Under the project "Small Business Training for Women Using Radio Programs", PROTEGE QV has launched the Multimedia Resource Kit

In spite of their dynamism, the Cameroonian women who represent more than 51% of the total population and who are mostly operating small businesses remain in a precarious stage with regards to their various incomes generating activities. One of the major concerns of the Government expressed through the PRSP (poverty reduction strategy paper) is the reinforcement of the women's incomes. The current strategy of implementing the New Information and Communication current technology in several sectors can also be used to enable these women to evolve in their activities.

Indeed, although the communication tools such as the telephone, the computer are not very widespread, one evaluates that about 70% of households in Cameroon owns a radio set. Thus, radio transmissions can be used to place at the disposal of the women in the rural as well as the urban areas, information which could help them to improve their incomes generating activities.

It is within this framework that, in order to facilitate the preparation of radio transmissions programs for the reinforcement of the capacities of women involved in micro-enterprises, that the Multi Media Resource Kit (MMRK) was conceived and elaborated by PROTEGE QV under the auspices of the Commonwealth Connects Programme.

 

What is the MMRK ? (http://www.radiommrk.org)

In line with its main objective, which is to promote local development through ICTs, Protege QV, under the auspices of the Commonwealth Connects Program, initiated in 2005 the project "Small Business Training for Women using Radio Programs ".

Under this project, the Multimedia Resources Kit "(MMRK) was designed to facilitate the preparation of radio programs aimed to reinforce the capacity building of small business women, especially in rural areas.

The Multi Media Resource Kit (MMRK) merged under one document all the subjects relating to the creation, improvement and management of the micro-enterprises. It is divided into seven main parts:

• Starting the micro-enterprise; beginning from the required qualities of the promoter, the choice of the activity to implement, right up to studying the market.
  Financing the micro-enterprise; that presents the methodology of evaluating financing needs and the different opportunities available to promoters.
  Taxes and Duties required from micro-enterprises and how to behave during tax controls.
  Training and information: this part brings out the different possibilities of reinforcing the capacities of micro-entrepreneurs as well as training to accede the necessary information;
  Improving production; notably agricultural and animal production for rural promoters, as well as the methods of conservation and transformation to reduce looses after harvesting and improve the added value.
  Management of the micro-enterprise; presents the ways to handle the necessary production and sales by the promoter.
  Sale of products (demand and supply); which is the final stage is determined by the quality of the products, the market, marketing, the inputs and the selling price.

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

Global: reducing poverty among rural women in Cameroon
Specific: strengthen the capacities of small business women in Cameroon, particularly those in rural areas through radio broadcasts

 

Who is it intended for?

The MMRK is intended for radio professionals in charge of preparing radio broadcasting programs. It is conceived to be used by radio stations to elaborate distance training programs and to reinforce the capacities of women micro-entrepreneurs in the rural and urban areas.

Taking into consideration its high quality, it can also be used by group trainers in class room training for promoters of micro-enterprises.

Moreover, since it is available in English and French on three types of media (book, Compact Disk and web site) housing the MMRK, it is accessible to the greatest number.

How to use it?

The MMRK can be used as the main resource or as a complementary resource in the development and elaboration of a radio broadcasting programme to reinforce the capacities of the micro-enterprise promoters. On the basis of the needs identified for his listeners, the radio professionals must identify the topics to be treated from the times table of his program and define the order in which they shall be tackled. Then he can choose his topics and make research to cover these identified topics in the bank of resources, which is the MMRK.

The MMRK is written in French and English and from here, the user can choose and decide the format of his radio program.

• The magazine: the text from the MMRK can be read as it is.
• Interview: the user can invite a resource person and uses the texts in the MMRK to draft the questions for the interview.
• A round table: the user has to invite resource persons and use the MMRK text to demonstrate the bases from where it is enriched by the exchanges from the resource persons. The user can also in accordance with the exigencies of his listeners, translate the MMRK in a local language.
  By gathering on one document the necessary resources, the MMRK makes it possible for radio stations to prepare programs at low cost and limited time, to assist micro-enterprises in the rural and urban areas. This also economises the necessary expenses that is required to make researches from several sites and several resource documents in order to prepare this programme.

METHODOLOGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

 

1.      Needs assessment : 2005-2006

Based on a field research carried out in the year 2005 with 400 women and a validation workshop that took place in 2006, PROTEGE QV went ahead to identify micro-entrepreneurs women's needs in information, their radio listening habits and particular subjects on which they would wish to be better informed.

 

2.      Conception of  the first draft of the MMRK

These topics, regrouped under seven main topics were handed over to experts to develop the contents according to the exigencies of the interviewed women. Meanwhile, a documentary search was carried out in the libraries and in the internet to mainstream the various exercises that were carried out in the same line.

The first draft of MMRK carried on a single support, a set of resources on the creation or improvement of the management of micro-enterprises.

 

3.      Experimentation: June-August 2007

The first draft was tested by two pilot radios in the province of Upper Nkam, west of Cameroon, (Radio Yemba and Radio Rural FOTOUNI) to detect the difficulties involved in assembling radio programmes on micro-enterprises using the MMRK. Meanwhile, groups of women listeners followed the broadcasted programmes at this preliminary stage to evaluate the relevance of the contents.

To this end, PROTEGE QV has provided the two pilot radios with material to strengthen their technical capabilities (computers, generators, MP3 player and recorder, etc.) and also trained them to the use of those ICTs.  Similarly, PROTEGE QV provided radios to groups of rural women listeners and has trained them on techniques of listening radio programs.

4.      Elaboration of the final MMRK: June-August 2006

The difficulties raised at this preliminary stage, by the two radio professionals as well as by the groups of listeners, were taken into account to improve the MMRK and to prepare the final draft.

The MMRK is available in English and french on 3 supports:

-          on a hard printed copy

-          on a Compact Disk to be operated from a computer

-          on a website to be accessible with an internet connection (http://www.radiommrk.org)

 

The following ministries were associated to the elaboration of the MMRK: the Ministry of Communication, the Ministry of the Promotion of Women and the Ministry of Agriculture.

 

5.      Official launching of MMRK and distribution to community radio stations

At the end of two years drafting the MMRK, PROTEGE QV introduced to its partners the final version of MMRK. About thirty radio stations from all provinces of Cameroon have been introduced this new tool, in presence of a representative of the Ministry of Communications. Each radio received a copy of the 2 hard supports of the MMRK while each cooperative of rural women present, received a book.

 

6.      Implementation phase of the MMRK:  
since December 2007

Places of implementation: rural and urban areas of Cameroon (Province of Upper Nkam, Province of Adamaoua, Province of Menouah, Province, etc.)

 

7.      Monitoring phase of the MMRK: since March 2008

A follow-up phase of MMRK is currently underway, with community radios and rural women's cooperatives.

 

8.      RESULTS OF THE MMRK

8.1  The MMRK is a useful tool for radios

The results of surveys submitted to the radios on the use of MMRK show that all radios use the MMRK to produce new programs on topics such as agriculture, management of a micro-enterprise, taxes, etc. These emissions are often produced in French, English and in local languages and are broadcasted at appropriate hours - often in the evening - in order to effectively reach women when they return from work.

 

8.2  The MMRK is a useful tool for women and the general population

During a trip in the west of Cameroon, a team of PROTEGE QV noticed that the MMRK constitutes a very useful tool to rural women. As it is formulated in a very simple and very accessible language, it provides most radio professionals a lot of information to elaborate programs aimed at improving income-generating activities of people, especially women, through improved techniques of agricultural production, livestock, or how to begin a business.

Emissions mounted from MMRK give concrete results, for instance when this farmer of Fotouni brought a basket of carrots to Mr Bertrand Kemini, head of Fotouni radio station, to express his gratitude for a broadcast program that significantly helped him to increase its production of carrots.

On the women's side, the concepts they acquired thanks to the programs broadcasted have been of great value. Many have started cultivating new products they were not enough informed before on. Many also improved the production of crops they harvest had the habit of sowing. At Dschang, a cooperative of rural women has seen its production of cabbage increased from 1 000 to 3 000 items.

After having acquired through radio programs concepts of launching and managing a micro-enterprise, a woman of Bafang started a small business, she installed a computer and a photocopier at a strategic place in order to provide office services to people.

All the women encountered told that the issue on taxes and fees had been particularly useful because they now distinguish the two concepts. At Bafang, a woman who has also her personal business understood that rather than pay the 115 000 FCFA that was claimed to her by the tax official, she actually had to pay 35 000FCFA to the government.

8.3  The book is the support of the MMRK the most used

in all the structures encountered, the support of MMRK book remains the most widely used. Indeed, most radio stations do not even have a computer (necessary to use the CD or website) and the book is well feuillette easily, even in the midst issue (to verify or consult information) and can easily move from one journalist to another.

Rural women's cooperatives also use the book that they consult in group, when they feel the need to learn about a specific notion. Using the website would require that they go in a cyber café and pay to access a computer, which means time and money they often lack.

 

8.4  Track improvements suggested

a.      Add information on the prevention of animal diseases

Even if it addresses all matters relating to launching and running a business, MMRK is very focused on agriculture which is the predominant activity in rural areas of Cameroon.

But in the target areas, agriculture and livestock activities are closely linked because of the increasing prices of agricultural inputs which force farmers to rely on the breeding of pigs, a source of manure which is an alternative to chemical fertilizers. But many farmers are severely affected by the problem of swine fever which is ravaging their flock.

Rural women therefore strongly hope that the MMRK integrates information on the prevention of animal diseases (hygiene measures, diseases, medicines, etc.)

 

b.      Include information on small businesses

In addition, some women also suggested that, as far as possible, the MMRK integrates information on small businesses such as the fabrication of soap, milk toiletries, knitting, etc., to provide women more sources of income generating activities, next to agriculture and livestock.

 

c.       Moving from theory to practice

All women encountered assured that even if the MMRK radio programs have changed their lives, they would really appreciate to have training with specialists who would help them put into practice the information disseminated by radio because the radio is just a vehicle of information. Some radios often invite experts during their programs to better explain some complex concepts ; they also invite farmers  who talk about their success in terms of agricultural production for example. But for women, there is no substitute for practice in order to assimilate a concept and avoid costs (time, errors) related to the tests carried out on theoretical knowledge.


9. Challenges

The main challenges posed by the use of MMRK are:

• Technical limitations which affect the use of the three supports by radio stations (absence of internet connection), also everywhere the absence of digital console limits the archiving of broadcast and also the possibility of re-broadcasting when requesting by the public.
• The difficulty of translating in local language some technical terms
• Sometimes, the difficulty for radios facilitators (journalists) to be able to explain clearly the technical content of MMRK to listeners
• The difficulty for radios stations to call for experts in order to improve the vulgarization of the MMRK, often due to lack of financial means to pay for their trip to the radio station or to pay them when they require remuneration.
• Frequent power outages that occur frequently in rural areas and limit the broadcasting or the reception of radio programs

 

10. Conclusion

In conclusion, the MMRK is a good illustration that ICTs can be effectively used to boost local development. PROTEGE QV has taken into account the suggestion of the personal of radio stations and of rural women and is now working of improving this tool, which aims to reduce the poverty of rural women by reinforcing their empowerment.