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Bridging the Communications Gap

Country

Mali

Region

Africa

Programme Summary

Bridging the Communications Gap is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) initiative to create new community radio stations for 14 rural communities in northern Mali. The stations aim to assist the Malian communities of Bourem Inaly, Lerneb, and Almoustarat to exchange information.

Communication Strategies

This initiative uses information and communication technologies (ICTs) - that is, community radio - to facilitate information dissemination and communication in an area that is prone to conflict and suffers from extreme poverty and scarcity of natural resources. USAID helped create the 14 stations, which broadcast programmes on a range of issues in the community interest, including terrorism, religion, peace-building, voter education, democracy, decentralisation, women's empowerment, agriculture, natural resources management, health, education, and local and world news.

To facilitate this process, each community was given a comprehensive community radio package, including an FM radio transmitter, two-way communication radio transceiver, satellite receiver, television, satellite dish and VCR. Designed to create an instant multi-purpose communication centre, the packages allow stations to communicate with each other, broadcast pre-recorded messages via satellite, and play cassettes.

The communities also received training in technical operations and journalism, as well as guidance in how to set up radio theatre groups and youth listening clubs. To foster sustainability, the communities were also taught how to create management committees to oversee all aspects of the stations' administration and financing.

Development Issues

Technology.

Partners

USAID

Contact

Alexander Newton
USAID/Mali
Immeuble Dotembougou
Rue Raymond Poincarré & rue 319
Quartier du Fleuve
Bamako
Mali
Tel: 223 222 36 02
Fax: 223 222 39 33
USAID/Mali website

USAID
Office of Press Relations
Ronald Reagan Building
Washington, D.C. 20523-0016
United States
Tel: 202-712-4320
Fax: 202-216-3524
pinquiries@usaid.gov

Source

USAID website on October 20 2005.


Placed on the Communication Initiative site December 27 2006
Last Updated October 04 2007

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