FAO and Farm Radio International join forces to boost inclusive rural communication and drive sustainable agrifood systems in Africa

In a significant move towards enhancing the use of radio in rural areas as a means to help achieve sustainable agrifood systems in Africa, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Farm Radio International signed a Letter of Intent on 15 February 2024.

The primary objective of this collaboration is to drive inclusive rural communication services that can help to advance family farming and the sustainability of agrifood systems. It will also address communication challenges faced by rural communities across Africa and empower farmers with sustainable agricultural practices, contributing to the UN Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 (UNDFF).

FAO and Farm Radio International already work together on the YenKasa Africa Initiative, a regional platform that documents experiences and enhances knowledge sharing in communication for agriculture and rural development. It brings together local community radios, media professionals, communication and development practitioners and academics as well as civil society organizations, in order to strengthen local capacities and collaboration.

“Farm Radio International is happy to partner with FAO to boost the use of radio and other media and enhance capacity of radio broadcasters as part of the YenKasa Africa initiative. This will benefit from many years of activity of Farm Radio International in this field”, said CEO of Farm Radio International, Kevin Perkins.

Other areas of cooperation will focus on developing capacity in communication for development methods and tools and the use of rural radio, as well as promoting synergies between initiatives and projects in both organizations.

“Thanks to this important engagement with Farm Radio International, FAO will be able to pursue one of the goals of the UN Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028: give voice to small holder farmers and engage them in sustainable development. This will happen using the medium they trust the most: rural radio,” said Director of FAO’s Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division, Marcela Villarreal.

Farm Radio International is an international non-profit organization based in Canada focused on using radio to help African farming communities help themselves.

For more information on Farm Radio International: https://farmradio.org/

For more information on the YenKasa Africa Initiative: https://yenkasa.org/

For more information on FAO’s work on Communication for Development: https://www.fao.org/communication-for-development/en/