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Staying Tuned Radio Programming for Sustained Behaviour Change and Accountability in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh This is one of a series of case studies based on UNICEF-supported communication, community engagement and accountability activities as part of the larger humanitarian response to the Rohingya refugee crisis in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, from September 2017 to December 2019. Editing: Rain Barrel Communications – Saudamini Siegrist, Brigitte Stark-Merklein and Robert Cohen Design: Azad/Drik The opinions expressed in this case study are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of UNICEF. Extracts from this case study may be freely reproduced provided that due acknowledgement is given to the source and to UNICEF. © United Nations Children’s Fund, July 2020 This is one of a series of case studies based on UNICEF-supported communication, community engagement ThUNICEFis is one Ba ngladesof a seriesh of case studies based on UNICEF-supported communication, community engagement andBSL accountOffice Complability exactivities, 1 Minto as R partoad of the larger humanitarian response to the Rohingya refugee crisis in Coandx ’saccount Bazar, abiliBangladesh,ty activities from as Septemberpart of the larger 2017 tohumani Decembertarian 2response019. to the Rohingya refugee crisis in CoDhakax’s B 10azar00,, BBangladesh,angladesh from September 2017 to December 2019. Author: Dr. Hakan Ergül 2 INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK CENTRES Editing: Rain Barrel Communications – Saudamini Siegrist, Brigitte Stark-Merklein and Robert Cohen Design:Editing: RainAzad/Drik Barrel Communications – Saudamini Siegrist, Brigitte Stark-Merklein and Robert Cohen Design: Azad/Drik The opinions expressed in this case study are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policies orThe vie opinionsws of UNICEF expressed. Extracts in this from case this study case are st udythose ma ofy thebe freely author reproduced and do not pr necessarilyovided that reflect due the policies acor knvieowwsledgement of UNICEF is. Extracts given to fromthe source this case and st toudy UNICE may F.be freely reproduced provided that due acknowledgement is given to the source and to UNICEF. © United Nations Children’s Fund, July 2020 © United Nations Children’s Fund, July 2020 UNICEF Bangladesh BSLUNICEF Office Ba ngladesComplexh, 1 Minto Road DhakaBSL Of 10fice00 Compl, Bangladeshex, 1 Minto Road Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh 2 INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK CENTRES 2 INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK CENTRES Staying Tuned Radio Programming for Sustained Behaviour Change and Accountability in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh Radio Programming for Sustained Behaviour Change and Accountability in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh 1 Acknowledgements The stories, lessons learned and UNICEF Bangladesh team, recommendations included in this case study including surge support: exemplify the efforts of many people and partners who have worked, and continue to Abdelkader Musse, Edouard Beigbeder, Jean work, tirelessly to ensure quality, scale and Metenier, Naqib Safi, Sara Bordas Eddy, Shairose effectiveness of the crisis response. UNICEF Mawji, Sheema Sengupta, Tomoo Hozumi,Viviane Bangladesh is especially thankful for the Van Steirteghem. generous contributions of our donors, who made the success of the interventions described in this Section chiefs, Cox’s Bazar team leads and staff case study possible. of health, nutrition, WASH, child protection, education, CAP and SPEAR sections as well as Donors: gender and field services. UNICEF wishes to express its sincere gratitude to C4D team: Aarunima Bhatnagar, Ambareen Khan, the Governments of Canada, Germany (through Didarul Alam,Alam, FaridGita Das,Alam, Farid Gita Alam,Rani Das, Jon JonBugge, Bugge, KFW Development Bank), Japan, the United Mamunul Haque, Mohammad Alamgir, Mousumi Kingdom, the United States of America (US Tripura, Nana Garbrah-Aidoo, Nasir Nasir Ateeq, Ateeq, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration), Naureen Naqvi, Neha Kapil, Nizamuddin Ahmed, as well as the European Union for their generous Parveen Azam, Paryss kouta,Kouta, Sayeeda Sayeeda Farhana, Farhana, contributions to this critical response. Sardar Arif Uddin, Sheikh Masudur Rahman, Umme Halima, Yasmin Khan. Partners: ACLAB: Syed Tarikul Islam, Rashidul Hasan. BITA: Sisir Dutt, A S M Jamal Uddin. PULSE: Saiful Islam Chowdhury Kalim, Atiqul Islam Chowdhury. CCP: Patrick Coleman, Dr. Kazi Faisal Mahmud. With special thanks to the CwC Working Group and the Information Hub Sub-Working Group members for their support to the information hubs programme activities in the camps and host communities. 2 STAYING TUNED Contents Acknowledgements 2 Abbreviations 4 Introduction 5 Background 5 Overcoming the barriers: The role of radio in the Rohingya response 8 Collaborating with radio partners 8 The importance of radio in emergency preparedness 14 Adolescent radio listeners clubs 16 Radio in the host communities 18 Lessons learned and way forward 22 Endnotes 23 Table 1. Number of adolescents who are active members in ARLCs in camps and host 18 communities Radio Programming for Sustained Behaviour Change and Accountability in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh 3 Abbreviations AAP Accountability to Affected Populations BITA Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts BRAC Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee CAP Communication, advocacy and Partnerships C4D Communication for Development CCP Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs CMV Community Mobilization Volunteers CwC Communication with Communities DRR Disaster Risk Reduction IEC International Education Centre IFC Information and Feedback Centres IPC Interpersonal Communication ISCG Inter Sector Coordination Group M&E Monitoring and Evaluation PCP Partner Coordination Protocol SPEAR Social Policy, Evaluation, Analytics and Research UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund WASH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene 4 STAYING TUNED Introduction The onset of the Rohingya refugee crisis in communication device, disseminating messages August 2017 irrevocably changed the present and to an entire community in real time, reaching the future of hundreds of thousands of children, the least accessible community members and women and men from the Rohingya community those living in remote corners of a country or and introduced the entire Cox’s Bazar district, territory. Radio can be informative, educational or one of the poorest areas in Bangladesh, to an entertaining. It is both public and private, allowing unprecedented crisis and a new social reality. its listeners to access sensitive information in the The situation was so dire that a month later, on privacy of their homes, while stimulating public 20 September 2017, UNICEF activated a Level discussion. It broadcasts life-saving messages 3 emergency response1 – the highest level of to the most vulnerable: children, youth, women, alarm.2 Together with the Government and other mothers, disabled or illiterate members of the humanitarian partners, UNICEF immediately community, appealing to oral traditions and responded to provide life-saving assistance and adaptable to diverse cultures, including refugees protection to the newly arrived Rohingya children and other populations at risk. Messages can and their families, also taking a lead role in be tailored to a specific group of listeners at health; nutrition; water, sanitation and hygiene key locations, for example, information hubs, (WASH); child protection; and education – areas learning centres, listeners groups, hospitals that are fundamental to the survival, protection and households. With its interactive features, and wellbeing of the refugee community. radio promotes hope, confidence and a sense of UNICEF also played a strong supporting role belonging. in communication for development (C4D) interventions as well as community engagement In an emergency, where other technologies and accountability to the affected population. such as television and internet are not readily available, radio can play a primary role in Background safeguarding human rights, including the right to access information and the right to freedom In today’s media-rich, diverse communication of expression and participation. For that reason, landscape, radio has proven to be one of the expanding radio access and ownership and most effective and far-reaching methods of making the content of radio broadcasting transmitting information to those in need. Radio inclusive and accessible constitutes a human is a powerful, low-cost tool for producers, rights priority. When used to reach out to accessible and resilient in emergency situations, vulnerable populations with life-saving messages and portable with the potential to be powered and information, radio saves lives. by a wind-up receiver, solar energy cell or battery. Radio functions as a one-to-many mass Radio Programming for Sustained Behaviour Change and Accountability in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh 5 Overview of a camp at Balukhali Rohingya camp, Moinarghona, Cox’s Bazar. ©UNICEF/Bangladesh/2019/Kiron Rohingya Children in a UNICEF-supported Learning Centre. ©UNICEF/Bangladesh/2018/Sujan 6 STAYING TUNED ©UNICEF/Bangladesh/2018/Sujan Radio Programming for Sustained Behaviour Change and Accountability in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh 7 Abbreviations Overcoming the barriers: The role of radio in the Rohingya response During the initial phase of the humanitarian of aid workers to communicate when over 70 per response to the Rohingya refugee crisis, an cent of the population was illiterate and there was immediate challenge for UNICEF and other