The CMC combined community radio by local people in local languages with community telecentre facilities (computers with internet and e-mail, telephone, fax, and photocopying services). The project organisers believe that the convergence created between the radio and ICTs, which are both central entities of a CMC, gives a particular dimension to communication for development.

The centres use what they consider to be easy-to-operate, low cost radios not only to inform, educate, and entertain the communities, but also to empower them by giving them a public voice. The project focused on the regions of Tambacounda, Fatick, Kolda, and Matam, which have the highest percentages of households living below the poverty line. The implementation of the CMCs was as follows:

• two CMCs in each of the regions of Dakar, Kaolack, Louga, Saint-Louis, et Thiés; and
• one CMC in each of the regions of Diourbel and Ziguinchor.

The CMCs were equipped with radio suitcases, kits that include a 50-Watt transmitter, a six-track sound-mixing table, two cassette players, two CD players, and one microphone. The suitcases are transportable and user-friendly.

The analysis of community radio experience in Senegal and research on the equipment led the team to purchase slightly higher priced radio suitcases in order to have stronger and more durable equipment. With the technological choice made by the CMC project team, it is possible for radio coverage to span a 75-km radius.

Part of the project also involved capacity building. Three sessions of group training for volunteers from 24 CMCs were organised in Dakar. The first took place in July 2005 and the other two took place in August and September of 2006. Each training session lasted ten days and covered the following themes:

• CMC concept;
• radio broadcasting production;
• information and the internet; and
• radio management and maintenance information.

The last two trainings integrated a session on the management and operation of the photocopier. The volunteers were encouraged to meet and get to know one another, exchange information, and create networks between CMCs.

The project relied mostly on community-based organisations including income-generating groups, women's groups, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, farmers' groups, a health committee, a cultural centre, a private company, and local-elected institutions.

Technology.

According to the organisers, two years after its launch, the CMC project reached and even surpassed its objective by setting up 24 new CMCs instead of 20, as initially planned. The project ultimately set up 24 CMCs, trained over 400 people, developed partnerships at national and local levels, and provided hundreds of thousands of people living in isolated rural areas with access to community radio, computers connected to the internet, and digital devices.