Kore Community Radio
Communication facilities are among the least developed in Ethiopia. The use of modern communication technology is insignificant. Telecommunication services and facilities are at a very low level compared to the size of the country. The use of electronics media is not well established. Besides, all the available media are owned and controlled by the government. The free flow of information and communication as a vital tool for development is therefore seriously hampered. Information, as a fundamental lever for development and progress, should be provided to the rural communities on various topics such as agricultural practices, personal sanitation, community health, nutrition, family planning and conservation. Timely dissemination and utilization of relevant information is an effective tool for alleviating poverty and ensuring sustainable development. As the majority of the target community members are farmers who depend on the land, information on suitable methods to improve production and productivity, and to ensure proper development and the protection and utilization of natural resources, will be the most pressing development concerns. Agri service Ethiopia considers that the establishment of such a radio station for the rural farming community at Amaro special wereda (wereda is an administrative structure), which is located 475 km south of Addis Ababa, will bring a significant contribution to improving life conditions in the target community by creating access to information that responds to the community's needs. The programmes that will be produced in the local language (Koretie) will help the community to develop its language and culture. The station will serve as a platform for debate on matters related to life within the community. Information on improved agricultural production methods; improper use of natural resources (such as indiscriminate destruction and clearing of forests for farming, the cutting of trees for firewood and construction, excessive overgrazing) which can, in the long term, lead to environmental and climatic changes; information on diseases such as trypanasomiasis,or those transmitted through the tsetse fly; breeding habits; would be given major attention. The project aims to establish access for the target community to community radio for all-round information; to influence the target community's attitude and practice towards adapting sustainable livelihood actions, and to create a centre members trust for exchange of information and ideas on matters related to life and other social issues. Through various radio programmes, the project will promote self-reliance and problem-solving capacity to improve the life conditions of the target community. The station, operated by the community, will design programmes that stimulate creativity and local initiatives and provide a forum for debates on local issues. This will empower and advance the communicative ability of the community, and help them to ensure a sustainable livelihood through increased production and productivity, and through proper health and sanitation practices.
A number of concurrent events have lead to substantial delays, as a result the project's completion date has been extended until 30 June 2009. These delays arise from/include: ? Ethnic conflicts between pastoralists and farmers in the project area forced Agri Service Ethiopia to interrupt its operation for some months in the project area. Interventions by government forces followed by mediation efforts through traditional elders council appear to have resolved these problem and Agri Service Ethiopia has now resumed their operations in the project area; ? Delays in the release of the UNESCO component of the funds ? This project is co-funded by the World Bank through the Government of Ethiopia' ICT Assisted Development (ICTAD) program. Radio transmission equipment was procured using Agri Service Ethiopia's procurement procedures. Price negotiations with the supplier and bank procedures for opening a letter of credit took a long time. ? Substantial differences between the selected suppliers terms of sale and the requirements of the governments process for making payments, coupled with the limitations of the national banking system and fiscal policies on foreign currency control required considerable and lengthy negotiations prior to an eventual agreement on process changes; ? Initially tax-exemptions had been requested by the Board of the community radio which was supported by the Finance and Economic Development Cooperation Bureau of the SNNPR Regional State. However, when the radio transmission equipment arrived it became apparent that it would be subject to Federal taxation, attempts to obtain a waiver of federal taxes proved unsuccessful. An additional ~ US$15,000 had to be raised to secure the release of the items from Customs, as this cost had not been anticipated additional time was required to secure this funding. During the interim period, members of the community board have participated in a training event on development communication along with other community groups whose community radio projects have secured funding. With the end of the conflicts, the community has also been working on preparing the structure that will house the community radio. Installation, initial testing of the community radio equipment, test-broadcast, training of the community volunteers is expected to be completed by late March with regular transmissions starting in April 2009.