Radio Platform for Community Development (RPCD)

Through this project, PSAf is working to build the capacity of community radio stations to develop content by working with radio listening clubs and by interfacing with community members. It also seeks to facilitate networking and community development information sharing among community radio stations and initiatives both at national and regional levels. In Malawi, the project includes the establishment of radio listening clubs (RLCs) in around six community radio stations - Dzimwe, Nkhotakota, Mzimba, Voice of Livingstonia, Usisya and Mudzi Wathu. In Zambia and Mozambique about five to 10 RLCs will be established in either country. In April 2013, PSAf conducted a project sensitisation and Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop for the six radio stations in Lilongwe to set the stage for the roll-out of the project in the target communities.

According to PSAf, RLCs are an effective communication tool to magnify the voices of the marginalised, especially when the listeners participate actively in the whole process, raise issues, discuss them, explore options, and seek external support. Through the RLCs, communities can raise awareness of the development issues affecting their communities and debate them. As a group they then explore options for solutions and ask questions that can influence policy or development planning, or enhance their understanding of certain issues. These issues are brought to the attention of relevant audiences, and the stations follow up with service or resource providers on any development initiative they have been promised. In this way, the voices of such remote communities are brought to the ears or the government, policy, and development planners.

The three countries were chosen because it was identified that people in rural areas in these countries were not being accorded the opportunity to speak out on issues that affect them, such as child marriage, child trafficking, and drug abuse. Women make up the majority of people who are marginalised, therefore the project is making a deliberate effort to address the challenges that women face in accessing development information.

Governance, Gender

According to PSAf, in southern African countries the majority of people continue to be on the margins of development processes, without any chance to be heard on the kind of development they desire for themselves. In addition, there are still huge gaps in the media's coverage of issues in a gender balanced manner. Women across Southern Africa currently have limited access to opportunities, communication, and information channels to enable them play a role in development.