Peace Through Development (PDEV) Chad

The PDEV project is working to improve local governance in communities; empower at-risk youth to become active participants in their communities and the economy; and render superfluous ideologies that promote intolerance and violence.

Equal Access produces three radio series:

• Good Governance Radio Programme: Dabalaye (Positive Tribune) - this good governance radio series comprises of two main components, a serial drama and a magazine style programme, both focusing on themes of tolerance, transparency, and good citizenship. The drama was created using the Sabido entertainment-education methodology, and the presenter-led magazine style format includes interviews, testimonials (one-person monologues), and vox pops (sound bites from people on the street) addressing topics relevant to Chadian audiences including rural exodus, hygiene, violence against women, the environment, and the transmission of HIV/AIDS. Community Reporters across four regions and the capital city of N’djamena also collect content and 'voices from the field' that are integrated into the show every week.
• Youth Radio Programme: Chabab Al Haye (Youth Alive) - this youth-led chat show centres on issues of importance to young people in Chad with a core focus of imparting vital life skills. The show explores peaceful ways of addressing grievances, tolerance, livelihoods information, problem solving via a presenter-led chat show format and addresses issues relevant to youth in Chad such as ethnic discrimination, the importance of girls' education, and early or forced marriage. Hosted by youth for youth, this programme includes a combination of songs, vox pops, testimonials, interviews, roundtable discussions, and mini-dramas. Each mini-drama reflects the theme of the larger episode using different characters and storylines.
• Religious Programme: Chabab Wal Din (Youth and Islam) - a religious series designed for youth and co-produced by two N'Djamena-based Islamic stations and Equal Access. The show features topics such as corruption and youth responsibilities in the community, Islam and human rights, and respect for diversity and moderation.

All radio programmes are produced using Chadian Arabic, spoken by the majority of Chadians in the focus regions. Additionally, the Good Governance and Youth series are translated and broadcast in Goran and French.

Equal Access used a number of approaches in producing the programmes: Stakeholder workshops
To ensure the content of the programming is technically accurate and culturally appropriate as well as entertaining and engaging, Equal Access' team of local media professionals hold stakeholder Workshops to gather important input for the radio programmes, and Content Advisory Groups meet monthly to discuss and provide technical expertise for upcoming episodes.

Listening Clubs
Listening Clubs gather together thousands of listeners to share views on programme messages amongst peers, and Community Reporters contribute to the series content and the presence of the programme in the community

New Media
In addition to the radio programmes, Equal Access is increasingly incorporating new media, particularly mobile technology and interactive elements. The radio shows feature interactive elements such as competitions to win small prizes, as well as letters and SMS messages direct from listeners. The media teams weave this content into the episodes, allowing audiences to hear their input, therefore encouraging feedback loops and providing a platform for the voices of communities across Chad.

FM Station Support
Equal Access also supports FM partner stations through the delivery of a variety of trainings and equipment, to assist them to produce their own high-quality local programmes around similar themes of good governance and tolerance.

Radio Mapping
To determine accurate figures of the broadcast reach of the partner radio stations, Equal Access visited 14 stations in the five regions, compiling technical information including the heights of the antennas, the capacities of the transmitters, and the GPS coordinates of the station. With this data, Equal Access was able to calculate the geographical coverage and estimated audience reach for each station and shared the information with the radio stations. For the first time this gave the radio stations a sense of their actual reach and this knowledge allows them to focus their limited resources in more focused ways.

Community Micro-FMs
To support the local stations and help them reach as many listeners as possible, Equal Access installed micro-FM sites in Northern Chad. This assistance included providing equipment, assistance with licenses, and training for staff. Training topics included production techniques, journalistic ethics, financial and human resource management, government relations, broadcast planning, programme formats, and achieving popularity among listeners in the community.

Good Governance, Human Rights

According to Equal Access, by promoting dialogue amongst the population, including among groups divided by tribal lines, vocational roles, religious beliefs, socioeconomic status, or other boundaries, the programming succeeds in demonstrating a clear avenue for listeners to develop their communities through peace and stability. (See link to project evaluation below under related summaries).