BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DEFICIT IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGOSEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND

In 2008, 65 per cent of all Congolese lived within 150 kilometers of a SFCG partner radio station

Kinshasa

����1.2 Million

Mbuji Mayi

���100 Thousand

Bukavu

12%

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Rwanda

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*RPD25%

63 Thousand

GREAT LAKES GENERATION | COMBINING RADIO, TELEPHONE AND INTERNET FOR A REGIONAL DIALOGUE

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GD��%XUXQGL�DQG�WKH�'5&��+DYLQJ�JURZQ�XS�LQ�D�GHFDGH�RI �ZDU��VDWXUDWHG�ZLWK�SUHMXGLFH�DQG�VWHUHRW\SHV�GHJHQHUDWLQJ�LQWR�IHDU�DQG�PLVWUXVW��6)&*�ZLWK�UDGLR�VWDWLRQ�SDUWQHUV�IURP�WKH�WKUHH�FRXQWULHV�VRXJKW�WR�FUHDWH�RQH�FRPPRQ�PHGLD�VSDFH�for the youth from the three countries to engage with each other.

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width and connection to be able to stream their signal, and receive the streaming of the other partner radio stations, we are

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(DFK�ZHHN��WKH�KRVWV�DUH�WZR�MRXUQDOLVWV��HDFK�IURP�GLIIHUHQW�FRXQWULHV�IURP�WZR�GLIIHUHQW�UDGLR�VWDWLRQV��7KH�SURJUDP�LQ-

FOXGHV�GLYHUVH�SUHUHFRUGHG�IRUPDWV�EHIRUH�JRLQJ�WR�WKH�OLYH�SKRQH�LQ�SDUW��6XEMHFWV�RYHU�WKH�ODVW�VL[�\HDUV�KDYH�WRXFKHG�RQ�nearly every sensitive and controversial subject, but with an angle of supporting positive youth engagement.

**/�HVWLPDWHG�OLVWHQHU-ship in selected markets:

CONCLUSIONS//,Q�������6)&*�LQ�WKH�'5&�PDQDJHG�WR�DGGUHVV�WKH�GLJLWDO�GHÀFLW�E\�FUDIWLQJ�D�PHGLD�IRU�SHDFH�building strategy composed of diverse technologies. From its initial years of distributing pho-

tocopied bulletins from the peace talks, to identifying radio program broadcasting as the most

SRZHUIXO�FKDQQHO�WR�LQWHJUDWLQJ�WH[WLQJ�DQG�QRZ�VRFLDO�PHGLD��6)&*·V�DSSURDFKHV�FRQWLQXH�WR�evolve.

1RW�EHLQJ�DQ�DFWXDO�EURDGFDVWHU��6)&*·V�OLQN�ZLWK�WKH�DXGLHQFH�LV�RQH�VWHS�UHPRYHG��DQG�WKXV�LQ�PDQ\�ZD\V�D�JUHDWHU�FKDOOHQJH��+RZHYHU��WKH�SRZHU�RI �LWV�GUDPDWLF��HQJDJLQJ�DQG�LQWHUDFWLYH�PHGLD�IRUPDWV�KDYH�FDSWXUHG�PLOOLRQV�RI �&RQJROHVH�YLHZHUV�DQG�OLVWHQHUV��,WV�UDGLR�GUDPD�FKDU-acters are legendary, and the credibility of the advice that these characters bring into the homes

and lives of millions of Congolese

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FRPSDQLHV�PD\�EH�DQRWKHU�ZD\�WR�HQJDJH�ZLWK�6)&*·V�DXGLHQFH�DQG�RYHUFRPH�WKH�WHFKQLFDO�DQG�resource-driven constraint faced by many viewers and listeners.

)LQDOO\��6)&*�LQ�'5&�LV�FKDOOHQJHG�WR�ÀQG�WKH�ULJKW�FRPELQDWLRQ�RI �WHFKQRORJLHV�WR�UHDFK�WKH�ZLGHVW�SRVVLEOH�audience for its programming, and encourage the widest and most accessible platforms for dialogue with its

DXGLHQFH���0RUH�WKDQ�HYHU�EHIRUH��PHGLD�LV�QR�ORQJHU�SURGXFHG�LQ�RQH�SODFH�DQG�FRQVXPHG�LQ�DQRWKHU���6)&*�in DRC and around the world continues to use technology as an ally in building bridges of understanding,

trust, and dialogue.

2001 | SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND IS LAUNCHED - DRC HAS NO NATIONAL RADIO OR TELEVISION BROADCASTERS2004 | SFCG LAUNCHES MOPILLA , A CURRENT EVENTS BASED RADIO DRAMA FEATURING A KINSHASA TAXIMAN

2005 | SFCG LAUNCHES ITS PARTICIPATORY THEATRE FOR CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME2007 | SFGC LAUNCHES LOBI MOKOLO YA SIKA TO SUPPORT THE SECURTY SECTOR REFORM

2007 | SFGC LAUNCHES TUONANE SOKONI TO HELP PROMOTE CROSS-BORDER TRADE 2008 | 65% OF ALL CONGOLESE LIVE WITHIN 150KM OF AN SFCG RADIO STATION

2013 | SFGC HAS AN ESTIMATED LISTENERSHIP OF UP TO 30 MILLION

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