Presentation of the President..............................................................................

5
Presentation of the General Secretary...............................................................6
AMARCs quadrennial strategic plan (2011-2014)............................................7
Outcomes in 2014: Transformation and development.....................................9
ADVOCACY PROGRAM: To promote and defend policy, legal and regulatory
conditions that enable community media to operate.................................................11
CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM : To promote knowledge sharing and
capacity building for community media sustainability.................................................19
CONTEXT EXCHANGE AND SOCIAL ACTIONS CAMPAINGS PROGRAM:
To reinforce the social, developmental and humanitarian impact of community
media.....................................................................................................................................25

CONTENTS
3

PRESENTATION OF THE
PRESIDENT
It is more than 30 years since we began our task of democratising the
media. Today we are witnessing changes in different parts of the world
in support of community radio with the introduction of new laws that
guarantee sector recognition, but it is not enough. We need a system that
guarantees media diversity, pluralism and the ability and willingness to
promote public debates, which is the basic rule of any democracy.
In the process of the affirmation of the freedom of expression as a social
law, legal science has found that Freedom of Expression is both, an individual
and social right. This implies the right to disseminate information and the
right of others to receive it, and as a human right those who exercise it
should not be subject of any kind of discrimination. Freedom of Expression
is not only the right to express ones opinions, but it entails the right of
access to the technical tools required to exercise this right.This dimension
of individual and collective human right obliges the State to promote it,
because it is a right that allows public debate, which also allows different
point of views to be expressed and escape from their apparent neutrality,
putting at the disposal of the society discourses that express the existing
asymmetries of power while allowing the emergence of new forms of
deliberation as part of life in democracy.
To advance in the process of recognition of community radios, AMARC launched in 2008 the Principles for a democratic
regulatory framework on community radio and TV, a guide to implement regulations according with the international
standards of human rights. The text of the document fulfil one of the recommendations of the Statement on Diversity
in Broadcasting, developed in December 2007 by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression
along with representatives of the OSCE on Freedom of Media and the rapporteurs for freedom of expression of the
OAS and the African Commission on Human and Peoples Right.
As stated by the different reports of the Rapporteurship on the Rights of Freedom of Expression, community
broadcasting must be expressly recognised as a distinct form of media, favoured by fair procedures for obtaining
licences and allowing this media sector access to advertising revenue.
Community media (radio and TV) share the mission to democratise communications.This is an area where civil society
organisations, whose objectives and management are non profit and different from the political or religious proselytism,
play a central role. These are stations that represent the interests of their community, whether this community is
defined as a geographical area or a broad social sector.They can work with high or low powers, with volunteers or with
staff. They are established as non- profit organizations, which does not stop implementing strategies for sustainability.
The property of collective and non- profit nature is essential to facilitate discussion and for setting ideas which question
the exclusive commercial approach that exists in the current media system.

Mara Pa Matta Cerna

President of AMARC

PRESENTATION OF THE
SECRETARY GENERAL
In 2014, the World Association of Community Broadcasters
(AMARC) had a period of transition and restructuring.After 10 years
of continuous management, there were changes affeting key staff of
the International General Secretariat and the organisation went -and
is still going through a governance revision process with the aim to
increase its effectiveness toward members, accountability towards
donors, its impact, but especially, in order to effectively respond to the
modernization challenges that the community media sector is facing
along with all the media sector in general.
On a global scale, over the past years, radio has changed. One of the
major reasons is the changing citizens environment during this period.
The public audience is surrounded by digital and mobile platforms
which make media more and more accessible. As a result, we have a
new world of all sizes screens: laptop, mobile phone, tablet, GPS.
While in some regions the community media sector could benefit from cross-media approaches, in some others, Internet is still far from being
an accessible communication platform and radio remains the main information tool for local citizens.The community media sector is growing
and this is why, even in 2014, one of the main focuses of AMARC has been the political debate around access to airwaves, management of the
spectrum and regulatory issues in order to keep promoting and ensuring cultural and linguistic diversity, poverty reduction, peace building and
active citizenship.
In fact, the transformation period of AMARC corresponds to the historical transformation period we are living today, not only in technological
terms but also in terms of content analysis, from the Arabic spring to the global economical and financial crisis. In this transformation
phase, most of the countries wanting to embrace democratic governance are moving towards with media laws reforms but, in some cases,
restrictions and unclear regulations are still limiting the development of community media (ex. MENA region, Central Eastern Europe, etc.)
In general terms, we noticed, in 2014, that the sector is still very often endangered by the lack of access to airwaves and clear regulatory
frames, lack of adequate financial resources, lack of homogeneous professional paths, and a mere binary approach to communication rights:
new media/old media, public service/commercial broadcasters, digital/analogue, North/South, central/marginal etc.. In 2014,AMARC continued
to fill these dualities providing a third model to communication rights, challenging the global processes with local political lobbying, capacity
building, campaigns through local perspectives and methodologies.
Globalization, the growth of Internet and web-based information, are also having a direct and detrimental impact on minority languages and
linguistic diversity, as global communications and marketplaces require global understanding, choosing a language to facilitate communications
while displacing others. Following the actions undertaken in 2013, AMARC continued working to reinforce pluralism and diversity through
initiatives and high level meetings reflecting around the theme of identity and cultural wealth through the use of minority languages. The
effective exercise of the right to communicate makes the languages of each people a form of exercise of the individual and collective identity
right. In this frame,AMARC promoted the recognition of cultural sovereignty of all the populations, which allows the full participation in the
public space. For the redefinition of the perimeter of this diversity, in 2014, AMARC was also committed to increase the social impact of its
members through cross-fertilization (conferences/ thematic seminars) and capacity building (workshops) initiatives.
The community media sector has the same values, but not equivalent approaches and continues operating differently across the World. Under
the unifying concept of community media, there are an ever increasing number of communication experiences intensely deep-rooted in their
cultural social environments. AMARC needed to adopt new methodological tools in order to respond to the expectations of its members
and to respond to this new media and political phase.
Although some of the planned activities, have been downscaled or postponed due to this internal transition period, the efforts for more
diversity, poverty reduction, social cohesion, active citizenship and pluralism within the global media landscape have been the unifying thread
of AMARC actions in 2014.
Francesco Diasio
Secretary General of AMARC

AMARCS QUADRENNIAL
STRATEGIC PLAN
(2011 - 2014)

Objective 1: To promote and defend policy, legal and regulatory

conditions that enable community media to operate
a- Policy research, advocacy and partnership for community media and
communications rights at regional and international level.
b- Country level solidarity activities and partnerships including urgent action
alerts and strategic country level missions.
c- Participation and advocacy on media and gender equality at international
meetings.

Objective 2: To promote knowledge sharing and capacity building for

community media sustainability
a- Communications with members and stakeholders and strengthening of
AMARC network and organisational functioning.
b- Knowledge sharing on sustainability and good practice including training,
publications, exchanges and support for sector associations.
c- Strengthening the regional and international networks of the AMARC
Women International Network (WIN).

Objective 3: To reinforce the social, developmental and humanitarian

impact of community media
a- News and features services in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe,
including special reports from international events.
b- Social action on HIV/AIDS, health, environment, climate change, migration,
anti-racism, food security, water & sanitation.
c- Disaster prevention, mitigation and response to natural and human-made
humanitarian and emergencies.
d- Promotion of womens rights and gender equality, including training and
guidance materials and broadcast campaigns.

OUTCOMES IN 2014
TRANSFORMATION
AND DEVELOPMENT

ADVOCACY
PROGRAM

OBJECTIVE I
TO PROMOTE
AND DEFEND
POLICY,
LEGAL AND
REGULATORY
CONDITIONS
THAT ENABLE
COMMUNITY
MEDIA TO
OPERATE

Policy research,
advocacy and partnership
for community media and
communications rights
at regional and
international level

Country level
solidarity activities and
partnerships including
urgent action alerts and
strategic country level
missions

Participation and
advocacy on media
and gender equality at
international meetings

In

ACTIVIES AND OUTCOMES

ADVOCACY PROGRAM

2014, one of the main focuses of AMARC

remains the political debate around access
to airwaves, management of the spectrum
and regulatory issues in order to keep promoting
the community media sector as a fundamental
element (along with public service and commercial
broadcasters) of media pluralism and thus active
democracy.

High level political meetings (UN agencies,

European Union, Council of Europe, National
political encounters), political lobby.
Tunisia: Follow up of regulatory
issues with HAICA

This objective has been pursued through the following

activities:
1. High level political meetings (UN agencies,
European Union, Council of Europe, National
political encounters), political lobby.
2. Regional Conferences (MENA Region, AsiaPacific).
3. Continuous
watchdog
activities
about
legislations and media freedom.
The general impact related to these activities is
the following:
Towards
policy
makers:
increased
acknowledgement of the community media sector
among international institutions. Recognition of
the sector and its fundamental role for pluralism,
poverty reduction, inclusion, active citizenship and
cultural diversity. Behaviour change. New political
resolutions and recommendations.

In 2014, AMARC continued its regular dialogue

with the Haute Autorit Indpendante pour la
Communication Audiovisuelle (HAICA) in Tunisia in
order to promote a favourable regulatory frame for
the community media sector.
OUTCOME
The new draft of the Cahiers de charges includes a
full recognition of the community media sector in
the new audiovisual Tunisian media landscape.
In September 2014,AMARC welcomed eight community
stations: Radio Campus (Grand Tunis, in French), Mdia
Libre FM (Grand Tunis), Djerid FM (Tozeur), Radio
Nefzawa FM (Kebili), Houna al Gasserine (Kasserine),
K FM (Kasserine), Radio Regueb (Regueb) and Dream
FM (Kairouan).

Towards Civil Society Organizations: increased

alliances for social sustainability mechanisms and
partnerships for new projects. Increased outreach
of CSOs through community media.
Towards community media themselves and/
or other media outlets: Increased presence and
development of the community media sector in
certain areas (i.e. MENA Region).

UNESCO: World Summit on

Information Society (WSIS+10)
In June 2014, representatives of AMARCs international
network participated as Moderator in the Report of
the of the Sub-Group on Community Media WSIS
Action Line C9 Media Geneva.

12

OUTCOME
Reinforcement of relationships with UNESCO.
UNESCO and AMARC, joint statement calling on
governments to ensure that the legal framework for
community media, particularly community radio, was
non-discriminatory, free and fair.
AMARC made three recommendations:
1) Advocate for national legislation in favor of
community radio, on account of their public service
benefits to citizens, pluralism, cultural and linguistic
diversity, risk and conflict prevention, fight against
violence and discrimination against women.
2) Strengthening the independence of the regulatory
authorities and strengthen their power in favor of
the community media sector, at an equal level to the
commercial and public sector.
3) Promote a safe and free access to spectrum for
community media in historical radio band (AM, FM
Band II) and new resources for Digital Radio Band III,
IV,V and L.
Building Community Shaping
Change. The Role of Community,
Citizen and Alternative Media in
Regional Transformation

Communication for
Development and Community
Media for Family Farming
In June 2014, representatives of AMARCs international
On October 23-24, the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, in collaboration
with AMARC convened an international Forum on
Communication for Development and Community
Media for Family Farming (FCCM), an official event
of the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF),
in Rome, Italy. The FCCM showcased and raised
awareness about the role of communication for
development (ComDev) as a driver for innovation
and family farmers participation in rural development.
The event also incorporated the results of three
virtual consultations held in Asia Pacific, Latin America
and Africa from August 25 to September 12 via
three online platforms. The International secretariat
contributed to the dedicated page of the IFCCM
from the Montreal office by providing support for
coordination, translation, social media and blog
entries. AMARC sent six communication experts to
the IFCCM.
Mr. Bruce Girard, a communication expert hired
by AMARC, wrote the final report (conclusions/
recommendations) of the IFCCM.

In June 2014, representatives of AMARCs international

On July 13-14, the Community Communication
section of the IAMCR and the UNESCO Chair on
Community Media, in collaboration with CEMCA,
AMARC, UNESCO, Ideosync and the Ford Foundation
held a pre-conference at the University of Hyderabad.
Representatives from AMARC Asia Pacific participated
in several panels.

OUTCOME
- A recognition of the disconnect between the masses
and the policy-makers, which increases inequalities
and lack of access.
- Recognition of the discrimination of the dalits
- Furthering the discussion on Sexual Orientation and
Gender Identity (SOGI) initiative.
- Advocacy for legislative framework for community
radios.

13

OUTCOME
A set of recommendations in various sector
Enabling policy and institutional frameworks:
Build cross-sectoral alliances to promote and implement law and policy reforms in respect to communication and
family farming.
Bring national law and policy on rural communication services in line with agreed international standards.
Provide formal legal recognition to create a regulatory environment for independent and pluralistic community
radios including simple licensing processes, equitable reservation of frequencies and robust funding possibilities.
Integrate critical analysis of womens and mens specific needs and priorities into efforts to develop rural
communication services including aspects such as tools, content, implementation and impact.
Investments and partnership opportunities:
Work in partnership to build the evidence base for rural communication services.
Urge governments to invest in reinforcing community-based communication service and up scaling good practices.
Engage in multi-stakeholder partnerships, to embed communication in development initiatives/programmes.
Ensure that access to infrastructure and services is affordable to rural communities, particularly to women and
youth.
Capacity development:
Develop the capacity of rural actors at all levels, applying a diversity approach, to engage effectively in rural
communication processes.
o At the level of farmers: facilitate knowledge, confidence and agency of women and men farmers to voice
their needs and concerns, claim their rights, interact and organize themselves.
o At the level of development professionals: develop collaborative learning strategies that link directly to and
are inspired by rural realities with special attention to gender, class, age and socio-cultural issues.
Develop mechanisms and tools for coordination and partnerships ensuring that communication for development
principles are evident and operational, and that there is support for independent and pluralistic media.
Other Regional Conferences, experts meetings (MENA, Asia-Pacific, Latin America)

OTTAWA: Participation to Peoples

Social Forum (August)
In August, representatives of AMARC participated to
the Peoples Social Forum, held in Ottawa the 20th
and 21st of August. It was the occasion to promote
a workshop on Community radio challenges (in
relation to digital switch over) as well as actively
participate to the workshop promoted by AMARC
partner El Jousssour on communication rights in the
MENA region.
UNESCO Paris: World Radio Day
Committee (September)
The meeting was held at the headquarters of
UNESCO in Paris the 29 September. AMARC is
among the organizations taking part to the organizing
committee of the World Radio day together with
AER, UER/EBU, ASBU, COPEAM, Academia Espanola

de la Radio, UIT/ITU, URTI. During this meeting,

participants agre ed on themes, methodology and
implementation of the World Radio Day 2015.
MOROCCO: Participation to
World Forum of Human Rights
(November)
On November 27-29 representatives of AMARC
participated to the World Forum on Human Rights
held in Rabat. Prior to the Forum,AMARC contributed
to the discussion around the adoption of the Chart
of Free Media to be presented and adopted during
the forthcoming World Social Forum to be held in
Tunis in March 2015. More than 15 International
organizations took part to the preparatory work (El
Joussour, Institut Panos Afrique de lOuest, Ciranda,
Ritmo, AMARC, CMS just to mention a few..)

14

Tunisia: Participation to the

conference Les radios associatives
en Tunisie Les garanties de la
durabilit
The conference, held in Tunis the 10th and 11th of
December was organized by CMS, Article 19 and
HAICA. During the 2 days, representatives of AMARC
took part to debates highlighting its perspective in
especially in relation to the technical aspects related
to frequency plan allocation.
Continuous watch dog activities about legislations
and media freedom
During the whole of 2014, in Latin America, AMARC
continued the implementation of the Legislative and
Communication Rights program. Besides the National
advocacy initiatives led by senior professionals,
the program also published a regular watchdog
newsletter (weekly newsletter InfoDerechos) on the
state of freedom of expression, communication right
and audiovisual policies in the whole region. More
information here.
On the international level, AMARC assumed an active
role as a watchdog on freedom of expression and
communication rights.
Latin America: InfoDerechos.
Continue with the defense of
the right to communication and
freedom of expression
One of the objectives that has differentiate AMARC
since its creation has been the defense and promotion
of the right to communicate and to freedom of
expression. The bulletin InfoDerechos, an initiative of
the regional coordination of AMARC ALC, is a space
for information and discussion on these topics, with
their axes: diversity and pluralism, community radio
stations, the exercise of journalism, technological
convergence and attacks to communicators. Faced
with the continous attacks against freedom of
expression and the right to communication, far from
staying immutable, we protest, we debate and discuss
our role as representatives of the minority groups of
citizenship.

AMARC also seeks the inclusion of all voices in

the media. That is why the principles to ensure the
diversity and pluralism in the broadcasting services
and audiovisual communication lead the nature of
the bulletin InfoDerechos. Also, this is a space that
looks to inform about the media laws that in some
countries are created and in other they are modified
with the back facing the population. Also it denounces
the media monopolies that exist in the region and
difficult the transparency of information.
The bulletin is concerned about the constant
agression to journalists and communicators in
the exercise of their work. Beyond the protection
programs, the commitment of the countries and
the recommendations to the potential victims, it is
important that citizens know that the persecution,
threats and killings of journalists happen in mostly
points of the planet, so we should all stay vigilant and
demand the assurance of the integrity of professionals
and the impartiality of media.
It is then that InfoDerechos works as a tool for the
defense of freedom of expression and for complaining
about violations of the right to communication, which
is inherent in all people.
OUTCOME
Watchdog on freedom of expression in Latin
America and on international level. Sensitization of a
wide audience of subscribers (single users, other NGOs
and CSOs) to the weekly newsletter InfoDerechos.
Multiplier effect through community radios.

15

MED NET project: Morocco, Egypt,

Palestine and Tunisia
Europe: call for MEPs to support
community radio as a tool for the
protection and promotion of
regional minority languages
AMARC Europe highlighted the needs of community
media and, especially, those broadcasting through
European Regional languages during the meeting of
the Intergroup for Traditional Minorities, National
Communities and Languages that took take place on
Thursday 16 January 2014 in Strasbourg. The meeting
was facilitated by Basque MEP Iaki Irazabalbeitia, of
the European Free Alliance group.
The meeting opened with an intervention by Dr.
Davyth Hicks (Secretary-General European Language
Equality Network, CEO Eurolang), Sally Galiana
(President of the European Association of Community
Broadcasters AMARC Europe) and Isabel Lema
(AMARC working group on minority languages).
In the meeting the following points were highlighted:
The existing legal framework that protects and
promotes the use of European Regional Languages.
The current situation of the Third Media Sector
in Europe, which is endangered in most countries
despite of the European recommendations.
The lack of support by national and regional
authorities in most European countries, that
means that the sector struggles to survive with
very little resources and support.
Requests to support minority languages and local
cultures through community media.

16

With the support of this Med Net project, AMARC

Europe has set up a little radio studio and organize
trainings in Morocco with the idea of encourage the
civil society of Tanger and the north of the country to
express themselves and create the information they
need.
In Egypt, AMARC has collaborated with the
promotion of participatory democracy, participatory
decision making processes and development within
Egyptian society, with the aim to fight corruption and
promote good governance and pluralism.
In the Palestinian chapter, despite the good wills and
a vibrant non profit sector, the dialogue between
organizations and Palestinian Authority Institutions is
almost non existent. Moreover, the limited amount
of financial resources and the difficulties related
to the daily life represent a strong impediment to
cross fertilization activities between organizations
themselves.
In Tunisia, one of the most happiest consequences of
the work done by different organizations, including
AMARC, was the decision of the Independent High
Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HAICA)
to grant eight new licenses for the establishment and
operation of community radio channels. This decision
of the Council of HAICA placed Tunisia as frontrunner
in the Arab states in terms of audiovisual regulations.
These eight community stations were Radio Campus
(Grand Tunis), Mdia Libre FM (Grand Tunis), Djerid
FM (Tozeur), Radio Nefzawa FM (Kebili), Houna
al Gasserine (Kasserine), K FM (Kasserine), Radio
Regueb (Regueb) and Dream FM (Kairouan).

CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS

ven if the community media sector share the same values, the approaches and possibilities
varies from one country to another. Communication experiences are extremely connected
to their social, political, economical and cultural environment.

The community radio movement is also facing a lot of changes related to the development
of new technologies, democratic transformation in some countries but setbacks, restrictions
and limitations in other cases. Some of these challenges have to be met differently depending
on the situation. In 2014, AMARC deepened its action towards members, strengthened its
approach towards international institutions.
1. Continue working with international institutions
in order to guarantee the presence of the community
media sector in the political debate about freedom of
expression and pluralism, as fundamental elements for
active citizenship.

2. Continue working with regulatory authorities

on a national scale in order to adapt international
conventions and declarations into a more coherent
country level environment.

3. Engage and reinforce the dialogue and alliances

with national and international stakeholders (other
NGOs and/or CSOs) in order to increase the impact of
the political lobby initiatives.

4. Increase and strengthen watchdog activities

in all regions in order to monitor the gap between
international standards and national practices about
freedom of expression.

17

CAPACITY
BUILDING
PROGRAM
OBJECTIVE 2
TO PROMOTE
KNOWLEDGE
SHARING AND
CAPACITY
BUILDING FOR
COMMUNITY
MEDIA
SUSTAINABILITY

Increase and
strengthen watchdog
activities in all regions in
order to monitor the gap
between international
standards and national
practices about freedom
of expression

Knowledge sharing
on sustainability and
good practice including
training, publications,
exchanges and support
for sector
associations

Strengthening the
regional and international
networks of the AMARC
Women International
Network (WIN)

In

2014, AMARC committed a lot of efforts to

increase the social impact of its members
through networking, mentoring, knowledge
sharing (conferences/ thematic seminars) and capacity
building (workshops) initiatives.
The general impact related to these activities is
the following:
Increased capacities of community radio
practitioners in the field of humanitarian relief,
food security, social change.
Increased gender balance (at all levels,
management, journalistic, technical) within the
community radio sector.
Improved awareness of CSOs about community
media and external communication opportunities.

OUTCOMES
Several letters of appreciation from NGOs have been
sent, stating the positive effects of the initiatives.
The Jagaran Media Centre (JMC) and members
of the Dalit community of Nepal that are working
in community radios express our appreciation
to AMARC Asia Pacific for its efforts in building
capacities of Dalit community broadcasters.
JMC, ACORAB and AMARC have in the year 2014
signed an MOU to promote the access and role
of dalit community in community radios. In this
regard, the training program organized by AMARC
Asia Pacific is extremely helpful in enhancing the
capacity of dalit women broadcasters in producing
gender sensitive radio content.
Mr. Rem Bishwokarma, President Jagaran Media
Centre, JMC.

Improved relationships between CSOs and

community media.
Quantitative and qualitative reinforcement of
the AMARC network.

ACTIVIES AND OUTCOMES

CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM

Empowering women through

community radio
In 2014, AMARC Asia Pacific partnered with the
Association of Community Broadcasters of Nepal
(ACORAB) to organize a capacity development
workshop.
OUTCOMES

Seminar on womens situation in

the community radio movement
AMARC Asia Pacific and theAssociation of Community
Radio Broadcasters on Nepal (ACORAB) organized
a joint program to mark International Womens Day
2014 on March 8, 2014. The seminar was attended by
women leaders as well as community radio advocates
to take stock of womens situation in community
radios and to discuss how the gender movement
can be advanced better in collaboration with
community radio broadcasting.

51 women from 50 community radios trained to

prepare more effective radio programmes using
gender sensitive language, proper script and
interview techniques, and digital editing
Empowerment of audiences (with a focus on
women) from 30 districts of Nepal by increasing
media pluralism and alternative gender sensitive
programming via 60 programmes produced by
trained women community radio broadcasters.

20

OUTCOMES
Empowerment of women community radio
broadcasters through their involvement in program
production, radio management and participation in
AMARCs global campaigns (ex: 16 Days of Activism
to End Gender Based Violence, International
Womens Day, etc.) Trained women were invited
to prepare programmes related to climate change.
Development and strengthening of a network of
community women broadcasters in Nepal and
networking with the women wing of ACORAB.
Advocacy to ensure an equal access for women to
the airwaves and to all level of decision making in
community radio.
Translation of the Gender Policy for Community
Radio (GP4CR) in Newari, Magar, Tamang, Thakali
and Tharu.

South Asian Seminar on

community radio
The consultation was a platform to bring together
policy makers, academicians, community radio
broadcasters, civil society representatives and key
stakeholders in the community radio sector of
various South Asia countries to meet and discuss
the challenges and opportunities available to jointly
develop the sector in the region.The consultation had
the objective to:
Identify specific issues and problems related to
community radio that cut across national boundaries
in South Asia.
Discuss ways of strengthening the movement for
communities access to airwaves.
Explore various strategies for forging regional
cooperation in the field of community radio.
Establish a South Asian Network for Community
Media (SANCOM).
Provide recommendations for further development
and closer cooperation of the community radio
sector in the region.

5 recommendations:
1. There are opportunities to learn from the policies
and challenges from each countries.
2. There is a need for policies to be affirmative
and supportive of promoting engagement with
other social movement, inclusions of marginalized
communities, address issues of gender and
discrimination.
3. Policy environment in India is moving towards
supporting peer learning and peer review and
also exploring effectiveness of community radio
stations.
4. It may be useful to undertake discussions to
support policy building in countries that dont
have a policy or have an interrupted community
broadcasting movements.
5. Deepen the understanding around ownership of
community radio and operations; plan for spectrum
usage and, in case of spectrum auction to possibly
protect community radio from such an eventuality,
issues advertisement for sustainability.

Regional Virtual Consultations on

Communication, Community Media
and ICTs for Family Farming.
Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America, August
25-September 12, 2015: Online consultations
To help propel family farmers voices forward,
the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
and the World Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters (AMARC) hosted a series of regional
virtual consultations open to development
professionals, community media practitioners, rural
development agencies and the private sector alike.
The participatory discussions opened on the August
25, 2014 and continued into September, focusing on
Communication for Development, community media

21

and ICTs for family farming and rural development.

Participants were invited to share their regional
perspectives, using the platforms Onda Rural in Latin
America, YenKasa Africa and ComDev Asia. The aim
of the virtual consultations is to highlight regionally
relevant contributions of communication for
development (ComDev), community media and ICTs
to family farming, to identify main trends, challenges
and priorities for rural communication services
in support of family farming, as well as to discuss
common approaches to promoting communication
for rural development.
From September 22 to October 6, 2014, E-agriculture
hosted the global virtual consultation with the
support of FAO. AMARC suggested some experts on
community media to participle to the global virtual
consultation.
Network development for
increased effectiveness of AMARC
Interventions
Rome, Italy, October 27-28, 2014: AMARC Annual
International Board of Directors Meeting +
OUTCOMES
Evaluation of the challenges faced by the
organisation following the vacuum left by the departure
of the previous Secretary General, evaluation of
the challenges faced by community radios (access,
development, thematic issues). Definition of lines of
action for 2013-2014. Decision making process
about the World Conference and General Assembly.

Reinforcing access to the media in

order to empower the excluded
and make their voices heard
MENA REGION
The situation of independent media in the MENA
region is achieving success on several fronts. Above
all, the issue of liberalization of media became more
popular among all the layers of society. Nevertheless,
generally speaking, civil society and media remain
under pressure. The experience of democratic
transitions in other countries shows that media
are a key factor in any process of transformation,

in especially independent media which plays a role

in shaping public opinion and giving a voice to the
voiceless.
In Tunisia AMARC continued working for the
reinforcement of the community media sector
through capacity building and advocacy initiatives.
Both these components had an inception phase
at the end of 2014. The capacity building element
consisted in the set up of an academic course with
CAPJC (Centre Africain de Perfectionnement des
Journalistes), lasting 4 months, on Journalism and
management within community Media. The second
element consisted in the organisation of 2 public
events to be held in 2015 (the first on regulatory
issues in the Maghreb and Mashreq region, the second
on identity of community radios).
In December 2014, AMARC also gathered all the data
related to a study / research on the development
and sustainability of community broadcasting. The
objective of the study is to assess the current state of
community broadcasters in Tunisia, in especially after
the recent granting of new community licences. The
diagnosis also aimed at identifying the professional
needs of the Tunisian community radio sector in
order to ensure its sustainability: journalistic practices,
technical side, design of programming, advocacy,
management . Data have been collected through a
field mission (December 2014) and questionnaires
filled by radio stations.
The research gathers a set of of different issues
and perspectives: qualitative and quantitative
data, testimonies, identification of key players,
and recommendations. The study will be officially
presented in 2015.
MED NET - Civil Society and Media Development
is implemented by COSPE Italy AMARC in Europe,
Palestinian Youth Union (PYU) Palestine, Egyptian
Association for Community Participation Enhancement
(EACPE) Egypt, Association Libert et Dveloppement
(ALD) - Tunisia and the network Chabaka in Morocco.The
main objectives of the project are to support civil society
to create an environment conducive to dialogue, human
rights and democratic participation in the Mediterranean
region and to strengthen CSOs and independent media
at regional level in their role of peoples representation,
information, lobbying and advocacy for democratic reforms
and freedom of expression and association.

22

OUTCOMES
In the four countries (Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia and
Morocco), a study about the relationship between
CSOs and Independent media has been carried out.
A regional strategy has been outlined, with the aim
to foster alliances and an enhanced coordination at
regional level between CSOs and independent media
in their efforts to promote popular participation and
democratic reforms. Identification of themes for
joint strategy in the Mena Region: advocacy and
positive actions to improve the legislative and
administrative environment for the legal protection
of journalists; journalism training; drafting of a code
of ethics for the profession of journalist.

Security and peace-bulding

In November 2014, AMARC Africa organized a
workshop on the theme of security in Abidjan, Cte
dIvoire. Journalists from 4 countries (Cte dIvoire,
Rpublique centrafricaine, Mali, Senegal) participated
and produced audio programmes related to peacebuilding. This workshop aimed to build capacity of
journalists on important issues and give them technical
support to increase the quality of programming.

computer-based applications) in combination with

local media (such as community radio).This document
has been prepared to inspire reflection on the role of
communication in advancing family farming. It provides
examples of ComDev approaches applied to farming
and rural development with special attention to the
experiences generated by farmers organizations.

AMARCLab: AMARCS
documentation centre

Research and academic sector

Farming for the future
Communication efforts to advance family farming
AMARC authored a document published by the
FAO in 2014. Abstract: Today, family farming is
the predominant form of agriculture in the world.
Communication lies at the core of the process of
change that involves family farming. Smallholder family
farmers and rural communities require aaccess to
information and communication to make their voices
heard and change their lives for the better.This implies
including communication for development (ComDev)
as part of agricultural and rural development policies
in order to promote dialogue and participation,
harnessing the potential of new ICTs (such as
mobile phones, the internet and

In 2014, AMARC also developed a documentation

centre called AMARCLab, a virtual gateway to the
know-how in radio broadcasting, education and
inclusive development. Open to the public, it is
possible to find on site and online, to borrow or
download, a wealth of material on various subjects
related to communication, radio, media pluralism,
solidarity and international development, gender
equality, communication legislation, etc. Many audio
documents produced by community radio stations
around the world are also available for listening
and downloading. In addition, communication and
radio specialists are on site to answer questions and
facilitate the search of the public. This project is still
being improved and the team is working on a new
way to better feature the documents and facilitate
the access for the public.

23

CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS

hrough the capacity building program, AMARC pursues the reinforcement of the
community media sector around the world, strengthen its network of members and
reinforce partnerships with other CSOs with the aim to increase the impact of non
profit broadcasters for social change.
In 2014, the response of members to the training sessions and gatherings remained very
positive as radio practitioners are always open to learn. In many regions, community stations
have integrated a lifelong learning process in their practice.

1. Reinforce the partnerships and networking between

community media and other CSOs.
2. Closely follow up the improvement of production
capacities of the members and the network.

3. Foster the dialogue with the academic sector;

4. Promote the professionalism of community media
through specialized training sessions;

5. Foster the debate about gender issues.

6. Reinforce the presence of AMARC in the academic
sector.

24

CONTENT
EXCHANGE AND
SOCIAL ACTION
CAMPAIGNS
PROGRAM

OBJETIVE 3
TO REINFORCE
THE SOCIAL,
DEVELOPMENTAL
AND
HUMANITARIAN
IMPACT OF
COMMUNITY
MEDIA

News and features

services in Latin America,
Africa, Asia and Europe,
including special reports
from international
events
Social action on
HIV/AIDS, health,
environment, climate change,
migration, anti-racism, food
security, water &
sanitation

Strengthening the
regional and international
networks of the AMARC
Women International
Network (WIN)
Promotion of
womens rights and
gender equality, including
training and guidance
materials
and broadcast
campaigns

hroughout 2014, AMARC produced, participated, facilitated and broadcasted many radio campaigns
related to human rights, press freedom, social advancement and other topics covered by AMARCs work
and activities.

The general outcomes of these campaigns are:

Reinforcement of partnerships with local stakeholders on the field, other NGOs and CSOs.
Reinforcement of AMARCs network of community radio.
Development of broader ties with community radios in North America.
Closer mentoring of community radio journalists and producers for better quality contents.
Better promotion of contents produced by community radios.
Better recognition of the quality of work done by community radios by general public.

The campaigns have targeted several millions of listeners around the world. This has allowed the promotion of
behaviour change and a deeper sensitization about climate change, preservation of natural resources, gender
equality, human rights, food security (amongst others).
Hereafter is a list of such campaigns and programming that were presented during the covered period of this
report.

FEB

13

MAR

APR

22

In February, AMARC, along with UNESCO, public, commercial and community

radios everywhere, celebrated the World Radio Day. This day is focused on
raising the understanding among the public and the media of the value of radio,
including in the context of new media. AMARC marked the occasion with a show
of support to radios, a way to encourage policy-makers and decision-makers to
engage issues related to communication, media, development and gender equity.
More information and programmes here.

On March 8th, AMARC and the Womens International Network of AMARC

(AMARC-WIN) celebrated the 2014 International Womens Day. The theme was
Equality and speech, chosen by AMARC-WIN to demonstrate the diversity
of voices, mobilize the network and celebrate women. 26 programmes were
submitted in French, English, Spanish and other languages for an estimated total
of 9h33 of programming available on AMARCs website. More information and
programmes here.

Earth Day 2014 (April 22): In 2014, the international appeal for the campaign
focused on family farming. We received 22 programs in a variety of languages.
Programmes were related to family farming, food security, land grabbing, etc. for a
total of 6h10min of programming.

26

MAY

3/17
MAY

AUG

AUG

OCT

16

NOV

23

World Press Freedom Day (May 3 2014): We received 2 programs for an

estimated total of 1h17 aired time. Furthermore, AMARCs President, Mrs. Maria
Pa Matta, was named amongst the 100 information heroes by Reporters without
Borders.
International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) (May 17 2014):
We received 23 programs for an estimated total of 10:37 aired time.

Radio Aurore based in Bertoua, Cameroon, produced a three-part serie in French

on family farming and food security as part of the activities of the International
Year of Family Farming. Many participating radios decided to reinterpret the
episodes in local language in addition to broadcasting the episode in French to
accommodate their audience. This project received the financial support of the
High Commission of Canada in Cameroon.

International Day of Worlds Indigenous Peoples (August 9). For this Day,AMARCs
mobilized its members on minority languages and cultures. We received 20
programs in various languages for a total of 13h20:32sec of air time.

World Food Day (October 16). 7 programs selected from the international
campaign on nutrition were featured on the World Food Day thematic page of
AMARC for 2h41 of air time. Also, informational links and publications were
promoted in AMARCs network.

International Day to End Impunity (November 23). AMARC mobilized its network
via social media and members lists and called them to stand in solidarity with
journalists worldwide who fall victims of violence.
16 Days of Activism to End Gender Based Violence (November 25 December
10).We received 30 programs in various languages for an estimated total of 7h53
of air time.

27

COMMUNICATION
FOR
DEVELOPMENT

hroughout the year, AMARC, via a partnership

with the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO), has been deeply
involved in
Communication for Development
initiatives. in the frame of the International Year of
Family Farming. AMARC produced, broadcast and
facilitated a number of programmes on the theme
of food security. This partnership ensured that rural
population received relevant information through
community radios.
Promoting family farming through
community radio
The AMARC - FAO project for promoting family
farming is underway as part of the 2014 International
Year of Family Farming. During the reporting period,
actions took place in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The main activities of the project were:
1. Coordination and management of three online
platforms to promote communication for
development (ComDev) initiatives in the abovementioned regions. These platforms serve as
references point for ComDev and community
media practitioners. In Asia, ComDevAsia
(English) documents experiences, promotes
knowledge sharing and joint initiatives. In Latin
America, Onda Rural (Spanish) focuses on ICTs,
community radio and rural development. In Africa,
YenKasa Africa (bilingual English/French) aims to
enhance knowledge and experience sharing in
communication in support to agriculture and rural
development in the continent. The coordination
activities of the platforms include regular
research of contents, facilitation, networking and
development of contacts, animation and posting
of relevant contents on a weekly basis. Contents
include regional news and events, good practices,
case studies and multimedia materials such as
photos, videos or radio programs.
2. Implementation and monitoring of Family Farming
Awareness Campaign: this campaign started on
January 27, 2014. It had a global phase in the first
part of the year and entered a regional phase in

the second
part of the year
(starting in July). The
audios produced are
available on AMARCs website
and on the regional platforms
ComDevAsia, Onda Rural and YenKasa Africa.
The campaign targeted farmers organizations and
rural populations in Asia Pacific, Latin America and
Africa. The objective was to use community radio
as a platform to share information with the farming
community and get it involve in discussions regarding
the role of family farming in economic and social
development. In the global phase, 12 programs were
produced for an estimated total of 1h38 (please find
list in Annex). In the regional phase, 9 programs were
produced for an estimated total of 3h42.
Development, distribution and promotion of radio
and web based content for the Second International
Conference on Nutrition (ICN2)
In preparation for the Second International Conference
on Nutrition (ICN2) held from November 19 to 21
in Rome, Italy, the World Association of Community
Broadcasters (AMARC) called upon community
radios everywhere to share their stories about food,
nutrition and agriculture.
Easy access to communication about healthy eating
habits, sufficient nutrition and the development of
family farming and sustainable agriculture is critical
and must not be overlooked in the battle against
world hunger. Regions most severely affected by
hunger and malnutrition often rely on community
radio as the most efficient way to reach as many
people as possible. The objective of this campaign
was to improve public education on the topic of
nutrition, food and agriculture, facilitate access to best
management practices and encourage the sharing of

28

scientific knowledge. 42 audio pieces were submitted

by journalists and producers from community radios
from around the world for this campaign. Some
themes were common even if the way the producers
presented the information differed. Here is a list of
some of the themes explored by community radios
who participated:
Food security.
Malnutrition.
Hunger.
Environment.
Womens right.
Urban farming.
The programmes received show the diversity of the
community radio. None of the stories are repetitive;
they all serve to show and tell how we related to
food, agriculture and nutrition in different parts of the
world. It is interesting to note that the productions
are reflective of the social, political and economical
situation of the country where they are produced.
During the reported period, those campaigns
reached listeners worldwide, through our members
that participated in the campaigns, but also through

our website where other AMARC members and

the general public streamed and/or downloaded the
programmes.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Include academic research, associations, civil
society organizations (CSOs) among the ordinary
sources of information of the media outlet itself;.
2. Open the programme schedule to facilitate direct
contributions of CSOs.
3. Facilitate the linkage between global topics and
local strategies.
4. Develop a mentorship system with community
radio producers and journalists;
5. Develop stronger partnerships with CSO and tie
awareness campaigns to issues spearheaded by
CSOs.
6. Reinforce a pro active attitude with CSOs.
OUTCOMES
Better access to information.
Improvement of knowledge and best practices
sharing.
Implementation of regional networks.

29

AGENCIA PLSAR
The main objective of Agencia Plsar is to motivate
all the stations members of AMARC in Latin America
and the Caribbean to collaborate reporting daily and
constantly the main processes that occur in their
respective countries, while respecting the information
line that Plsar has.
The thematic areas are: the protection of the
environment, the gender equality, the defense of
human rights, the right to communicate, the cultural
exchange, the economical inequality, the peace
process, the militarization of the continent, the
consequences of neo-liberal policies, the situation of
migrants... among others. These are the issues that
lead the news agenda, and they are accompanied by
a number of social actors who are not usually shown
by mainstream media. Agencia Plsar seeks to give
voice to the indigenous peoples, social movements
and organizations, trade unions, sexual minorities,
alternative media and radios, etc. In this way, it is
possible to cover the news in an impartial manner,
taking into account all the voices that are involved in
the same case.
Another strategy to address the journalistic issues is
to do a follow-up on the news. That means analyze
the development of the event, finding its reasons. So
the same news is being addressed for several days to
understand and go further on the matter.

OTHER
CAMPAIGNS
AMARC, the Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters of Nepal (ACORAB) and the Jagaran
Media Centre (JMC) initiated on March a joint
campaign against caste based discrimination, especially
against the dalit people of Nepal. Under this initiative
community radios all over Nepal have started to
broadcast programs and social announcements against
caste based discrimination. AMARC has ensured that
the issue of discrimination and specially that of caste
discrimination is discussed in all of its national and
regional consultations so as to ensure high level of
visibility and engagement.

30