Annual Report 2008-2009
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ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009 Supporting broadcasters in Africa to strengthen small-scale farming and rural communities Gorvenance Report - Doug Ward n the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the Board of Directors worked especially related to Ihard to hold and refine the vision and values, set the poli- providing services to cies, steward the resources, and monitor the results of Farm our partners in Radio International. This year the Board: French-speaking • monitored implementation of our new risk management Africa; and welcome policies to new Board mem- ber Bernard Pelletier, • approved recommendations of our scripts program review, lecturer and research and approved management’s plan to implement the associate, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill recommendations University. • reviewed plans for the African Farm Radio Reseach Welcome also to Philip Landon, Director of Programs, as the Initiative (AFRRI) research, documentation and World University Service of Canda representative at our publication, and accepted the committee’s report Board meetings; and thanks to Ravi Gupta, for his exhaustive • drafted and approved a policy on partnerships to govern and supportive work in bringing FRI into the WUSC family how we relate formally to individuals and groups in Africa from the earliest days. • updated policy statements on the role of the Board and the This was Paul Davidson’s last year as Executive Director of role of individual directors World University Service of Canada. Five years ago, Paul and I discussed the future of the Developing Countries Farm • drafted a policy on training (which was approved in June Radio Network (as we were then called). Out of that discus- 2009) sion came the creative and effective relationship that now • tasked each Board member to contact FRI donors to thank exists between WUSC and Farm Radio International. We them for their continuing support. extend our heartiest thanks to Paul for his vision and support We also asked the Executive Committee to draft a strategic planning process for the Board’s consideration in 2009-2010. Doug Ward Thanks to Gilbert Héroux for his contributions to the Board, Chair of the Board of Directors Board of Directors 2008-2009 Doug Ward (President) Heather E. Hudson Retired Producer and Vice President, CBC Professor, Communications Technology Radio Management Program, School of Business & Nancy Brown Andison (Treasurer) Management, University of San Francisco Executive, IBM Canada Ltd Graham McLeod David W. Barrie Vice President, Project Legal Services, Infrastructure Ontario Farmer/Volunteer Agricultural Missionary in Africa Janette McDonald (Vice-President) Helen Hambly Odame Farm Communication Specialist Associate Professor, Capacity Development Charles Marful & Extension, School of Environmental Director, Human Resources Tax Practice, Design & Rural Development, University of Ernst & Young Guelph Sarah Andrewes Bernard Pelletier Vice-President, Hill & Knowlton Lecturer and Research Associate, John Morriss Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Associate Publisher and Editorial Director, McGill University Farm Business Communications Anthony Anyia Magdalena Burgess Program Leader/Scientist, Multi-Product Research Associate, McGill University Crop Platforms, Alberta Research Council Neil Ford Adjunct Professor, Department of Regional Chief, Programme Communication, FARM RADIO INTERNATIONAL Renewable Resources, University of Alberta West Africa, UNICEF 1404 Scott Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4M8 Bill Stunt Tel: 613-761-3650 Fax: 613-798-0990 Kevin Perkins Toll Free: 1-888-773-7717 Production Manager, CBC Radio, Music Secretary of the Board and Executive e-mail: [email protected] Director 1 www.farmradio.org Report from the Executive Director - Kevin Perkins n 2008-2009, we entered the 30th year of Farm Radio a number of changes IInternational’s existence (established in 1979 as to our script service, Developing Countries Farm Radio Network). As the year including the addition closed, I reflected with wonder at the enduring relevance of “Issue Packs” that of the founding vision. After all these years, we’re still help broadcasters helping smallholder farmers improve their lives by fur- develop their own nishing their trusted and reliable radio broadcasters with scripts and story ideas. relevant and appropriate information. Through the African , Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI), we were able to Through the 90s and into this millennium, new communi- pioneer a new approach to helping farmers learn about, cation technologies have emerged and “the information evaluate and try new farming practices – the “participato- highway” was built. In this context, one might have been ry radio campaign.” Through 25 campaigns, we reached forgiven for thinking that radio’s time had passed. With some 39 million small-scale farmers with information the internet making information available – in text, audio about a total of 15 different agricultural improvements – and visual form – to anyone at anytime with a few words from composting to inter-planting maize with beans. We typed into a search engine, why wait until Monday after- developed and delivered an exciting new training strategy noon for the weekly farm radio broadcast? Was radio that built the skills of 75 broadcasters in the “story-based headed for the same dust bin as the phonograph or 8-track approach” to farm radio programming. And we worked cassette player? with the Ghana Community Radio Network to develop a training workshop on how broadcasters can better serve Not so! Radio is more relevant than ever. And, it’s getting the needs of female farmers in Ghana. better. In the past, Farm Radio far too often featured lec- tures from expert to passive listener. Now, with our help – Thanks are owed to many for the accomplishments of and with the aid of new information technologies – it is 2008-2009. The Board of Directors provided vision, over- beginning to engage listeners in dialogue, discussion, and sight and energy. Advisors and volunteers in Africa and local farmers’ stories. Radio listenership is increasing, Canada offered invaluable expertise and ideas. The staff in even in remote rural areas, and the number and type of Canada and Africa contributed to and managed the radio stations are expanding. And, with training and tools, changes and expanded programs with skill and dedication. broadcasters are serving smallscale farmers better than Our hundreds of radio partners, who serve their countries’ ever. The rapid growth in cell phone ownership means farmers, contributed script ideas, and shared feedback broadcasters can interact with their listeners through from their listeners. And, last but not least, our thanks go phone-in shows, callout and shows (like Canada’s own to the Canadian donors whose steady and generous sup- As It Happens). Inexpensive MP3 recorders allow broad- port has made it possible for millions of African farmers casters to capture the voices, perspectives, and stories of to benefit from the power of radio. farmers and the soundscapes of rural areas. Yours, In 2008-2009 we were able to add new services and make subtle changes to traditional ones to facilitate this new age of farm broadcasting. Farm Radio Weekly was offered for a full year to hundreds of African broadcasters. We made Kevin Perkins Happy 30th! Farm Radio International has always appealed to me because it combines three passions of mine: journalism, broadcasting and “giving something back. I’m “ so glad that George Atkins signed me up as a volunteer supporter when he did. As a journalist, I appreciate the critical importance of Farm Radio International’s services for African broadcasters. Keep up the great work! - Lloyd Robertson, Chief News Anchor and Senior News Editor, CTV News. Farm Radio International spokesperson and supporter. 2 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: AFRICA Scripts and Voices roducing and distributing radio scripts on topics of specific Pinterest to small-scale farmers has been our “core service” since 1979. For over three years now, it has been my pleasure to contribute to this important service as Farm Radio International’s Managing Editor. During 2008-2009, we continued to engage African broadcasters to write the large majority of the scripts. I work with the writers to identify a topic and story treatment, and then play a coaching and editing role. Final scripts, in English and French, are printed and mailed to more than 300 radio organiza- tions across 39 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, along with Voices, our newsletter for rural radio broadcasters. The broadcasters, in turn, share the information and ideas in these scripts with millions of listeners. Each issue of Voices provides radio practitioners with valued information about the topics covered in the scripts, togeth- er with tips and guides, resources, and partner information. In 2008-2009, based on the recommendations of a Script Review Committee formed by the Board, we developed a new format called the “Issue Pack” with the goal of providing broadcasters with the information and resources they need to produce their own local programs on specific themes. Working with a group of advi- sors, I developed four prototype Issue Packs, each with a different theme, level of technical content, and format. To make sure the Issue Packs will meet the needs of broadcasters, I formed a refer- SCRIPT SAMPLE ence group of 10 broadcasters to provide detailed feedback on the new approach. Based on a positive initial reaction, we plan to Program host: Dear farmers, managing runoff introduce