Community Listeners' Clubs: Stepping Stones for Action in Rural Areas

This publication summarises the experience of the community listeners' clubs set up in Niger and the Democratic Republic of Congo by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)-Dimitra and its partners. According to FAO-Dimitra, it is a unique experience because in a short time, these clubs succeeded in promoting social mobilisation of both women and men, as well as dialogue, collaboration, and action on the part of rural communities, especially women. In this process, community radio is used as an information and communication channel, encouraging a flow of information and communication that places people at the centre of interactions.

The first chapter offers a brief overview of the community listeners' clubs, their goals and internal functioning, and the results achieved. The second chapter tells the story of the listeners' clubs in the words of the stakeholders, explaining how they were established in the two countries. The third chapter sets out more practical guidelines on the stages involved in creating community listeners' clubs.