FAO hosts "Rural Radio: Voices for Change" at Global Family Farming Forum
02/12/2024
FAO hosted the “Rural Radio: Voices for Change" initiative as part of the Global Family Farming Forum (GFFF), which took place at the FAO Headquarters in Rome from October 15 to 18. This model radio station aimed at amplifying the voices of family farmers and rural communities, shedding light on their role in achieving sustainable agrifood systems. It also showcased the important role that rural radio plays in many countries, facilitating access to relevant information and fostering active engagement among family farmers.
A team of eight rural radio producers from across Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and Europe managed to livestream a series of radio programmes during the forum and make on-demand audio content available, including interviews, roundtable discussions and panel conversations in English, French and Spanish. The broadcasts highlighted key discussions from the forum and explored the critical contributions of family farmers to global food security and sustainability.
The rural radio station featured 105 high-profile speakers, resulting in more than 170 on-demand radio clips, potentially reaching more than 8 million listeners in rural areas all over the world. This is thanks to the collaboration with the regional ComDev initiatives – ComDev Asia, YenKasa Africa and Onda Rural – that facilitated partnerships with major networks such as the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), the Latin American Association of Radio Education (ALER), and Farm Radio International (FRI).
How to access the ‘Voices for Change’ audio files
Listeners interested in the recorded content can access it on a dedicated event page, which features on-demand audio. The programmes are also available on SoundCloud and can be downloaded via a dedicated Google Drive folder, enabling rural radio stations worldwide to access and rebroadcast the materials locally.
- FAO ComDev website: Visit the event page
- SoundCloud playlist: Listen here
- Downloadable audio: Available here
For further inquiries, please contact [email protected].
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This initiative marks a significant step in leveraging communication to give voice to family farmers and institutions committed to collaborative change.