Jacques de Matha is the Director of the Centre Inter-africain d'Etudes en Radio Rurale of Ouagadougou, CIERRO, Burkina Faso (Inter-African Center for Rural Broadcasting Studies of Ouagadougou).
He previously collaborated with the ORTB (Radio Broadcasting and Television Office of Benin), where he held the following positions:
Finally, Jacques de Matha was a Technical Communication Advisor to the Minister responsible for relations with institutions before becoming the director of ORTB.
Jacques de Matha was awarded a degree in Modern Literature (National University of Benin) and in Information and Communication Sciences (University of Bordeaux), and a specialization in Rural Radio Broadcasting (CIERRO, Burkina Faso). He is married and has three children.
This paper will trace the history of CIERRO, discuss its mission, its contribution to the emergence of local radios in Africa, the initiatives carried out notably in the area of training, and its new experience with the application of New Information and Communication Technologies to farm and local radios.
II. CIERRO'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL RADIO IN BLACK AFRICA
III - CIERRO'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE EMERGENCE OF LOCAL RURAL RADIO
The population of black Africa is essentially rural and illiterate. It is characterized by oral tradition. It contributes to a large degree to the production of wealth of African countries, but does not participate in communication or information processes, and far less to decision-making processes.
For a long time, the African population was confined to the role of agricultural producer by the State-controlled power, which used the information media in its possession. Communication was vertical, and a one-way process.
Fortunately, over the years this situation evolved progressively with the modest involvement of populations, first in the information production process for the creation of rural radios, and subsequently in the management of such information through the gradual appropriation of local rural radios.
CIERRO, which is an offshoot of the Union des Radiodiffusions et Télévisions Nationales d'Afrique, URTNA (African National Radio and Television Broadcasters' Union), has played a significant role in this process of awareness, and in the creation of an environment conducive to the birth of a new order of information and communication from which the rural world will no longer be ostracized.
In this presentation, CIERRO's contribution will be illustrated on the basis of four points:
History
The idea of creating CIERRO emerged within the Union des Radiodiffusions et Télévisions Nationales d'Afrique, URTNA (Union of National Radio and Television of Africa) in 1974. It became operational in 1978 with the signing of a Protocol of Understanding between the Government of former Upper Volta, delegated by URTNA, and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, followed by the signature of a financing agreement and a convention regulating the terms of the agreement between the Ministry for Information of former Upper Volta and GTZ (German Cooperation), the implementing body. This Protocol of Understanding ensures the funding of a two-year pilot phase of the Center, starting from July 1978, which was renewed to 1996.
The main task of the pilot phase of this training center will be the development of a radio broadcasting professional profile specializing in the area of rural radio, both for journalists-animators and level II technicians. URTNA conceived this center for specialized training because it intends to make radio a medium for the education and training of rural masses, of which over 80% are comprised by illiterate people.
Mission
The Inter-African Center for Rural Broadcasting Studies of Ouagadougou has the following missions:
As an institute of higher education, CIERRO is a forum for research, documentation and dissemination for the member States of URTNA as well as the partners that wish to benefit from its technical assistance in education and/or research, or that wish to perfect their knowledge of radio broadcasting by means specialized training. Tailored short and long-term sessions are thus organized on the basis of one or more specific modules and according to the terms defined by both parties.
CIERRO recruits candidates for long-term training courses by means of a competition launched by URTNA and organized by the member States. The competition is open to the holders of an A-level and to professionals with at least three years of experience in the area of information, communication and rural training. Such training courses, which last two years, are organized in two sections: the Programs section for journalists/producers, and the Technical section, which is open to radio technicians. Long-term training courses combine theory with practice (field visits).
At the end of the training course, the students submit and defend an end-of-year thesis. This will enable them to obtain a diploma from CIERRO, which is recognized by the Conseil Africain et Malgache d'Enseignement Supérieur, CAMES (African and Madagascan Council for Higher Education), and is equivalent to the Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie, DUT (equivalent to a 2-year university degree).
The courses are held at CIERRO by a highly qualified faculty (university professors, communications experts, media professionals). CIERRO is provided with specially equipped infrastructures for training (classrooms, teaching material, production studio, etc.).
CIERRO ensures training courses in its facilities as well as on site, upon the partner's request. For example, it has already developed in partnership modules such as radio production, public broadcasting, program entertainment, the study of audiences by the active method of participatory research, the administrative and financial management of a local rural radio, sound techniques, radio broadcasting technical equipment, human resources management, etc.
CIERRO has a specialized information center with a vast documentary database of more than 3,000 reference titles covering all areas of social sciences. It is also equipped with a multimedia installation allowing students to become familiar with information technology tools and the Internet.
CIERRO was established in 1978 by the Union des Radiodiffusions et Télévisions Nationales d'Afrique, URTNA (Union of National Radio and Television of Africa). From that time to the present day, CIERRO has contributed modestly to the development of rural radio in Africa with different initiatives, especially in the following areas: Training, Seminars, Studies, Research, and Publications.
Training
A distinction must be made between two different types of training: long-term and short-term training.
Long-Term Training
The training course lasts two years. From 1978 to 1999, on behalf of radio broadcasting corporations belonging to URTNA, CIERRO provided training for 193 individuals: 121 program animators and 72 technicians. The following countries benefited from the training courses organized by CIERRO: Burkina Faso, Benin, Cameroon, the Comoro Islands, Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Central African Republic, Senegal, Chad and Togo, that is, almost 35% of the member countries of URTNA.
All of these agents work in radio broadcasting in their respective countries, and hold important positions. They contributed to the consolidation and development of rural radios in their countries. Their level of education and knowledge has contributed to changing the negative image of rural radio.
Short-Term Training
Again with the aim of promoting rural radio and of consolidating its experience, CIERRO has organized a number of training workshops for radio broadcasting executives. More than 120 workshops were organized at the Center and on site for over 1,000 participants from more than thirty African radios. Such workshops were animated by CIERRO, upon the request of several foreign partners, such as AMARC, UNESCO, UNICEF, ACCT, FAO, Coopération Suisse, CTA, Deutsche Welle, GRET, Panos Institute, etc.
Seminars
According to the same approach, CIERRO has animated a number of seminars on the future of rural radio in Africa with partners such as the Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie (AIF) and FAO. It is especially with FAO that CIERRO has engaged on many reflections on this issue, including: the advanced seminar for rural radio programmers in 1981 with ACCT, the seminar on rural radio in 1984, the colloquium on local rural radios in 1989, the seminar on the support program for rural radios and agricultural information services of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in 1989 with GRET/CTA, the international workshop on the development of rural radio in Africa in June 1996 with FAO, etc.
Studies and Research
CIERRO has developed new methodological approaches to radio communication in a rural environment.
It has carried out studies with the financial contribution of its partners.
CIERRO has also performed a number of feasibility studies for the setting up of community radios on behalf of various associations in Burkina Faso.
Publications
CIERRO has published training manuals and management guides for rural radio broadcasters in collaboration with Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie, the Panos Institute, the Société Intermédia Consultants and on a joint basis with FAO and UNICEF.
CIERRO publishes a bi-monthly bulletin named "Convergence", which acts as a liaison with rural radios in Africa. This bulletin is also a support to the reinforcement of skills in the self-training of farm and local radio personnel, and features a special column on training.
CIERRO has created a Web site (www.cierro.org) which especially illustrates the services and training programs provided by the center.
With a view to turning radio into a true tool to foster communication and promote rural development, and considering the constraints and limits of rural radio, since 1980 CIERRO has endeavored to find alternative solutions. In the early 1980s, the promotion of local rural radios thus became the focus of the discussions held by rural communication professionals at several meetings promoted by organizations such as ACCT, UNESCO and URTNA through their center, CIERRO.
At the beginning of the 80s, the reflection on the action of rural radio highlighted the need to review the approaches to the rural world implemented until that time, and to look for new ways to establish a better communication.
Following such reflections, a specialized seminar for rural radio programmers organized jointly by ACCT and CIERRO was held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from 4-28 October 1981. It brought together participants from 15 African countries. In emphasizing the role of rural radios, the report stipulated, "Although rural radios have been successful in disseminating among farmers the knowledge which they needed, they have forgotten that learning is first of all means expressing oneself, educating oneself, especially if the purpose is still the empowerment of populations". The participants agreed that local rural radio could represent an innovation capable of laying the foundations for a possible renewal of communication in black Africa, focused on participatory education related to development problems.
In May 1982, the HomaBay community radio station was established in the province of Nianza in Kenya, with the contribution of UNESCO.
With a view to pursuing the reflection undertaken during the seminar held on 4-28 October 1981, another meeting was organized from 21 March to 8 April 1983 in Ouagadougou, under the patronage of CIERRO and ACCT.
From 29 September to 10 October 1986, a workshop-seminar on the endogenous production of messages for community media organized by CIERRO accurately identified the concept underlying the following words: local radio, community radio, free radio, participatory radio.
In 1990, a workshop-seminar on the relationship between regional and local radio was held at the headquarters of CIERRO with the contribution of Swiss-Romansh radio and television.
All of these reflections paved the way for the establishment of local radios in Africa.
To date, the Agence has established 46 stations of which 42 are in the African continent in 9 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali and Senegal).
After three years and with the advent of Information and Communication Technologies, CIERRO attempted a new experience with the Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie, consisting in providing local rural radios with the numerous advantages offered by Information and Communication Technologies.
This experience was undertaken only two years ago. It is being carried out with the participation of the Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie.
The Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie has entrusted CIERRO with the task of coordinating the project for the networking of rural and local radios.
The aim of this project is:
The mission entrusted to CIERRO within the framework of the project's implementation consists in ensuring:
A center called "digital audio center", with a staff of three, was set up to implement this project.
What activities have been carried out and what results have been achieved?
1) Rural Radios Network
Information technology tools connected to the Internet were provided to the coordinators of rural networks, to facilitate communication among them, and between them and their partners in the South and in the North. This equipment requires a certain number of peripherals including CD recorders.
This activity has contributed to greatly improving communication between national coordinators and local radios due to the immediate and continuous flow of information and the extension of the information sources.
The success of such activity was fostered by the quality of the training provided and the availability of the trainees. Its success was also due to the fact that the coordinators operate in the capital of their respective countries, and that the problems related to telephone connections and energy are considerably less serious there.
2) Multimedia Rural Centers
This activity is aimed at improving the programs broadcast by rural and local radios by allowing them to exchange information by e-mail between stations, and to consult Web sites that may be useful for the packaging of programs on the one hand, and making available to the community new information services on the other, especially by e-mail.
To have access to such centers, local rural radios were provided with computer equipment (Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Madagascar), and trained users in each equipped station. Such individuals were trained at CIERRO.
The equipment thus made it possible to access information from sites (syfia.com) to enrich the contents of specialized programs and to facilitate access to the Internet connection for other users in the community (NGOs, associations of professionals, health care facilities, etc.). They also allowed for the establishment of electronic mail services for individual users. There were also e-mail exchanges between radios from the same country or from different countries.
However, there are certain problems, which hinder the rational exploitation of this communication tool. They are related to the weakness of national telephone systems, the instability of power supply, and the fact that the computer is located in the office of the head of the broadcasting station.
3) Storage and Exchange of Sound Archives
This activity consists in making available to the members of the network an information technology system for the storage and exchange of sound archives thanks to the production of an electronic bulletin on current radio programming, innovative production experiences, and the contents of program schedules. Radios can also have access to the program database where the deposited contents are stored and coded. This activity also consists in undertaking co-production initiatives between network members and in setting up an Internet site allowing for the exchange of sound archives.
In 2001, the actions undertaken will be continued by strengthening the national networks. In addition to his, CIERRO is going to engage in a cooperation effort with the educational channel of the Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie. The channel will thus be able to download from the network site programs to be broadcast via the World Space satellite according to a program and time schedule, which will be established jointly. The rural and local radios that are equipped with a World Space receiver will thus be able to pick up the signal of the broadcasts, in order to re-broadcast them or exploit them on their channel. The stations not equipped with a World Space digital receiver will continue to directly receive the programs from the audio-digital center on standard supports. On the basis of the program catalogue addressed to them, rural and local radios may also request the broadcasting of a program of their choice.
The concept of rural radio in black Africa has evolved along with the concept of development, which has undergone deep changes in coming into contact with the political and socio-economic realities of the various countries. In the struggle against underdevelopment, all of the dimensions of the Human Being must be considered. From agricultural radio, we have made the transition to radio forum, then to rural radio or educational radio, and today to local rural radio.
CIERRO has not remained on the margins of the evolution in the concept of this communication tool, which URTNA wanted to turn into a medium for the education and training of rural populations. It has been at the forefront of this evolution. With its reflections on the issue and its actions in the field, CIERRO has contributed to promoting rural radio and local rural radio.
CIERRO is still present at the beginning of this second millennium, characterized by the explosion of communication, in which Information and Communication Technologies are no longer just an option. Thanks to its capital, it has been able to develop a new experience, enabling rural communities to have access to Information and Communication Technologies through rural radios. This is a plan and a challenge at once.
For further information on CIERRO: www.cierro.org
