The Communication Initiative Network

Where communication and media are central to social and economic development

E-magazines


Average Rating: 5 out of 5 (3 ratings submitted)

LI-BIRD Ko Chautari Radio Programme - Nepal

Regions

Global, Africa, South Asia

Programme Summary

In October, 2001, Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD) initiated a rural participatory radio programme that focuses on biodiversity-related issues. The word 'Chautari' means "a resting-place under the shade of a tree" - usually the Ficus religiosa bengalensis, where social, cultural, and religious information of value is exchanged. The programme is meant to complement the government's agricultural radio programmes.

Communication Strategies

The programme uses materials generated by participatory methods of collecting local knowledge and practices generated from farming communities. Technologies developed by the farming community, as well as the research outputs of university and research stations, are also used.

This radio programme is part of a wider package of efforts to increase local awareness about the importance of agro-biodiversity. These efforts include sharing the methods and approaches developed in the project activities at local, national, and international levels. Local content is shared at festivals, rituals, and dances, as well as through publications, posters, video films, and TV programmes. These approaches are rooted in local culture and customs, but are communicated with tools that have been adapted to suit the purpose of biodiversity conservation.

Farming communities are encouraged to provide suggestions and feedback. Prizes for the best questions and suggestions and the correct answers given for the week have been introduced to create interest and motivation among young listeners. Winners are awarded portable FM radio each week to encourage people to make use of this communication device.

Development Issues

Agriculture, Environment.

Key Points

Campaigns to raise public awareness about the value of sustaining biodiversity in Nepal have included formal meetings, orientation training, personal contacts with key people, and project information in the form of flyers in the community's vernacular language. Despite these efforts, programme organisers noted that the intended messages were not reaching key members of farming communities, particularly women and children.

Nineteen radio episodes have aired. Organisers claim that, as a result, there has been increased public awareness of biodiversity issues in the Pokhara valley; increased direct sharing of new findings and information with target communities; common forums for panel discussions between the farming community and high level policy makers; the integration of biodiversity education with traditional culture and literature; the bringing together of various stakeholders into common communication links; the documentation of value of local biodiversity; and the provision of feedback to local level conservation and development agencies.

Partners

LI-BIRD, the Annapurna FM Radio Station.

Contact

LI-BIRD

P.O. Box 324

Gairhapatan, Pokhara

Kaski, Nepal

Tel: (977)-61-535357/526834

Fax: (977)-61-539956

info@libird.org

LI-BIRD website


LI-BIRD, the Annapurna FM Radio Station.

Source

Chapter 2 ("Insights from Existing Initiatives") of "Unlocking economic opportunity in the south through local content: A proposal from the G8 Dotforce" by Peter Armstrong, OneWorld (Editor); Chris Addison, Consultant; Subbiah Arunachalam, MSSRF; Peter Ballantyne, IICD; Hugo Besemer, Consultant; Diane Cabell, Harvard Law School; Pete Cranston, OneWorld; James Jeynes, Accenture; Barbara Keating, OneWorld; Eric Saltzman, Berkman Center, Harvard Law School; John West, Consultant - March 2002. For a copy of the full report, please see the Open Knowledge Workspace page on DGroups website, which can be accessed from the DGroups website. Or contact Peter Armstrong, Director, One World peter.armstrong@oneworld.net


Placed on the Communication Initiative site August 26 2002
Last Updated January 08 2007



How useful did you find the knowledge and contacts on this page to your work?


5
Average: 5 (3 votes)
Your rating: None

Post your comments (review comments from others below):

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

COMMENTS POSTED


This is a very clear (and mercifully concise) explanation of a very interesting programme indeed. I have just discovered you via OneWorld Radio and will bookmark you regular reference. I look forward to more of this "clean" communication of vital and IMPORTANT ideas and programmes.
D. Miller - USA

Help Seed The CI Network

Jobs and more...

Journalist/Reader Connection

What are the best possibilities for journalist-readership connections? (you may choose more than one; please add clarifying comments)