~ Androy Research: The Impact of Projet Radio on Poverty Reduction in the Androy region By Leo Metcalf Andrew Lees Trust, c/o Warchild, 5 Anglers Lane, London NW5 3DG, UK Tel: (44) 207 424 9256 E-mail: [email protected] www.andrewleestrust.org TABLE OF CONTENTS 1/ INTRODUCTION & RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 6 1.1/ Introduction 6 A/ The Androy Region 6 B/ History of ALT work in the Androy 6 C/ Radio Output 7 D/ Radio stations 8 E/ Freeplay Radio Distribution 11 1.2/ Research Objectives & Rational 12 2/ LOCATION AND METHODS USED 14 2.1/ Research Locations 14 2.2/ Summary of methods used 16 3/ RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 17 3.1/ Quantitative Research: Structured interviews 17 A/ Methodology 17 B/ Population Sample and Demographic characteristics 18 C/ Success and constraints: 20 D/ Results 21 D/ Information sources 29 3.2/ Qualitative Exercise: Information Source Mappings around Tsihombe 42 A/ Methodology 42 B/ Population Sample and Demographic characteristics of ISMs 43 C/ Success and constraints 43 D) Types of information 44 E) Two case studies of ISMs 45 F) Interpretation of the ISMs 53 3.3/ Qualitative Exercise: Listener Group Survey around Ambovombe 55 A/ Methodology 55 B/ Population Sample and Demographic characteristics 56 C/ Success and constraints 57 D/ Interpretation of Listening Group Surveys 58 4/ SUMMARY OF FINDINGS 65 5/ BIBLIOGRAPHY 67 6/ ANNEXES 68 6.1/ ALT Support in equipment to Radio Hodohodo and Cactus 68 6.2/ Map of research locations 69 6.3/ Research Team 70 6.4/ Description of Tsihombe research activities 71 6.5/ Structured Interview Questionnaire for the Androy (in French) 73 6.6/ Information Sources for villagers around Tsihombe from ISM 76 6.8/ Listening Group Functioning 84 2 Executive Summary In November 2005, Andrew Lees Trust (ALT) along with the support of Media Support Solutions (MSS) secured funding from the UK government’s Department For International Development (DFID) for an evaluation of the ALT’s radio network model and its impact, specifically on poverty reduction. ALT started producing programmes in the south of Madagascar from 1999 onwards, and the network was set up in 2002. It is composed of ALT, local organisations and FM radio stations all working together to produce and broadcast radio programmes on developmental themes. These programmes are received by members of listening groups set up around solar/wind-up radios, as well as the general public. One piece of research under this study was conducted in the Androy region of Southern Madagascar during the months of April to August of 2006. The Androy was selected as it was one of the three regions in which ALT has worked since its inception. Research was set up to examine the impacts of short and longer term listening of these radio programmes on the local populations. This could be done with relative ease as one area had received educational programmes since 1999, while another area only starting receiving FM radio broadcast and hence the programmes, since June 2004. Three main research methods were used: structured questionnaires with individuals, Information Source Mappings (ISM) and finally Listening Groups Surveys (comprised of observation, individual interviews, group interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). The results reveal that the radio broadcasts have had an impact on knowledge, a precursor to taking action to addressing poverty. On a wide variety of topics relevant to poverty reduction it was clear that radio had changed what people knew, notably on health (Family planning, vaccination and HIV/AIDS) on improved agricultural techniques, and on the use of fuel efficient stoves. Women in villages with better access to radio were consistently significantly better able to give more information on the topics, as well as many others that had been broadcast. The qualitative research suggested people had applied the advice heard both through what they said, including as a few examples: saying they now used mosquito nets, encouraged children to wash their hands, vaccinating their children, practised family planning, built windbreaks etc…; both also due to the contemplated interest they presented towards the topics in question and their enthusiasm for ‘progress’. Qualitative research also pointed to some substantial positive impacts for women, from both the availability of the radio programmes, and the listening group model, with women being able to access direct information, remembering it in detail, and seeking out more information from other sources. Finally the listening groups (LG) clearly led to a good deal of information sharing, both amongst the members of the listening groups, and with people outside them. The listening groups even mobilized people to the extent they set up associations in order to take part in regional development projects Finally the research indicated broader impacts of the Radio Project, which by allowing people in isolated rural contexts to listen to the radio thanks to its distribution of solar/wind-up radios and its support to local FM stations, leads to a change in their attitudes, opening them to new things; thus benefiting any further work on poverty reduction in the area. 3 GLOSSARY Beko Traditional song of the Androy region, sung a-capella Fandrosoana Development, the literal translation being “to move forwards” or “to improve living” Fokontany Smallest administrative unit in Madagascar comprised of one, or a couple of villages. Mpamono Valala Organisation working against locusts when they swarm Ombiasa Traditional healer or ‘witchdoctor’ Quartier President Person elected to lead the Fokontany Comity. Radio Cactus Radio station in Ambovombe Radio Hodohodo Radio station in Tsihombe set up by ALT with CNLS funds, run by the Voronko-hodohodo association. Responsable Person who is made responsible for the radio. There are two of these per LG, to keep the radio when not in use and organise the LG’s collective listening. Tahantany Meaning ‘Earth-Care’, denominational NGO based in Tsihombe working in the Androy, often with supplies from the WFP; on for example Dune Fixation, Harmful Cactus clearance and Adult Literacy Toko Mitsitsy Model of fuel efficient stove introduced by ALT to the region Voronko-hodohodo This is the Malagasy word for Aepyornis, the large ostrich-like bird which lived in the south of Madagascar but is now extinct. Local association in Tsihombe originally set up to run a CNLS project, subsequently took over the running Radio Hodohodo Zebu An ox of a humped breed ACRONYMS ALT Andrew Lees Trust CSBI / CSBII Clinic de Service de Santé de Base. Small government clinics, CSB1 have medical assistants, CSBII have doctors EC European Commission FAFAFI FAnentanana FAmbolena FIompiana, meaning Information on Agriculture and Livestock Rearing, a Malagasy NGO. FGD Focus Group Discussion LG Listening Group NGO Non-Governmental Organization PCID Partners in Communication for Information in Development PPC Participative Production Cycle PE Projet Energie, ALT’s Community Fund financed Fuel Efficient Stove Project PR Projet Radio, ALT’s European Commission Funded Radio network for development project RNM Radio National Malagasy 4 SECALINE Surveillance Ecole et Communanté sur l'Alimentation et la Nutrition Elargie, World Bank funding to local organisation mainly engaged in food distribution to malnourished children VLL Village with Long Term Listening VLR Village with No Radio (There is very poor or no reception for FM radios; while some radios may exist they are used very little) VWR Village With Radio WB World Bank 5 1/ Introduction & Research Objectives 1.1/ Introduction A/ The Androy Region The Androy, located in the South East, suffers the harshest climate in Madagascar, with regular drought and severe annual food shortages. Infrastructure is poor and the predominantly pastoralist culture is highly traditional, the accumulation of cattle is seen as primordial over all else and women occupy a marginalized position in society1. As an example, the DHS from 2004 showed that when it came to domestic violence 42,3% of women in Toliara region agreed with the fact that it was understandable for a man to beat his wife; this was the highest rate in the country, other regions ranging between 17 and 30%, the average of the others regions being 28.8%2. For most villagers, the source of water is located on average 5 km away, and it is the women’s task to collect it. In the dry season many have to settle for brackish water, and fresh water is sold by the bucket. B/ History of ALT work in the Androy The Andrew Lees Trust (ALT) has targeted the Androy region from the very beginning of its existence, first during the Projet Radio feasibility study in 1998 and following that during the project’s pilot phase from 1999 to 2000. During the six month feasibility study, the project worked with the only working FM station in the Androy region at the time: Radio Jet A, based in the largest town of the Androy, Ambovombe. In 1999, four additional stations were contracted to work with the project and received equipment in exchange for airtime (Radio Ravenara and Radio Kaleta in Amboasary, Radio Cactus in Ambovombe, and Radio Kaleta in Fort Dauphin). A dedicated off-air production studio was set up in the ALT Ambovombe office for editing. With funding from the European Commission ALT created Projet Radio (PR) which set out to create a network of Partners In Communication for Development (PCID), and train these 34 PCID partners (be they NGOs, Associations or Hospitals) to make educational radio programmes using