Radio Douentza
Radio Douentza is a Community Radio Station which serves the community of the Douentza area in Northern Mali, a semi-arid region of subsistence agriculture - most of the population are farmers or herders. The radio station broadcasts many types of announcements, from entertainment to local music and cultural programmes to development issues, education and community news.
Communication Strategies
An FM Radio station, transmitting to a radius of about 150km. Solar powered transmitter, 45% music programmes and 55% talk, broadcasting about 10 hours per day, 7 days per week. Programmes are broadcast in local language and dialects.
Development Issues
Local development, literacy/numeracy, community empowerment, gender issues, agriculture, health, education, local conflict resolution, anti-desertification, economic development, democritisation/legal rights, youth issues, preservation of traditional wisdom and culture.
Key Points
Radio Douentza was one of the first independent community radios in Mali, operating on a very small budget, but creating impressive achievements and impact on the local communities. The radio station operates against the odds in one of the poorest regions of Mali - itself one of the poorest countries in the world.
Partners
Malian Ministry of Health, USAID, OXFAM UK (funding), Near East Foundation USA (funding, logistic and policy support), PANOS Institute Paris, Save the Children Fund - Mali (health broadcasts), CECI (Canadian NGO), UNICEF Mali, USAID Bamako, various local sponsors, SOMARC (social marketing), BASICS, PLAN international, an independent journalists' union called URTEL and World Vision.
Placed on the Soul Beat Africa site July 15 2001
Last Updated June 03 2009
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