Participatory Development Communication: A West African Agenda

This book resulted from a 2-day consultation focusing on "Participatory Development Communication in the West and Central African Context" held in Toronto, Canada in 1995. It was attended by 49 participants drawn from development agencies, universities and NGOs. The participants were a unique mix of communicators, development workers and adult education specialists.

This publication outlines the activities and priorities of the participatory communication CIME (communication, information, media, education) research programme of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in West Africa. Includes a useful historical overview of development communication and related areas of development, and a review of current participatory communication methods, such as 'community media', that put the 'grass-roots expression of its needs' at the heart of development. Also considers the relationship between grass-roots communication and non-formal education and in particular the need for supporting and developing the skills of young women and girls as effective communicators at the grassroots level.

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Click here for the French version online.