inequalities and access to prevention, treatment and care; stigma and social aspects of prevention, voluntary testing, treatment and care, etc.
http://www.comminit.com/africa/events_calendar/2005-events/events-3524.html


16. Study to Describe Barriers to Childhood Vaccination: Final Report
by Sarah Jane Sheldon & Cathrien Alons
"A number of barriers to higher and more timely vaccination coverage have been identified, including vaccine stock ruptures; lack of fixed facilities within easy access of approximately half of the population; shortage of well-trained field staff; and misconceptions regarding vaccination by primary care givers and families. Much of the Mozambican population does not speak Portuguese, and 70 percent of women country-wide are illiterate, compounding the challenge of public education. A number of these factors are the legacy of decades of war, during which health facilities and schools were destroyed, trained staff were lost, and few new professionals were trained."
http://www.comminit.com/africa/strategicthinking/st2003/thinking-700.html


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The Soul Beat is a partnership between:

Soul City and its partners - The Royal Netherlands Embassy, Development Cooperation Ireland, European Union, DFID, and BP

and The Communication Initiative Partnership - ANDI, BBC World Service Trust, Bernard van Leer Foundation, Calandria, CFSC  Consortium, The CHANGE Project, CIDA, DFID, Exchange, FAO, Ford Foundation, Fundacion Nuevo Periodismo, Johns Hopkins  Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, MISA, OneWorld, The Panos Institute, PCI, The Rockefeller Foundation, SAfAIDS, Soul City, UNAIDS, UNICEF, USAID, WHO.


The Soul Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.

Please send material for The Soul Beat to the Editor - Deborah Walter [log in to unmask]

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