Summary - Development Through Radio (DTR) Radio Listening Clubs, Zambia: Impact Evaluation Report

The project ran from November 98 to May 2001, involving 13 rural women's clubs in the Mpika district of Zambia, 600 km north of Lusaka. The clubs recorded their discussions of development issues or requests for development support; the tapes were sent to a radio producer in Lusaka, who recorded a response from a relevant service-provider or politician. The discussion and response were edited into one programme and broadcast as a regular weekly programme by the national broadcaster, ZNBC. The clubs listened to the programmes and discussed them at their weekly meetings.

This evaluation assessed the development impact of the project, principally by talking to members of the clubs and others in their communities. An audience survey was also carried out, in three different areas.

The main findings of the evaluation were:

• The project has brought substantial material benefits and new information to the communities. To some extent the clubs and communities have been empowered to access development inputs themselves, though the mediation of the radio programme producer has also been an important factor.
• The success in achieving material benefits for the communities was probably a strong force in building community support for the clubs in the early months of the project, but now their role in providing information and stimulating discussion is equally appreciated.
• The Clubs have not achieved material benefits specifically for their own income-generating activities, which was the original aim of the project, and which they see (on a video) happening in Zimbabwe. Income-generating is still the clubs' main purpose, so the project should seek to help them strengthen their income-generating activities.
• The project has stimulated intense discussions, in the clubs and the communities, about social issues. The clubs' ability to discuss and present issues clearly is greatly appreciated by men and young people in the communities.
• There is an emerging perception of a role for the clubs as educators for their communities. They are confidently passing on their own experience, and information from outside sources, as well as “hosting” outside experts in their radio programmes.
• The programmes are widely listened to and appreciated all over Zambia.
• Politicians have been very willing to speak on the programmes, and this has contributed to the communities' positive attitudes towards the project. No information was available about whether the project has influenced the attitudes of politicians and decisionmakers towards rural women and development.