This summary is part of a research project carried out between March and October 2006 in support of the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD), one of The Communication Initiative (The CI)'s partners.

According to this case study, although new information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the ability to address issues of economic poverty and inequity in Africa, access to the range of ICT tools and applications available today remains low and the details and methods on how these applications can facilitate Africa’s economic growth are contentious. For much of Africa, Sierra Leone in particular, radio remains the most advantageous medium of communication due to affordability, widespread use and coverage for the majority of Africans.

Author Mercy Wambui explains that development through radio (DTR) has been applied in Southern Africa for well over 10 years. It is a concept that goes beyond the mandate of a community radio station in order to resolve the problem of isolation faced by many living in rural areas by giving these marginalised groups, who lack access to community radio, the opportunity to form partnerships with existing community and/or mainstream radio to get their voices heard by policy makers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the general community on issues pertinent to their development.

In collaboration with the Forum for African Media Women (FAMW), The Forum of Conscience (FOC), a human rights non-governmental organisation (NGO), set out to establish a DTR project (DTRP) in Sierra Leone that would provide a channel through which women could voice their views on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process and bring gender issues to the fore of the process. After a feasibility study, in-depth consultations with selected communities and a training-of-trainers workshop, FAMW and FOC agreed to use the DTRP to encourage communities to undertake projects that promote sustainable development.

As of this study, the DTRP in Sierra Leone is currently active in 30 communities in the North, South, and Eastern Provinces. The community groups range in size from 30 to 80 members, aged 14 to 60 years. The club members include widows, some amputees and others affected by the war due to bereavement and enslavement. The project aims to offer a space for interaction and healing of wounds inflicted by the war. The women have indicated that they find strength in being part of a group and collectively focusing on poverty alleviation priorities. The project provides a forum that helps them feel heard and empowered to find solutions to their problems.

The FOC acts as the overall facilitator for the DTRP and serves the DTR groups through a DTR Coordinator. The coordinator receives the recorded audiotapes from the groups and provides a manifest containing basic information including the date on which the recording took place, composition of the group, and a summary of the discussions. She then hands this to the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) for editing and broadcasting. Generally, both responses and issues from the women are edited into one 22-minute broadcast.

The primary focus of this case study is Reuters Digital Vision Fellowship. The main objective of the fellowship is to explore the potential for new technologies in expanding the concept of DTR to a wider audience. Specific objectives include visiting the community groups in the South, East and Northern Provinces to gather first hand information about their views on the DTRP; to assess their information and other emerging concerns on reconstruction; and to assess the ICT infrastructure environment and establish how best the Digital Vision Programme could be of assistance to the DTRP. A visit to 12 representative communities was organised by the FOC in December of 2002.

The following lessons were noted:

• Consultation - Constant consultation with local partners is necessary to avoid misinterpreting what is happening on the ground;
• Definition and interpretation of terms - It is of the utmost importance to understand the cultural terminology and sensitivities surrounding roles and relationships, particularly in women’s empowerment projects;
• Respect for existing processes - When attempting to partner with pre-existing development projects, processes that were already set up must either remain undisrupted or only modified with minimal technology and in small doses;
• Introducing new technologies - Introduction of new technologies should proceed in phases through constant consultation and clarity. The end-user needs to be comfortable enough with the technology, and be prepared to use it;
• DTR outreach to a larger, global audience - A great deal more outreach is required to get the wider global community involved in making a difference in the lives of the DTR women in Sierra Leone;
• The need for additional funding - Funding is needed to meet the most urgent priorities specified by the DTR communities, especially in the area of micro-financing and literacy;
• Capacity building and strengthening of FOC - The success of the DTRP with respect to the empowerment of members is undoubted. However, lack of adequate transport to DTR communities and poor rural infrastructure are a strain on the limited resources of the FOC. Finally, the FOC is dependent on a small team of highly skilled and motivated volunteers. Additional funding is needed to sustain this team.