I s s u e 11
- M A R C H,
2 0 0 0
A
Memo of Understanding with three Community Radio
International Women's day
Communication Centers
Community Radio Phase II
Technical Support
to Radio Mozambique
Journalism Media Study
Financial Autonomy to Media Project
 A
“MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING” WITH THREE COMMUNITY RADIO
For three civic organizations working closely with the UNESCO Media
Project for almost a year now, with a variety of preparatory
activities for the establishment of community radio stations, the
17th of February represented a memorable day: a “Memorandum of
Understanding” was signed between them and UNESCO, in Maputo.
Culminating a long and thoroughly designed preparation process started
early 1999, for the pilot phase of this component, the memo foresees
that before the end of April, the two sides will sign activities
contracts, for the Media Project to start releasing funds for the
various activities concerning the establishment of the three
stations.
Until then, the Community Radios Associations in Cuamba(Niassa) amd
Homoine(Inhambane) are expected to conclude their legal registration
process and preparation of action plans, with budgets and training
activities calendar.
The signing of the memo came in line with the Media Project’s stractegy
for the implementation of this sensitive component, based on two
core principles: ensuring sustainability and a strong and
deep-rooted feeling of local ownership, through long preparatory
periods, with discussions and training activities invloving the
concerned communities and their elected leadership.
The coordinators of the three community radio associations-Mrs. Esperanca
Sebastiao Silva from Cuamba, Mr. Sergio Silva from Chimoio and
Mr.Pedro Francisco from Homoine– signed the memo with the UNESCO
Representative in Maputo, Mr. Hubert Charles, at the end of a
two-week training course on the creation and management of a
community radio.
During the course, also attended by participants from other
community/local radio stations or projects, supported by other,
different funding partners, including the ICS, the Austrian
North-South Institute for Cooperation and the catholic church, the
managers and coordinators were exposed to, and discussed a long
range of subjects, focusing on:
· Community radio concepts and organizations structures
· Community involvement in programming and production of programmes
· Staff and volunteers training policy
· The legal framework in Mozambique
· Facing the sustainability challenges
Time was also provided for the participants to be exposed to, and
discuss technological options for radio, with an expert explaining
the advantages and disadvantages between the familiar, “old
fashioned” analogue system, and for some groups, “alienating”
digital one.
“Extremely important, although also tough, and we are now going back
home to continue the discussion with our communities”, the
participants said at the final evaluation.
International
Women's day
UNESCO is launching an initiative whereby news media around the
world will be encouraged to assign a woman to serve as
editor‑in‑chief on 8 March 2000 to raise awareness on Women's
importance in journalism and elsewhere.
The UNESCO Representative in Maputo, Mr. Hubert Charles, met with women
journalists and news directors on 23rd February with the aim to
discuss the implementation in Mozambique.
It was agreed that the media present in the meeting should appoint
women journalists as editors‑in‑chief on the 8h March, and publish
articles about women and/or from women's point of view.
UNESCO will provide background materials for news production for that
day.
Communication
Centres
The three groups of Communication Centres (CC) established in Beira,
Chimoio and Tete are finalising the formulation of the Business Plan
requested by the Media Project in order to enter into a contract by
the end of this month.
The groups have already formed associations and are well advanced in the
process of their legal registration.
The CTA of the Media Pro ect, Birgitte Jallov, will carry out a Mission
to the CCs to ensure finalisation of the Business Plan and hopefully
sign the contracts for additional support.
Community
Radio Phase II
The Media Project has received 18 proposals for the establishment of
Community Radio stations in Mozambique.
The applications reflect the urgent need for communications channels
in order to strengthen local information and democracy.
The Independent Selection Board has already been set up, and will meet
early March to review the proposals received.
It is really interesting to find out that the communities are willing to
have their own means for production and dissemination of
information, and this is indeed an indicator of the need felt to
strengthen democracy and good governance.
Technical
Support to Radio Mozambique
The Immediate Objective 10 establishes that the Media Development
Project also provides technical support to Radio Mozambique, with
the aim of enabling a greater coverage of its transmission services.
To fulfill this, the Project Management Team had designed Terms of
Reference to recruit a broadcast specialist to carry out a study to
assess Radio Mozambique's present technical need to ensure larger
and better reception of their programmes and to present
recommendations to UNESCO.
The consultant has been identified, and will also advise UNESCO on the
appropriate equipment, bearing in mind the locally existing
maintenance capacity and possible training needs for the use and
maintenance of this equipment.
The last phase with be the Paris‑based launching of international tenders
according to UNESCO rules, followed by the acquisition, installation
and testing of the equipment.
Journalism
Media Study
The Immediate Objective 6 and 7 of the Media Project refers to a
feasibility study of journalism and training institutions in
Mozambique.
The aim is to meet the training needs and requirements of independent and
pluralistic media in the country.
The Media Project is in the process of indenturing an independent
consultant to carry out a field research in order to identify the
real needs and propose actions to be taken.
A national policy and strategy seminar is foreseen to take place in
July, based on the study.
Financial
Autonomy to Media Project
From our own world: to assist effective project implementation,
UNESCO has decided to grant financial autonomy to the Media Project
to ensure prompt payments in relation to a growing number of Project
activities.
To complement this, Ms. Arantza lbarra from the UNESCO headquarters ran a
one‑week course for the Project's administrative personnel on
UNESCO's administrative procedures, during the last week of
February.
Media
Development Project
c/o UNESCO, P.O.Box 1397 Maputo, Mozambique
Tel. +
258.1. 498752/ 490840 Fax +258.1.498717
E-mail: unesco@mediamoz.com
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