Antenna Foundation Nepal

Covid19 Response Activities

January - June 2020

Nepal's government imposed a lockdown on 23 March 2020 which has completely halted long-distance transportation services, international flights, and non-essential services in Nepal. People’s lifestyle has abruptly changed and concepts such as work from home and virtual meetings have become the new phenomenon of personal and professional life. Covid-19 lockdown has affected AFN's also to carried out it works however taking this situation as an opportunity we have come up with the implementation of following activities in response to the COVID19.

1. Production of Nepal Chautari, A Daily Talk show

Media landscape survey conducted by ShareCast Initiative during lockdown showed that radio listenership pattern is increased. Radio is trusted source of information. On the otherhand people are even deprived of information about Covid19 safety and precaution. Having reviewed feedback of FM partners meeting and by analyzing the finding of media survey AFN decided to restart it's popular daily talk show Nepal Chautari.

Nepal Chautari has restarted its production and broadcast from May 31, 2020 and now it is being broadcasting a daily live show. It is a "live" radio talk show produced with the objective of raising awareness among people and stakeholder accountability on contemporary issues prevalent in the nation in view of Covid 19 pandemic. Nepal Chautari incorporates with the specialist's view and listener's question and answers/feedback. Audience are allowed to put their comments, questions and feedback in live talk show by toll free phone number which encourages interaction between service providers and service seekers.

Now, Nepal Chautari is being broadcasted via 100 plus local radio stations of Nepal from 8.15 am to 9.00 am. Along with radio stations, Antenna Foundation Nepal also broadcast the live show through its official Facebook page, Hamro Patro mobile app and its website. The show is produced in collaboration with Broadcasting Association of Npeal (BAN) and Community radios.

Technically the show is hosted using online media Zoom application where distinguished guests join from their own place and broadcasted through local radios, AFN Facebook page, mobile app and website where listener's comments and queries are addressed through phone call and Facebook comments.

2. Production of Audio Visual Public Service Announcement (PSAs)

Antenna Foundation Nepal produced the following PSA’s which were based on Covid-19 :

1. Nepal's first COVID-19 PSA was produced by AFN & sent to UNICEF Nepal for nationwide broadcasting (28 Jan, 2020). Audio PSA was produced featuring key messages information and messages like symptoms, precautions etc. This PSA has been produced in collaboration with UNICEF Nepal. 2. COVID-19 PSA sent to all 50 plus FM partners for broadcasting nationwide. 3. That COVID-19 PSA was also included in AFN's radio drama series 'Rope Guna Phal's episode12 (Jan 30, 2020), episode 22 (March 5, 2020). 4. Likewise COVID-19 PSA (Precaution) produced in Maithili & Bhojpuri was also sent to FM partners station in Province 2 and 5 for wider dissemination. (Feb 19,2020) 5. In collaboration with UNICEF have produced another COVID-19 related PSAs in Limbu, Awadhi, Doteli, Magar & Newari languages and provided them to radio stations for broadcasting. (March 26,2020)

The PSAs contained information such as symptoms of COVID19, precautions from COVID19, Expert Advice by Dr. Meenakshi Dahal on the topic - Information to parents on ways to protect children during lockdown and so on.

3. Radio drama on Parenting Education

Information about Covid19 was also included in our regular drama series 'Rope Guna Fhal' and 'Choncha Ke Khonta'. ‘Rope Guna Fal’ is a Nepali language drama based on parenting education and focuses on the roles of parents in taking care of the child, and their food, health, hygiene, learning, care and safety. Similarly, ‘Choncha Ke Khonta’ is a Maithili and Bhojpuri language drama which talks about parenting education. It revolves around a village in the process of urbanization and talks about how despite the development people lack awareness.

Taking into account the challenges faced by parents during the covid19 crisis, parts of interviews with parenting experts, public health expert were included on different topics revolving around COVID19 such as:

Date Episode Expert Topic no. 17 25 Dr. Sameer Mani Dixit - Public Health About Corona Virus March, (Regular) expert 2020 28 05 Kishore Shrestha - Early Childhood How to treat children during April, (Lockdown) Development Expert lockdown 2020 07 07 Kishore Shrestha - Early Childhood How to educate children May, (Lockdown) Development Expert effectively during lockdown 2020 12 09 Bhima Rai - Early Childhood How to educate children May, (Lockdown) Development and Parenting effectively during lockdown 2020 Education expert 19 11 Bhima Rai - Early Childhood Activities that parents need May, (Lockdown) Development and Parenting to do for their children 2020 Education expert during lockdown 26 13 Sophiya Upreti- Nutrition Expert Kids eating healthy during May, (Lockdown) lockdown 2020

The regular episodes were produced virtually in coordination with writers and artists through the use of zoom, recorders and other apps during lockdown.

4. Production of Radio Magazine - SAHAJ

AFN is implementing partner of Strengthening Access to Holistic, Gender Responsive and Accountable Justice in Nepal (SAHAJ) initiative which aims to counter gender-based violence (GBV) by questioning outdated or harmful socio- cultural norms, expanding access to support and strengthening the capacity of local media and other Civil Society organizations to assist survivors in Province 2 and 5. AFN is producing a weekly radio magazine in Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri and Awadi through partner radio in respective provinces. During the lockdown story of the women facing lockdown, interviews with related stakeholders like government and non-government actors. SAHAJ radio program also features vital information like contact numbers of referral system, Nepal Police, Law enforcement entities, hotline numbers to contact in need of justice. Taking COVID19 pandemic into account AFN in collaboration with two local radio stations in P2 and P5 respectively SAHAJ radio programs covers various issues that maters for women to cope up with the risks associated with Corona pandemic. Following episodes were made:

Date Episode Topic No. 6 June, 2020 15 Efforts of the local government ensuring good health facilities for pregnant women during lockdown 30 May, 2020 14 Creating environment in home to study from home 24 May, 2020 13 Tackling Gender Based Domestic Violence during lockdown. 16 May, 2020 12 Staying Mentally strong in the times of COVID19 9 May, 2020 11 Women and burden of domestic work and chores during lockdown 2 May, 2020 10 Gender Based Domestic Violence at the times of COVID19 24 April, 2020 9 Gender Sensitivity in Quarantine 20, April, 2020 8 Corona Special - ?? To get expert's input for issue identification, design key messages 2 events of Content Advisory Group (CAG) meeting was done with 17 participants from program production team, local partner radios, concerned stakeholders and funding agencies in Province 2 (May 22, 2020) and 5 ( May 31, 2020) which included:

1. Review of previous episodes of the radio magazine with 2. Useful topics to be included in the program in coming episodes 3. Increasing the listeners of radio and viewers in social media.

Similarly, partners meeting were also done through Zoom and had discussion on family center approach's active listener group formation during Covid 19..

5.FM Partners Meeting

In order to discuss about broadcasting issues and priorities during lockdown AFN conducted a FM Partners meeting on 26th May, 2020 in which a total of 44 people participated via Zoom. The objectives of the meeting was to discuss Nepal's Independent Radio -current challenges & way forward to sustain radio in Covid19 outbreak. Chairpersons and officials of Broadcasting Association of Nepal (BAN), Association of Community Radio Broadcaster (ACORAB) and representatives from partner radio stations, media personnel, and chairperson and secretary of Antenna Foundation Nepal participated in the meeting. The meeting was done through Zoom platform and was also broadcasted live from official Facebook page of Antenna Foundation Nepal. The meeting has suggested AFN to restart Nepal Chautari- a live talk show and similar programs to address the information gap in the community..

6. Digital literacy Training-Online Recording

Due to lockdown it was getting very difficult for Radio producers to do recording, interviewing with people for radio programs. Keeping this situation in to consideration Antenna Foundation Nepal announced a digital literacy - online recording training for its partner radio stations. The primary objective of providing training was to train producers/station managers working in radio to do distance or online recording, conduct online meeting/conference and online interviewing as well. Near about 100 people showed their interest to participate in the training. AFN, out of 100selected 24 participants from all over Nepal for the training. The training was conducted on 20th May, 2020 virtually through Zoom app. Total 18 participants participated in the training and 17 of them completed 3 hours of online digital literacy training. The training consisted of topics included the technicalities of conducting interviews such as:

 Noise Control  Recording PSAs and Talk Shows  Content Selection in COVID19 context  Experience Sharing among the participants  Recording from home  Conducting virtual meeting, conferences etc. Additionally, new course "Reporting Corona Virus- Tips for Radio" was added on online learning platform Nepal Radio Lab which was attended by 22 people and 20 of them completed the course. The training focused on topics like Fact Check (Error Free Audio), Health Info Radio, Work/Broadcast from home, tips for Journalists covering COVID19, Coronavirus resource for reporters and news guidelines by ACORAB and BAN.

7. Online Training on Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC)

Sakriya is a US Department of Labor-funded consortium project that aims to build the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) to combat child labor specifically in the brick, carpet and zari sectors in select 15 districts across Province 1, 3 and 5 of Nepal. World Education leads the consortium, with three technical partners each leading three major outcome components –Swatantrata Abhiyan Nepal (SAN), research; Antenna Foundation Nepal (AFN), awareness raising campaign; and Terre des hommes (Tdh), case management.

Due to lockdown, 5 days of extensive training on Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) was done online through Sakriya project. AFN organized online SBCC training through Skype for 6 Community Service Organizations (CSOs) of Province 5 named Dalit Rights Watch Committee (DHRWC), Kapilvastu, Human Rights Awareness Center (HURAC), Rolpa, Backward Education Society (BASE), Dang, Prayas Nepal, Dhading, Tharu Women Upliftment Center (TWUC), Bardiya and Banke UNESCO Club, Banke. Total of 26 people from 6 CSOs participated on training where 6 people from implementing organizations and WEI also participated in different sessions of the training. Total 87 online classes were conducted from 6th April, 2020 to 28th May, 2020 to complete 14 sessions each for 6 CSOs. 3 other sessions were done for completing the worksheets of the organizations. Review and feedback session was done on 29th May, 2020 with the participation of 23 people of 6 CSOs. Participants were trained on socio-ecological model, introduction of SBCC, process and strategies, C-planning with presentation and discussion on worksheet.

8. Production of Bipadma Sang Sangai (BPSS)

Bipadma Sang Sangai (BPSS) is a radio program, produced by AFN, which talks about local issues around disaster and also contains advice on different issues from experts. BPSS did two episodes with information about COVID19.

Date Expert Issue May 3rd, 2020 Dr. Kapil Two covid19 survivors from Baglung, mental Upadhyaya health issues that arises from COVID19 and the story of Sangita Chaudhary of Kapilvastu, the mental health risk that occurs during a pandemic followed by the expert opinion on how to deal with it by Dr. Kapil Upadhyaya and World Health Organisation’s recommendation on dealing with stress during the pandemic. 20-Mar-20 Dr. Basu Dev About Corona Virus, government’s efforts against Pandey CoronaVirus including provision for treatments in Dr. Samir Mani hospitals for the covid19 patients, control Dixit mechanisms for international nationales entering Nepal through the airport and governmental efforts to treat the coronavirus patients.

Along with this episode on how to deal with snake bites, lightening and so on was also produced during this lockdown period. .