The Role and Impact of Radio in Reforming the Rural Business Environment in Africa
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Bern: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Employment and Income Division (2007), 46 pp.
Contains illustrations
Signature commbox: 100:30-Development 2007
"This paper explores the role that the mass media can play in enhancing processes that underpin the reform of the business environment. It does so through the lens of local FM radio stations in Uganda that have emerged over the last decade to become a prominent feature of the country’s social, political and business landscape. [...] Six case studies were analysed in detail. The case studies highlighted that media intervention can bring about changes in the business environment that results in sizeable and quantifiable impact. [...] The programmes that brought about impact on the business environment were ones that had been supported by donor intervention (FIT Uganda and the ILO SEMA Project). [...] The radio programmes that have brought about impact in the business environment were indigenously owned, managed and run. They operated in diverse local languages and responded to specific local issues. This local ownership and management is at the heart of the success of the programmes and would have been less likely to have come about through programmes funded and managed by donor projects or staff." (Executive summary)
1 Introduction, 6
2 Background – reform processes and the mass media, 7
3 Uganda context and overview of the case studies, 10
4 The role of radio in the business environment, 15
5 What can mass media achieve?: The impact of media in the business environment, 19
6 When it works, why does it work? 23
7 Conclusion: Lessons for the role that donors can play in strengthening media as a driver of business environment reform, 26
Case study 1: Exposing corruption and bringing about policy change at corporate business level: Rural tobacco farmers in Northern Uganda, 30
Case study 2: Building public policy debate and stimulating the set up and operation of citizen’s watchdog groups: Night Market in central Uganda, 33
Case study 3: Tackling gender and social equity issues for the poorest in society. Women stone crushers in South-Western Uganda, 36
Case study 4: Protecting the drivers of political change. Activists on corruption in rural public transport in South Western Uganda, 39
Case study 5: Dialogue and debate on public investment in local market infrastructure: Market traders in Western Uganda, 41
Case study 6: National advocacy and campaigning for environmental policy change: Civil Society and national government, 44
2 Background – reform processes and the mass media, 7
3 Uganda context and overview of the case studies, 10
4 The role of radio in the business environment, 15
5 What can mass media achieve?: The impact of media in the business environment, 19
6 When it works, why does it work? 23
7 Conclusion: Lessons for the role that donors can play in strengthening media as a driver of business environment reform, 26
Case study 1: Exposing corruption and bringing about policy change at corporate business level: Rural tobacco farmers in Northern Uganda, 30
Case study 2: Building public policy debate and stimulating the set up and operation of citizen’s watchdog groups: Night Market in central Uganda, 33
Case study 3: Tackling gender and social equity issues for the poorest in society. Women stone crushers in South-Western Uganda, 36
Case study 4: Protecting the drivers of political change. Activists on corruption in rural public transport in South Western Uganda, 39
Case study 5: Dialogue and debate on public investment in local market infrastructure: Market traders in Western Uganda, 41
Case study 6: National advocacy and campaigning for environmental policy change: Civil Society and national government, 44
