West African Democracy Radio
West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR)
Promoting Dialogue
http://www.wadr.org
INTRODUCTION:
The West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) is a trans-territorial radio station that aims to facilitate the exchange of development information between and among countries of West Africa including Chad and Cameroun. As a first phase, it targets mainly the Mano River Union (MRU) countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
A brainchild of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), WADR is conceived to be the hub of a West African network of public, private and community radio stations, creating an avenue for networking between these radio stations and a channel for dialogue among the peoples of the respective coutries they serve.
WADR is based in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, and has Country Offices in Freetown, Conakry and Monrovia. The Dakar office is fed with news reports and other programme materials from the three country offices. But it also sources elsewhere for information relating to the sub-region.
In addition to the live short wave broadcast, its programmes are also delivered by satellite digital radio for rebroadcast by local radio partners in various communities in the three MRU countries.
At this first phase of its operations, WADR broadcasts for four hours every day. Two hours in English and two hours in French. Phase Two will see an increase in its broadcast hours and other West African counries will be brought on board. The ultimate goal is to build a truly West African radio serving the whole of the region, fulfilling the information needs of the people of West Africa.
THE MISSION:
It is the mission of WADR to promote and defend the ideals of democratic and open societies in and among the countries of West Africa.
WADR programmes will advocate for mutual understanding, respect between individuals and communities and will promote peace and human security, transparency and accountability in governance, regional economic integration, and social and cultural development amongst the peoples of the region.
It will serve as a forum for various viewpoints to create understanding between individuals and between individuals and their governments.
OBJECTIVES:
WADR seeks to:
- Promote peace and reconciliation within a more open, tolerant and democratic society in West Africa.
- Create a channel to enable people to voice out their opinions on the many issues affecting them.
- Facilitate information exchange especially among the people in rural West Africa, encourage them to enter into dialogue at a regional level, and thereby capacitate them to appropriate the process of globalisation.
- Provide a platform for an alternative to the ‘bad news is good news material’ approach of the foreign press in reporting on Africa.
FREQUENCIES:
12,000 kHz 7H00-9H00 UTC
17,860KHz 9H00-11H00UTC on SW to the whole of West Africa plus Chad and Cameroon
94.9 on FM (Dakar only)
On various other FM frequencies by local broadcast partners in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Local broadcast partners will receive WADR programmes by digital satellite radio. This will be available to individuals with digital satellite receivers in the whole of Africa, Western Europe and the Middle East.
PARTNERSHIP:
WADR's main partner is its initiator and funder, the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
However, in order to heighten the impact of the programmes and its capacity to effect positive social change, local rebroadcast partners will be encouraged to translate WADR programmes for rebroadcast into local languages. In addition, local rebrodcats partners will be encouraged and empowered to contribute to the programming of WADR.
Promoting Dialogue
http://www.wadr.org
INTRODUCTION:
The West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) is a trans-territorial radio station that aims to facilitate the exchange of development information between and among countries of West Africa including Chad and Cameroun. As a first phase, it targets mainly the Mano River Union (MRU) countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
A brainchild of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), WADR is conceived to be the hub of a West African network of public, private and community radio stations, creating an avenue for networking between these radio stations and a channel for dialogue among the peoples of the respective coutries they serve.
WADR is based in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, and has Country Offices in Freetown, Conakry and Monrovia. The Dakar office is fed with news reports and other programme materials from the three country offices. But it also sources elsewhere for information relating to the sub-region.
In addition to the live short wave broadcast, its programmes are also delivered by satellite digital radio for rebroadcast by local radio partners in various communities in the three MRU countries.
At this first phase of its operations, WADR broadcasts for four hours every day. Two hours in English and two hours in French. Phase Two will see an increase in its broadcast hours and other West African counries will be brought on board. The ultimate goal is to build a truly West African radio serving the whole of the region, fulfilling the information needs of the people of West Africa.
THE MISSION:
It is the mission of WADR to promote and defend the ideals of democratic and open societies in and among the countries of West Africa.
WADR programmes will advocate for mutual understanding, respect between individuals and communities and will promote peace and human security, transparency and accountability in governance, regional economic integration, and social and cultural development amongst the peoples of the region.
It will serve as a forum for various viewpoints to create understanding between individuals and between individuals and their governments.
OBJECTIVES:
WADR seeks to:
- Promote peace and reconciliation within a more open, tolerant and democratic society in West Africa.
- Create a channel to enable people to voice out their opinions on the many issues affecting them.
- Facilitate information exchange especially among the people in rural West Africa, encourage them to enter into dialogue at a regional level, and thereby capacitate them to appropriate the process of globalisation.
- Provide a platform for an alternative to the ‘bad news is good news material’ approach of the foreign press in reporting on Africa.
FREQUENCIES:
12,000 kHz 7H00-9H00 UTC
17,860KHz 9H00-11H00UTC on SW to the whole of West Africa plus Chad and Cameroon
94.9 on FM (Dakar only)
On various other FM frequencies by local broadcast partners in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Local broadcast partners will receive WADR programmes by digital satellite radio. This will be available to individuals with digital satellite receivers in the whole of Africa, Western Europe and the Middle East.
PARTNERSHIP:
WADR's main partner is its initiator and funder, the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
However, in order to heighten the impact of the programmes and its capacity to effect positive social change, local rebroadcast partners will be encouraged to translate WADR programmes for rebroadcast into local languages. In addition, local rebrodcats partners will be encouraged and empowered to contribute to the programming of WADR.