2015 Activity Report Fondation Hirondelle
Foreword
A Young Generation Hungry for Information
2015 was a rich year for Fondation Hirondelle but not easy because - why hide the fact? - the dogged work of promoting public opinion based on good citizenship is more difficult when government budgets are tight. Why worry about independent information when the current emergency is economic crisis, the terrorist threat and mass migration? And yet Fondation Hirondelle’s work is more necessary than ever. Among other places, our media are working in West Africa, from which hundreds of thousands of young people are trying to flee. We are present in Mali and Burkina Faso, where Islamic radicalism is on the rise. How can we fight ideologies of hatred if not through dialogue? How can we build peaceful societies if not by respecting everyone’s opinions? That is why Fondation Hirondelle media are there. In Conakry, a young, motivated, trained team is waiting for funding for an FM radio station so much wanted by the country. I was able to see that myself when I paid a visit there. African youth are hungry for informa- tion, they are connected, they are on the go and nothing will stop them. Fondation Hirondelle is thinking about how it can diversify its funding sources. This is the path we will follow in the coming years. And citizens all across the world are waiting for us. Romaine Jean Fondation Hirondelle Board Chairwoman
Rooted in Experience
Twenty years ago a group of journalists set up Fondation Hirondelle so they could use their journalism skills to serve populations in crisis. What have we learned in 20 years? We have learned that the more the social, political or economic situation becomes tense, the more universal rules on providing credible information must be strictly respected; that when faced with a camera or a microphone, seemingly impossible dialogue between conflicting parties can become possible; that our commitment entails risks that we must accept with lucidity; and that rigorous management is the key to successful action. But our experience also reveals another fundamental truth: as we sensed 20 years ago, what populations need enormously is accurate, broad-ranging news and information free from political or commercial manipulation. Current events require that we lean on our experience. Responding to this need will be even more difficult in the future than in the past. But as always, we will never meet the challenge without the support of public and private donors, people in political office and journalists. Jean-Marie Etter, CEO Fondation Hirondelle Marks 20th Anniversary
Four-Pronged Action
Since 2013, Fondation Hirondelle has been implementing a four-year action plan organized around four fields of activ- ity in the countries where it operates and at its headquarters in Lausanne. The first field of activity is producing and broad- casting news and information. This is the heart of what we do and represented 33% of Fondation Hirondelle’s volume of activi- ties in 2015. Studio Tamani in Mali, the JusticeInfo.net website and Radio Ndeke Luka in the Central African Republic are examples of how Fondation Hirondelle’s activities serve populations in need of news and information. The second field of activity is support and training of the Fondation’s media partners, including community radios in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the state broad- caster in Burkina Faso. This field of activity, Writer Eugénie Mukamugema, formerly of Radio Agatashya, speaking at Fondation Hirondelle’s 20th anniversary which complements the first one, repre- conference. © Photo: Jean-Philippe Challandes / Fondation Hirondelle sents 42% of expenditure. The third and fourth fields of activity are promoting the sustainability of media (15 %) and net- Public Interest, Solidarity and Recognition working and research (10% of financial volume in 2015), which are essential to An anniversary is not an event, it is often said in editorial rooms. But promote recognition of the key role media for Fondation Hirondelle, this 20th anniversary became one, thanks to the can play providing independent news and magic of the public interest and solidarity it brought. information in crisis zones. On October 1 and 2, a conference in Geneva on “Bringing News and Information to a World in Crisis” brought together journalists, political personalities, NGO leaders and representatives of other media support organizations to exchange on media’s role in four main crises: the rising influence of religion as identity and sometimes a source of violence; the migrant crisis; difficulties of getting universal recognition for transitional justice; and restoring rule of law after conflicts and crises. The University of Neuchâtel also marked Fondation Hirondelle’s 20th anniversary with a high-level international conference on October 23 on development and sustainability of media in Africa. Researchers and stakeholders from the US, Nigeria, Portugal, France, Switzerland and other countries highlighted the huge potential for economic development of communications in Africa and the difficulties independent media face reaching the necessary Our mobile studio at the Paléo Festival in managerial and financial level to exert wide influence. Nyon got many visitors. © Photo: Jean-Luc Mootoosamy / Fondation Hirondelle
2 Fondation Hirondelle stand at the Paléo Festival, Nyon. © Photo: Léandre Duggan / Fondation Hirondelle
Fondation Hirondelle’s role was also recognized at political level. Fondation Hirondelle website: Responding to a parliamentary query, the Swiss Federal Council (federal hirondelle.org government) stated on August 26 that it considers the Fondation to be “a unique actor in the field of media in crisis contexts, whose work is of great pertinence and widely accepted. Today it sets an example at international facebook.com/fondationhirondelle level in this field”. @FondHirondelle Any anniversary is cause to celebrate, and so we did at the Paléo Festival in Nyon, where we were guests of honour. We also associated the Central African Republic with this popular Swiss music festival, bringing one of its radio presenters to Nyon to host a special live show. We also produced a film about Fondation Hirondelle’s history. Fuelled by the 20th anniversary, the Friends of Fondation Hirondelle Association grew stronger, and we were able to launch a new support initiative, the Media Development Circle (Cercle Médias-Mutations). An anniversary is not an event, goes the journalists’ saying. What joy to have been an exception to this in 2015.
3 Mali Studio Tamani
News, Information and Dialogue
Studio Tamani has been producing radio programmes for Mali since August 2013, with daily news bulletins in five languages (French, Bambara, Peulh, Tamasheq, and Sonrhaï), a flagship discussion programme called “The Big Debate” (“Le Grand Dialogue”) and features linked to news and specific issues. As of 2015, a morning news bulletin has been produced in addition to the evening programming. In total, 3 hours and 15 minutes of programming is produced and broadcast daily on weekdays. Studio Tamani thus provides reliable news and information and a space for dialogue and reconciliation for all the people of Mali. All content is produced by a team of 20 Malian journalists based in Bamako and a network of 35 correspondents across the country. The programmes are broadcast Representative of the High Islamic Council in the studio during a debate on Islamic radicalization . live each day by 56 partner radios © Photo: Nicolas Boissez / Fondation Hirondelle throughout Mali. This network was set up as part of a partnership between Fondation Hirondelle and the Mali Union of Free A Radio Network Serving the People of Mali Radio and Television Stations (URTEL), which first had the idea for the Studio “It was Studio Tamani that broke the ice between people that were Tamani project. fighting and would not talk to each other. By bringing them to the microphone in the `Big Debate’, Studio Tamani showed them they can talk to each other. That is an important contribution to the peace process.” These words spoken by Amadou Thiam, second Vice-President of Mali’s National Assembly, show the role that Studio Tamani played in 2015. In a context of sharply declining security as terrorist attacks increased but also improved national dialogue after the signing of a peace deal for northern Mali, Studio Tamani fully lived up to its mandate, providing news and information to a growing number of people throughout the country. The project strengthened its position as the country’s leading media forum, promoting dialogue between all components of Malian society. Daily programme production increased with the launch of a morning news bulletin from 8.00 to 9.15. The partner radio network was expanded to 56 radios (from 23 previously). Studio Tamani’s audience in Mali is now Grand Dialogue (“Big Debate”) programme on tran- sitional justice, Bamako. © Photo: Nicolas Boissez / estimated at 1,650,000 daily listeners aged 15 or over (TNS SOFRES survey Fondation Hirondelle conducted at the end of 2015). The overwhelming majority of listeners
4 A Malian artist being interviewed by a Studio Tamani journalist in Bamako. © Photo: Marc Ellison / Fondation Hirondelle
(76% to 100%, according to location) think its programmes are “useful” or Donors: “indispensable”. The survey found that the need for independent, reliable - European Union news and information is vital especially in places directly affected by the - Sweden crisis. There is a sharp difference in the results for Bamako and for the rest - United Kingdom of the country: 84% of people listen in Timbuktu, in the heart of the Malian - Switzerland (partnership contract) crisis, and only 7% in Bamako, where competition is strong and the focus Contributions to specific activities: of people’s interest more diverse. A new broadcast strategy is being put in - United States (via IFES) place in Bamako in 2016 to attract more listeners. - Hirondelle USA (Ford Foundation) - European Union (via Interpeace) To help achieve these results, the capacities of the editorial staff were much improved in 2015, under the guidance of the Fondation Hirondelle Connect: Head of Media in Bamako. The number of reports produced increased studiotamani.org strongly to an average 900 per month, of which about half were from the 35 regional correspondents in partner radios. This makes Studio Tamani a facebook.com/StudioTamani unique news network in Mali. It has often been the first to broadcast @StudioTamani independent, balanced news and information on sensitive issues. For example, Studio Tamani was the first media outlet to invite a member of youtube.com/user/studiotamani the Touareg rebellion to its studio in June 2015 for a live debate with the authorities after the signing of the peace accord for northern Mali. Mobile Application « Studio Tamani » on I-Phone and Android AudioNow
5 Central African Republic Radio Ndeke Luka and Support to Community Radios
Reconciliation
Management of Radio Ndeke Luka (RNL) and rehabilitation of 9 community radios looted during the crisis were Fondation Hirondelle’s main activities in the Central African Republic (CAR) in 2015. RNL, which was created in 2000, is the leading radio station in the CAR. “Ndeke Luka tells the truth,” say its loyal listeners. They consider it a “tool for social cohesion and reconciliation“, that it “allows dialogue” in a country where living together has been strained by the political and military crisis. RNL broadcasts 13 news bulletins per day, debates, entertainment programmes, music and practical information in French and Sango. This content is produced by around 50 Central African journalists in Bangui and the provinces. The radio broadcasts around the clock, seven days a week using 5 FM transmitters. Now that it is on Canal Satellite Afrique it can reach Broadcasting live from a meeting between Pope Francis and young people at Bangui Cathedral. © Photo: Jean-Luc Mootoosamy / Fondation Hirondelle the whole country. RNL also broadcasts two hours a day on shortwave. It broadcasts communiqués and advertising which A Radio Serving Central Africans comes through the advertising department of Fondation Ndeke Luka, a Central African “For us, you are more than a national radio station! Thank you Ndeke organization that is to take over managing Luka!” This is how a female listener, moved to tears, expressed her RNL in the future. gratitude after the 27-hour visit of Pope Francis to Bangui in November 2015. She wanted to thank RNL for its extensive coverage of this event which no doubt marked a turning point in the CAR’s process to emerge from crisis. Throughout those two days when almost all of Bangui was following the Pope, RNL’s jingle produced specially for the occasion could be heard everywhere. It was taken up by the 30,000 people gathered in Boganda Stadium at the end of the Mass celebrated by the Pope. This episode in the life of RNL sums up its importance in the CAR and its unique relationship with listeners, whatever their ethnic or religious belonging. Such expressions of appreciation encouraged the RNL team who had a difficult year in 2015. Despite security problems and funding difficulties, RNL continued to operate, working to serve the Central African people. At the beginning of the year, eight of our staff who were at risk in their home districts were moved to a safe place in Bangui. For three weeks they continued their work away from their families, covering, for example, the © Photo: Jean-Luc Mootoosamy / Fondation anti-Balaka capture of French hostage Claudia Priest in January. After she Hirondelle was freed, Mrs. Priest said she had listened to RNL in captivity and thanked
6 Scenes of joy after the CAR’s football victory against the Democratic Republic of Congo in September. © Photo: Jean-Luc Mootoosamy / Fondation Hirondelle
the radio for the accuracy of the information it broadcast about her Donors: capture. In October, the RNL team braved roadblocks held by armed men - Embassy of France in the CAR so that the radio could continue to broadcast. The radio opened its airwaves to humanitarian agencies to broadcast vital information that - Switzerland (partnership contract) allowed ambulances to circulate in the city. For a week, RNL staff walked - European Union to the radio to do this public service work. - Pro Victimis RNL also covered the constitutional referendum and first round of - Embassy of China in the CAR presidential and legislative elections in 2015. Its live broadcasts allowed - Fondation Ndeke Luka and other the National Elections Authority (ANE) to react promptly to correct private donors problems in polling stations. RNL showed it was vital for the CAR, and yet it almost had to stop broadcasting for lack of funding. The successive Connect: postponements of the elections discouraged donors. RNL’s advertising radiondekeluka.org revenue also dropped owing to the slowdown in economic activity in the CAR. Fondation Hirondelle nevertheless decided to keep RNL running Application “Radio Ndeke Luka” until new donors were found at the end of the year. for iOs and Android. Fondation Hirondelle also completed a rehabilitation programme for AudioNow (Switzerland, US, UK, France). community radios that were looted in 2013 and 2014. Thanks to this, nine radios in the provinces and Bangui were able to resume broadcasting their programmes and also RNL content.
7 Guinea Studio Hirondelle-Guinée
Professionalism
Studio Hirondelle-Guinée is a radio training studio which produces and broadcasts factual, balanced, impartial, professional news, information and programmes nationwide. The programmes are produced in the Conakry studio in French, Peulh, Soussou and Malinké, and are broadcast throughout the country by a network of partner radios. The project also aims to improve the capacities of those working in radio in Guinea, so as to create a new generation of journalists that can work professionally and inform the Guinean population in a responsible way. The goal of improving professionalism is focused on two main target groups: journalism students and those in their last year of studies at ISIC (High Institute of Information and Communication) and key people working in rural radio stations, which provide news and information to people living in the Children in the Studio for the programme “All the Children of Guinea”. © Photo: Daniele Piazza / Fondation Hirondelle interior of the country. The project was launched on January 1, 2014 and in less than a year it had A production and training studio gained the trust of partners, actors in the media sector and the Guinean Ministry of The editorial staff of Studio Hirondelle-Guinée was boosted in 2015, Communication. allowing production of 1,100 radio programmes in 4 languages, broadcast throughout the country by the 27 stations of the Radio Rurale network. Nearly half of these programmes were aimed at sensitizing people and providing information to fight the Ebola epidemic, which only started subsiding at the end of the year. A new weekly half-hour programme was also launched for young children, “All the Children of Guinea”. The other event that marked the year was the presidential election. A special programme schedule was put in place in September and October, keeping all the editorial team busy. It included news (“Election News Bulletin”), civic education (“Understanding the Elections”), “Questions to the Independent Electoral Commission” and debate programmes. Training delivered by Studio Hirondelle-Guinée in 2015 contributed to sustainable improvement of capacities among the media actors in the country. Studio Hirondelle-Guinée is the only institution offering continuous and follow-up training to Guinean A Studio Hirondelle-Guinée journalist reporting journalists and radio technicians. One-month or one to two - week on deforestation. intensive courses train professionals in ethics and in all radio skills. This © Photo: Tristan Miquel / Fondation Hirondelle unique service represents a drive for sustainable development of quality
8 Interview with a woman cured of Ebola. © Photo: Tristan Miquel / Fondation Hirondelle
media in Guinea. During the year, 190 people benefitted from these Donors: training courses. - European Union (via FEI and ECES) Work on technical rehabilitation of stations of the Radio Rurale - UNICEF network started in 2014 was completed during the year. Ten stations of - Switzerland (partnership contract) the Radio Rurale network received new production and broadcasting equipment and technical support to install it. All stations of the Radio Rurale network now have an Internet connection that allows them to Contributions to specific activities: connect with their management and download Studio Hirondelle Guinea - Hirondelle USA (Ford Foundation) programmes for broadcast. - Management of Radio Rurale de Guinée In July 2015 Forum Idéal, a Guinean NGO which is a Fondation Hirondelle partner, obtained authorization to launch an FM radio Connect: station with Fondation Hirondelle. This is the first such authorization issued by the country’s new High Communication Authority. It is a studiohirondelle.org formidable opportunity to multiply the impact of our work in Guinea so far. Studio Hirondelle-Guinée should thus be transformed in 2016 into a radio school.
9 Democratic Republic of Congo Support to community radios and Radio Okapi MONUSCO
Evolution
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Fondation Hirondelle’s efforts are focused on three fields linked to the country’s efforts to emerge from crisis. In 2002, the United Nations mission in the DRC, supported by Fondation Hirondelle, created a national, broad-interest “peace radio”, Radio Okapi . In a country frag- mented by different political and military forces, Okapi’s professional, impartial news and information and its debate programmes like “Dialogue between Congolese” quickly became popular. Today it is still the leading radio station in the DRC. In 2004, the Fondation also started working with community radio partners of Radio Okapi, providing them with journa- listic, technical and managerial support. In 2014, the Fondation launched new programming on the theme of ”Building the Future”, aimed particularly at women and youth. A listener of Vuvu Kieto, partner radio of Fondation Hirondelle in the DRC. © Photo: Gwenn Dubourthoumieu 2011
Development of the radio sector
Donors: In 2015, Fondation Hirondelle continued its support to community radios in the DRC. On the editorial front, 24 radios received personalized - United States coaching for their journalists who are Radio Okapi correspondents, and - Switzerland (partnership contract) training in how to conduct political debates. In management and marketing, 49 radios received training and coaching for their managers Contributions to specific activities: and section heads, plus technical support in the form of equipment, installation of solar power kits, and an Internet hotline to help diagnose - Hirondelle Communication (institutional and repair technical problems. Fondation Hirondelle provided this communication contracts) support as part of the “Media Sector Development Program” (MSDP), funded by USAID and managed by Internews. The first five-year phase of Connect: the MSDP was completed at the end of 2015. radiookapi.net A third group of 82 radios makes up the Hirondelle Network in the DRC. It is managed by Hirondelle Communication, which represents them facebook.com/radiookapi with institutional publicity clients in Kinshasa. Broadcast contracts with NGOs, international and government agencies for sensitization campaigns @radiookapi generate regular fee revenue indispensable for the sustainability of these radios, whose financial situation remains fragile. This constantly growing network (+3 radios in 2015) is the media network with the biggest Support to community radios: penetration in the country. More than half of its members are in rural areas radionet.cd where 60% of the Congolese population live.
10 Tunisia Support to The National Radio Broadcaster of Tunisia
Transformation
In the wake of Tunisia’s December 2010 revolution and the political transition that started in August 2011, the new management of Radio Tunisienne launched a process to transform the state radio inherited from the Ben Ali era into a real public service. Fondation Hirondelle and Radio Tunisienne began their partnership in August 2011 with a first phase focused on covering the November 2011 elections and reform of Radio Gafsa, one of Radio Tunisienne’s five regional stations. This was successful, and the Fondation then extended its support to reform two other regional stations, Radio Kef and Radio Tataouine. Particular attention is paid to bringing them closer to their listeners, by training 10 correspondents deployed to five bureaux in satellite towns of the regional radios.
Interview by Radio Gafsa, a Radio Tunisienne station supported by Fondation Hirondelle. © Photo: Gwenn Dubourthoumieu 2015
Strengthening the regional radio stations
The third phase of Fondation Hirondelle support to Tunisian state Donor: broadcaster Radio Tunisienne, which was agreed in June 2015, aims to - Switzerland (SDC: project contribution) reform the last two regional stations of the network, Radio Monastir and Radio Sfax. The focus once again is on increasing their audience and audience loyalty by expanding their correspondent network to bring their Connect: editorial content closer to the people. At the end of 2015, an upsurge of radiotunisienne.tn social tension in the towns where the correspondent bureaux were set up confirmed the pertinence of this approach proposed by Fondation facebook.com/RadioTunisienne.tn Hirondelle. The correspondents, who had received training, were able to cover the events for the different stations of Radio Tunisienne, providing @RadioTunisienne content that no other media had. Hirondelle’s methodology, guided by audience surveys before and after launching a new programme schedule, allows its impact on the stations’ popularity to be measured. Fondation Hirondelle also continued to support Radio Tunisienne in overhauling its website and social media content, particularly to attract young people. A new web portal with all the functions of a professional multimedia site was launched in October 2014. Its reactive content, which is updated several times a day, still needs to be improved by better integrating the website journalists into the editorial teams of the regional stations.
11 Côte d’Ivoire Support to Studio Mozaik
A Training Studio
After a first mission to Abidjan in June 2011 in the wake of the post-election crisis, Fondation Hirondelle received a request in 2012 from Fondation Dr Peter Graze, an association created by Ivorian media professionals, and German NGO Culture Counts. These two organizations sought Hirondelle’s expertise to set up a radio station that would promote dialogue and reconciliation. A plan was drawn up in 2013 for “Mozaik FM”, a name reflecting the mosaic of rich culture in Côte d’Ivoire. This project took shape in 2014 with the opening of a radio training school, thanks to funding from the European Union. Studio Mozaik was set up with advice, editorial and training expertise from Fondation Hirondelle up to the end of 2015 (end of the EU funding).
A trainee journalist reading the news. © Photo: Nicolas Boissez / Fondation Hirondelle
Training a new generation of journalists
Donors: As part of the European Union-funded project to the end of 2015, 84 students and journalists from partner radios were trained at Studio Mozaik - European Union (via Culture Counts) over periods of three months, followed by a further three months of - Germany practical training. These training courses covered basic principles allowing - Fondation Hirondelle journalists to work in a professional, impartial and responsible way. The (Switzerland, partnership contract) young journalists were able to put what they learned into practice through the production of programmes as part of the training. They also provided - Hirondelle USA (Ford Foundation) programme content for Studio Mozaik’s network of 42 partner radios throughout the country. Connect: In Côte d’Ivoire, 2015 was marked by the re-election of President studiomozaik.org Alassane Ouattara. Fondation Hirondelle put in place a specific project to support Studio Mozaik in covering this election. A team of 12 stringers facebook.com/studiomozaikci was formed from former trainees of the training studio. Supervised by the Fondation Hirondelle editorial chief, they provided daily coverage for three months of election preparations and the poll itself, keeping the @studiomozaik focus on the needs and expectations of the population. Their reports were broadcast by 19 partner radios provided with VSAT kits, including 12 hours of live broadcasts on election day. The programmes were also broadcast on a web radio (www.mozaikwebradio.com). A web documentary (https://re04f25922.racontr.com) was produced by Fondation Hirondelle to present the work accomplished in an interactive way.
12 Transitional Justice JusticeInfo.net
Promoting a high standard of justice
JusticeInfo.net is the only bilingual (French and English) online media offering news coverage and interactive content on transitional justice in post-conflict societies. It aims to help strengthen national and international justice processes promoting international norms in the fight against massive violations of human rights abuses and impunity. Without a high standard of justice, citizens tend to see their institutions as corrupt and distrust them, while social and political tensions may rise in countries emerging from conflict. The site targets media and transitional justice stakeholders, but also directly affected populations deprived of their right to information by conflict or disaster situations.
Interview with a Sierra Leonean policeman. © Photo: Jean-Claude Capt / Fondation Hirondelle.
Informing, Training and Creating Networks
JusticeInfo.net is an electronic media platform launched by Fondation Donors: Hirondelle in 2015, which aims to become the go-to website for coverage - Switzerland (partnership contract) of transitional justice worldwide. It provides factual reports, analysis, different opinions and ideas. The site is also an educational tool, with an - UNDP Tunisia interactive calendar, glossary of transitional justice terms, biographies - Robert Bosch Stiftung and country backgrounders. It has inherited the archives in four languages - City of Geneva of Hirondelle News, created by the Fondation in 1995 to cover the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Connect: JusticeInfo.net has a network of 15 journalists and 12 experts from 10 countries, allowing it to cover 25 countries in particular, including Bosnia, justiceinfo.net Burundi, Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria and Tunisia. This project also helps strengthen the capacities facebook.com/JusticeInfo of journalists covering transitional justice by editorial coaching and helping them network. It helps create a space for dialogue and debate by @justiceinfonet organizing events where journalists, specialists and members of the public can meet to discuss transitional justice. Among visitors to JusticeInfo.net, 15% are, for example, from Tunisia, thanks to more than 30 articles and academic analyses on this country. Some 8% of visitors are from the Netherlands, where the International Criminal Court is based.
13 Burkina Faso Support to the National Broadcaster of Burkina Faso (RTB)
Transition
Following the events of October 2014, when the destruction of some RTB installations showed the extent of public dissatisfaction with the national broadcaster (RTB), the government of Burkina Faso asked the SDC (Swiss government agency) for support. The SDC, in close consultation with the Ministry of Communication, mandated a team of Fondation Hirondelle experts to evaluate the needs of the RTB and identify the elements for a partnership. In collaboration with the RTB and the SDC, Fondation Hirondelle proposed a project to support the RTB during the transition and post-election period. Fondation Hirondelle was mandated by the SDC to support the RTB for a period of 18 months.
An RTB journalist reporting. © Photo: Denis Vincenti / Fondation Hirondelle
New Challenges for Burkina Faso’s Public Broadcaster Donor: Since August 2015, Fondation Hirondelle has been providing editorial and technical support to Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina Faso (RTB), - Switzerland (mandate) the state broadcaster of Burkina Faso. After the popular uprising of 2014, people have high expectations of their national broadcaster and want the Connect: RTB to become the media for all citizens of Burkina Faso. rtb.bf During the presidential and legislative elections in November 2015, Fondation Hirondelle supported the RTB in producing and broadcasting facebook.com/rtburkina programmes. It provided training in electoral coverage for journalists, and the RTB’s correspondent network was strengthened to ensure national @rtburkina coverage. Technical support allowed professional broadcasting. Fondation Hirondelle also supported the editorial teams during the elections and worked with the web team to improve the coverage on RTB’s website and social media. This support helped the RTB provide coverage for all the people of Burkina Faso that was worthy of these historic elections. To support the RTB in its transition to a public service, the Fondation is also organizing a series of discussion forums on the future of media in Burkina Faso. Before the elections it brought together, in partnership with the Centre National de Presse Norbert Zongo, all the main political parties and presidential candidates to explain their visions for the future of public broadcasting in Burkina Faso and press freedom in the country.
14 Niger Studio Kalangou
Social cohesion
Studio Kalangou is a production studio set up in Niamey in September 2015. The project aims to work alongside other media and institutional actors to promote dialogue between different components of society, so that elections in Niger in 2016 can be approached in a responsible, transparent and peaceful way, and to cover the post-electoral period. Its programmes aim to help the people of Niger better understand what is at stake in governance and elections, to promote a culture of dialogue and participation in public life, and thus contribute to stability and social cohesion. Two of its implementing partners are the Network of Community Radios (RACOM) and the Niger Association of Private Radio and Television Promoters (APRTPN).
Mariama Diallo, presenter of the news bulletin in French. © Photo: Pauline Bend / Fondation Hirondelle
A Successful Launch
Studio Kalangou offers one and a half hours of daily programming, Donors: including news bulletins in 4 languages (French, Haoussa, Zarma and - Switzerland (mandate) Peulh), civic education programmes, features on the daily life of men and - United Kingdom women in Niger and a big debate programme. In 2016 it aims to increase production to two hours of programmes Connect: and add a fifth language, Tamasheq. To achieve this goal, Studio Kalangou plans to mobilize a network of partner radios to broadcast its programmes facebook.com/Studio-Kalangou- throughout Niger. It will also provide professional, practical, intensive 889644731134054 training to strengthen the editorial and technical capacities of journalists in its partner radios, as well as other people aiming to be professional soundcloud.com/studio-kalangou journalists or radio technicians in Niger. The project was launched in the last quarter of 2015. Activities focussed on recruiting and training the journalists and administrative staff, installing the technical equipment needed for radio production and satellite broadcasting and finalizing partnership agreements with the main local organizations of private and community radios in the country. Progress in these activities allowed production of radio programmes to start in January 2016.
15 New Projects
Myanmar, History in the Making 2015 was a historic year for Myanmar, with presidential and legislative elections that brought a civilian president to power. Fondation Hirondelle, which has been actively looking since 2013 for ways to promote independent information for the maximum number of people, signed an agreement in 2015 with the Parliament of Myanmar. This agreement aims to help Parliament open up to the media, and train the media in parliamentary coverage. At present relations between the parliament and media are virtually non- existent. There is no system for accrediting journalists to Parliament and its public information service only provides sporadic A resident of Donetsk, in the secessionist region of Donbass, Ukraine, August 2015. © Photo: AFP. information on its agenda, work of its commissions and so on. The international community waited throughout 2015 for the election results and to see if they Looking for partners would be accepted by all parties before committing support for projects linked to Three new Fondation Hirondelle operations were launched in 2015: governance and democratic transition in the JusticeInfo.net website in June, a mandate to support state broadcaster Myanmar. We have therefore not yet been RTB in Burkina Faso in August, and Studio Kalangou in Niger in September. able to start activities, for lack of funding. Starting a new project comes after months of reflection, making contacts, The priority in 2016 will be to find funding seeking operational and funding partners, and requires mobilizing the for the project and launch it. expertise of the whole team. We continued at the same time to seek partners for projects in Myanmar, Ukraine and Palestine. The media situation in Ukraine remains very polarized, with a rise in biased reporting and a decline in the financial means of media that want to produce independent information. In Palestine, the increase in tension with Israel, perceived loss of legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority and the regional context make potential public and private partners hesitate to invest in an independent media for the Palestinian people. In Nepal and Libya, civil society partners contacted us to help reflect with them on suitable media responses to the crises there. In Nepal, the focus is on reconstruction after the earthquake, transparency and tracking the millions that have been invested in infrastructure. In Libya, what is at stake is much thornier: contributing through news and information produced in Libya by Libyans to national unity, the fight against armed groups and restoration of peace.
16 Development of Fondation Hirondelle
Friends of Fondation Hirondelle The Friends of Fondation Hirondelle Association offers anyone interested in the Fondation’s activities a platform where they can stay in close contact with us. This association keeps its members regularly up to date on our various operations. Its focus is not only on news and information in crisis zones but also more generally the social role of media throughout the world, and therefore also in Europe. The association organizes activities in Switzerland and France, such as meetings with editors, visits to media, debates and meetings with journalists from Fondation Hirondelle media. The Fondation Hirondelle team in Lausanne. © Photo: Sandra Garrido / Fondation Hirondelle Each member contributes to the association with an annual subscription of CHF 100. Many members also add A powerful management tool donations, which go to the Fondation’s Support Fund. This fund, which cannot be used for operating costs, provides a sort of Fondation Hirondelle has taken the decision to develop and install a complement to the Fondation capital. The powerful new tool for financial and administrative management, to meet Friends of Fondation Hirondelle the ever more detailed requirements of its different donors. For any association gained 60 new members in company, putting in place this tool known as Enterprise Resource Planning 2015. (ERP) requires considerable investment in work, analysis and specialized expertise. Fondation Hirondelle is no exception. Despite a limited number Website: of headquarters staff and the need to continue ensuring operational amisfondationhirondelle.org management at the same time as developing this tool, the Fondation has successfully put in place the main components of the software and conducted training on it at headquarters and in its various operations. This programme has involved all our staff in Switzerland and proved highly motivating for those who have led it. The Fondation is also approaching more and more private partners to support its activities. To this end, the Management has made many contacts and launched the Media Development Circle (Cercle Médias- Mutations), an informal network of personalities interested in helping us develop our activities. This is a network of company managers, local authorities and philanthropists who believe they and the media have a role to play in promoting good citizenship, and that it is useful to work together for social cohesion and the public good. The Fondation Hirondelle Board was also boosted with the addition of two new members: Guillaume Pictet and Mario Fetz.
17 Fondation Hirondelle Operations in 2015
SWITZERLAND Headquarters 29 sta , of whom some part-time 1 431 380 CHF
United States Hirondelle USA 1 sta 20 000 CHF Tunisia Support to Radio Mali Tunisienne Niger Studio Tamani 3 sta Studio Kalangou 37 sta 925 700 CHF 32 sta 1 678 140 CHF 607 190 CHF
Guinea Central Africain Republic Studio Hirondelle- Radio Ndeke Luka Guinée Support to community radios 9 sta 56 sta 1 095 430 CHF 1 427 750 CHF Transitional Justice Côte d’Ivoire JusticeInfo.net Studio Mozaik 1 sta 4 staff 360 760 CHF Democratic Republic of Congo 345 620 CHF Burkina Faso Support to community radios Support to Radio- Support to Radio Okapi di usion Télévision 5 sta du Burkina 1 716 080 CHF 3 sta New Projects /exploration 481 210 CHF • Libya • Myanmar • Nepal • Palestine • Ukraine
18 Fondation Hirondelle Operations in 2015
SWITZERLAND Headquarters 29 sta , of whom some part-time 1 431 380 CHF
United States Hirondelle USA 1 sta 20 000 CHF Tunisia Support to Radio Mali Tunisienne Niger Studio Tamani 3 sta Studio Kalangou 37 sta 925 700 CHF 32 sta 1 678 140 CHF 607 190 CHF
Guinea Central Africain Republic Studio Hirondelle- Radio Ndeke Luka Guinée Support to community radios 9 sta 56 sta 1 095 430 CHF 1 427 750 CHF
Côte d’Ivoire Studio Mozaik 1 sta 360 760 CHF Democratic Republic of Congo Burkina Faso Support to community radios Support to Radio- Support to Radio Okapi di usion Télévision 5 sta du Burkina 1 716 080 CHF 3 sta 481 210 CHF
19 Administration and Finance
General Financial Situation Fondation Hirondelle had a difficult financial year once again. The main reason was the very late signature, - some in 2016 - of several 2015 funding contracts. This left uncertainty with regard to the final result and the Fondation was obliged to limit all its expenditure. On the positive front, the Swiss government’s contribution and its flexible conditions allowed the Fondation to keep its priority activities going despite lack of funding from traditional donors. Cashflow difficulties were managed with the help of donations to the support fund, and a provision for operational risks (termination of staff contracts) was created. Overall annual expenditure in 2015 was 10,301,578 CHF, which was down on the previous year. The operating result showed a deficit of 10,439 CHF. Exchange rate losses totalled 2,186 CHF. Taking account of other costs and financial products, the year ended with a balanced final result.
Global annual expenditure over 10 years (in CHF) 12,000,000 10,000,000 8,000,000
6,000,000 4,000,000 2,000,000
0 2006 2007 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2009 2008 2010
Human Resources Fondation Hirondelle relies on the commitment of its 104 national staff to fulfil its mandate, in the countries where it works. There are also about 30 trainees and correspondents. These employees are supported by 13 expatriates on long-term contracts and experts on short-term missions (47 missions of 2 weeks to 3 months conducted in 2015). The total number of staff remained stable. On December 31, 2015, 13 people on the equivalent of 10.7 full-time posts were employed working directly on projects, while another 16 (on the equivalent of 14.7 full-time posts) were employed in management, transversal and other support. Fondation Hirondelle is also training an apprentice. Project expenditure Out of total expenditure of 10,301,578 CHF, 13.9% went on headquarters support operations, support to Hirondelle USA and to cover exchange rate fluctuations. The remaining 8,870,200 CHF went to projects, with 59.7% spent on staff costs, 28.6% on operating costs and 11.7% on equipment.
Project Country/ Theme Expenditure Support to Radiodiffusion Télévision Burkina Faso 481,215 Studio Mozaik Côte d’Ivoire 360,763 Studio Hirondelle-Guinée Guinea 1,095,429 Studio Tamani Mali 1,678,137 Studio Kalangou Niger 607,195 Radio Ndeke Luka - Support to community radios CAR 1,427,751 Radio Okapi - MSDP - HC DRC 1,716,085 Support to Radio Tunisienne Tunisia 925,708 JusticeInfo.net Transitional Justice 345,624 New projects Various 232,293
20 Financial Resources Fondation Hirondelle’s total revenue was 10,288,953 CHF in 2015, and came from the following donors:
Type of revenue Revenue in CHF Revenue as % of total
Institutional donors Germany 228,218 2.22 % China (Embassy in the CAR) 3,200 0.03 % United States – Internews and Ifes 852,564 8.29 % France 29,325 0.29 % UN organizations (UNICEF and UNDP) 482,912 4.69 % United Kingdom 62,476 0.61 % Sweden 1,264,434 12.29 % Switzerland 4,554,228 44.26 % European Union 1,139,946 11.08 % European Union / FEI (France Expertise Internationale) 274,792 2.67 % European Union / Interpeace 239,486 2.33 % Other donors City of Geneva 15,000 0.15 % RTS partnership 75,000 0.73 % Fondation Pro Victimis 200,000 1.94 % Hirondelle USA / Ford Foundation 58,018 0.56 % Miscellaneous donations 162,046 1.57 % Other revenue Sales and advertising 617,712 6.00 % Fondation Ndeke Luka / own revenue 29,596 0.29 %
Sources of revenue in 2015
Own revenue Germany Various donors 0.3 % Other products 2.2 % US (Ifes - Internews) 5.0 % 8.3 % 6.0 % Embassy of Chine European Union/Interpeace (RCA) 0.03 % France UN organizations 2.3 % 0.3 % 4.7 % European Union/ FEI UK 2.7 % 0.6 % European Union Sweden 11.1 % i 12.3 % Switzerland 44.3 %
Summary of Fondation Hirondelle accounts The accounts were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers SA, which presented its audit report on May 20, 2016. This work included a detailed audit of the accounts and allocation of precise sums to the different projects, as well as an audit of the internal control system. The overall presentation of the accounts meets the requirements of the Swiss norms GAAP FER 21. According to the audit report, “the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 give a true and fair view of the financial position, the results of operations and the cash flows in accordance with Swiss GAAP FER 21 and comply with Swiss law and the foundation’s deed and internal regulations.” We summarize below the operating accounts for the year 2015. The full audit report may be obtained from Fondation Hirondelle on request. 21 I. Balance Sheet as at December 31, 2015 (in Swiss francs)
Assets 2015 2014 Current assets Liquid assets 2,038,267 945,335 Third party debtors 115,644 72,890 Prepaid expenses 85,367 140,943 Non current assets Financial assets 52,358 38,064 Fixed assets (equipment) 91,367 154,284 Total assets 2,383,003 1,351,516 Liabilities Short term liabilities Short term debts 346,544 0 Accrual and deferred income 184,776 563,136 Provision for audit fees 62,200 98,000 Other provisions 12,981 134,625 Loans 56,341 100,000 Long term liabilities Provisions for legal contingencies 334,143 0 Provisions for termination of staff contracts 50,855 0 Restricted funds Funds allocated by donors 617,295 -330,220 Other allocated funds 217,361 331,598 Capital Foundation capital 50,000 50,000 Unrestricted funds 0 862 Support fund 139,817 92,825 Operating capital 310,690 310,690 Total liabilities 2,383,003 1,351,516 II. Operating Account of Fondation Hirondelle (in Swiss francs)
Income 2015 2014 Income allocated by donors 6,866,645 7,931,303 Income allocated by the Foundation 2,775,000 2,637,626 Other income 647,308 552,512 Total income 10,288,953 11,121,441 Operational Expenditure Staff 5,298,111 5,859,452 Operations 2,539,183 2,727,089 Equipment 982,906 662,421 Contribution to partner projects 50,000 50,000 Total operational expenditure 8,870,200 9,298,962 Headquarters Expenditure Staff 739,750 1,039,788 Operations 599,471 489,399 Equipment 69,971 73,516 Support to Hirondelle USA 20,000 70,000 Total headquarters expenditure 1,429,192 1,672,703 Operating result -10,439 149,776 Financial result (income and expenditure, exchange rate fluctuation) 10,439 -149,776 Final result 0 0 22 Members of the Board in 2015
Romaine Jean Chairwoman of the Board. Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of social affairs programmes at Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS)
Paul Grossrieder Former Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Serge Michel Senior Reporter at Le Monde, columnist and Editor-in-Chief of Le Monde Afrique
Jacques Forster Honorary Professor of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) in Geneva and former Vice President of the ICRC
Dick Marty Former member of the Swiss Council of States
Martin Woker Former member of the international editorial staff of Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ)
Guillaume Pictet Vice-President of the Board of De Pury Pictet Turrettini & Cie SA
Mario Fetz Director of External Relations at the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) – Former Marketing Director at the World Food Programme (WFP), WWF and ICRC
Jean-Marie Etter CEO of Fondation Hirondelle
23 Cover Photos
1st page: Studio Hirondelle-Guinée. Photo © Tristan Miquel / Fondation Hirondelle
2nd page: (from left to right and from top to bottom) Fondation Hirondelle 20th Anniversary conference. Photo © Jean-Philippe Challandes Fondation Hirondelle 20th Anniversary conference. Photo © Jean-Philippe Challandes Studio Mozaik. Photo © Nicolas Boissez / Fondation Hirondelle Studio Hirondelle-Guinée. Photo © Tristan Miquel / Fondation Hirondelle Fondation Hirondelle at the 2016 Paléo Festival. Photo © Jean-Luc Mootoosamy / Fondation Hirondelle
3rd page: (from left to right and from top to bottom) Studio Hirondelle-Guinée. Photo © Tristan Miquel / Fondation Hirondelle Studio Hirondelle-Guinée. Photo © Tristan Miquel / Fondation Hirondelle Studio Mozaik. Photo © Nicolas Boissez / Fondation Hirondelle Fondation Hirondelle 20th Anniversary conference. Photo © Jean-Philippe Challandes
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24 20 YEARS - MEDIA FOR DIALOGUE hirondelle.org Fondation Hirondelle is a Swiss public service NGO made up of journalists and humanitarian aid professionals. Since 1995, it has been creating and supporting broad-based, independent news media that promote good citizenship in conflict and post-conflict zones, situations of endemic crisis or any other situation where the right to information is violated. Its editorial policy focuses on promoting human dignity and human rights on a concrete, daily basis. Fondation Hirondelle aims to create or support sustainable media that can continue fulfilling their social role after assistance from the Fondation and its donors comes to an end.
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