The Process

The project “Strengthening Community Radios in the Digital Age through Removing Barriers and Increasing Effectiveness: Knowledge Sharing and Impact Evaluation Project of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) 2006”, aims to contribute to the reduction of poverty by undertaking an impact assessment and evaluation that can lead to the removing of barriers and increasing the effectiveness of community radio in achieving social and development goals.

The goal of the project will be achieved through the following specific objectives :

• a. Community Radio Global Review
  To undertake a global review of Community Radio assessing the diversity of situations, the impact and challenges of community radio, including historical aspects as well regional and international perspectives and progress at country level. The review will place community radio in the context of poverty reduction, accountability, the emergence of new ICTs, and its contribution to international development goals. It will provide a baseline for future evaluative and impact assessment work in the community radio sector.

• b. Community Radio Impact Assessment
  To assess community radio impact in poverty reduction and to develop tools for community radio impact assessment as “the continuous process of learning, feedback, reflection and analysis of what works (or does not work) and why” (UNAIDS). This will include the generation of new and the review of existing impact assessment material at community, country, international and thematic level that can contribute to the development of the knowledge base and advocacy materials on the impact and effectiveness of community radio. It will focus, in particular, on learning that can improve the effectiveness of community radio in achieving development goals.

• c. AMARC Effectiveness Evaluation
  To engage community radio leaders and stakeholders in a participatory and interactive process contributing to an evaluation of AMARC’s effectiveness in relation to its mission and goals and informing its future priorities and strategies. The review will seek to better define expectations of community radio and communications for development stakeholders towards AMARC as a global network and sector lead body.