MediaSahel

Promoting democracy and civic engagement

Goals

To provide reliable news to young men and women from the Sahel region, and make it possible for them to express their opinions, take part in public debates and contribute to public life in their respective countries, through the media.

8,3 M

48months

3Countries

A project

Supported by

Project timeline

January 2019 December 2022

This project is finished

Presentation

In recent years, the Sahel region has experienced a series of multifaceted, overlapping and worsening crises. One of the factors behind this fragility is the sense of neglect, injustice and marginalisation felt by part of the Sahel's youth, with the under-30s representing about 65% of the population.

This crisis, which is sweeping across the entire Sahel-Saharan belt, cannotbe resolved without making young people feel more included in social and political circles. In this respect, the media have an important role to play by offering young people forums for expressing their opinions and promoting dialogue between citizens, civil society representatives and the authorities.

Through the media, the MediaSahel project is helping to increase youth inclusion, foster stabilisation and establish democracy in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. A scheme for supporting production has been planned to run during the 48-month-long project. In addition to nationwide initiatives, a regional dimension will make it easier to broadcast news and promote dialogue between those three countries, with the focus being placed on shared problems and solutions, and content being offered in local languages.

“Conscious as we are that the media are essential to improving understanding of a complex environment and to initiating a more inclusive and more balanced public debate, we are delighted to be teaming up with CFI to work with the young men and women of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to produce reliable and independent news that is both focused on their interests and sensitive to gender.”

Rémy Rioux, Chief Executive of the French Development Agency

Project beneficiaries

Media professionals (radio stations, websites), bloggers, young people, civil society and local authorities representatives in the three countries.

Files to download

MediaSahel

Actions

Strengthening the capabilities of the media

> Encouraging young people to take part in interactive shows and get involved in the production of content;
> Training local trainers in journalism;
> Strengthening the skills of media professionals: the fundamentals of professional journalism, journalism that is sensitive to conflict and gender, interactive shows engaging young people, discussion shows, encouraging representatives of the State and of civil society organisations to take part in discussion shows and raising their awareness;
> Aiding the development of media outlets or new formats created by young people;
> Providing training courses on new interactive formats for the internet;
> Supporting media management teams;
> Raising the awareness of the media, regulatory bodies and civil society organisations on the issues relating to fake news and the verification of facts.

Supporting the production of content created by and for young people

> The production of news and debate programmes aimed at the young, focusing on both national and international issues, in the local languages of the priority areas and in cross-border languages (unifying languages);
> The production of content that is both entertaining and educational, focusing on international issues, in the main languages and in cross-border languages;
> Supporting the local production of interactive content and discussion shows, in French and/or in local languages;
> National competitions on new interactive and discussion formats, with production grants being awarded to three winners over the course of a year.

Goals

A project

Supported by

Project timeline

Presentation

Project beneficiaries

Files to download

Actions

Strengthening the capabilities of the media

Getting to know the Nigerien youth better... in order to better support them!

How can we improve youth inclusion with the help of the media?

CFI and the French Development Agency (AFD) launch a project to support youth in the Sahel

Ten new recruits for MédiaSahel

MediaSahel, results 2019

MediaSahel broadcasts special content on Covid-19

The “Pas2Quartier” programme expands across Africa

Improved monitoring and evaluation within MediaSahel project team

Consultation workshops in Bamako and Niamey for media discussions

Three youth broadcasting projects in the Sahel region

“Identifying the cornerstones of the profession”: training in the basic principles of journalism in Sahel

Gender issues for MédiaSahel’s radio partners

With reusable bottles and a cooler for training sessions: MediaSahel is taking a more environmentally-friendly approach

Walde Ejef: a symbol of media resilience in a conflict zone

Public talk shows to resolve or prevent conflict

“Judges” to assess the quality of radio productions

Progress made in the consideration of gender issues by African radio stations, but there is still more work to be done!

The wonders of youth

Listeners' clubs: the power of community radio stations

The resilient journey of Boubakary Abdoulaye

Winning radio stations of MediaSahel contest receive their prizes

Involving MediaSahel stakeholders in the development of the project's phase 2

“Together, we can contribute to the development of Mali”

Fatoumata Ongoiba: a radio host advocating for the rights of children

Aissata Sankara: "I like to share everything I've learnt with others"

Aissata Sankara: "I like to share everything I've learnt with others"

Supporting the production of content created by and for young people

RFI launches two magazine programmes in Fula and Mandingo

“So, what do you think?” A new programme for the young people of Africa

Creating a new forum for dialogue between media and youth in Burkina Faso

New offerings for young people on the Malian and Nigerien airwaves

the MediaSahel project presented at the “Paris Peace Forum 2019”

Two days of public broadcasts with RFI in Niamey

In Burkina Faso, radio managers and young people discuss MédiaSahel

Raising media awareness among Burkina Faso's young people through the press cartoon

After Niamey, RFI sets up in Bamako to talk to young people

Tous à la Fada and Tous au Grin: two programmes that speak to young

Three studies to better understand youth-media relations

‘Jeunes Wakat’ programme becomes more interactive

MédiaSahel rolls out a gender action plan and monitoring/assessment mechanism

Combating COVID-19 by drawing

Young people, key allies in preventing COVID-19 in Burkina Faso

Regional, legislative and presidential elections in Burkina Faso and Niger: videos to encourage good behaviour during election periods

MédiaSahel launches its cycle of training courses on interactive programmes for its 72 partner radio stations

She was far more than just a man. She was an aspiring woman

Jeunes Wakat… live and in public

Interactive programmes for young people

Burkina Faso’s young people include MediaSahel in their action plan

Thanks to MédiaSahel, RFI relocates to Ouagadougou to offer young people the opportunity to take the microphone

In Niger, young people work alongside journalists during radio interactivity training

Three editorial projects inspired by “Pas2Quartier” will soon see the light of day in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger

“Interactivity” training cycle in Burkina Faso and Mali: assessment in figures

"Angata… chez moi c’est chez toi" : un nouveau rendez-vous en ligne pour découvrir le Mali autrement

Public discussion programmes on the agenda for MediaSahel trainers

MediaSahel takes a look into the day-to-day workings of its partner media outlets

“Ça pique” an online cultural event for young people in Niger

In the Sahel, young “flagbearers” assess programmes devoted to young people

MédiaSahel: a review of what has been achieved

New training on the production of talk shows in the Sahel

112 Sahelian radio programmes compete to be named one of the best in their country

Six months of production support for around 60 radio stations in the Sahel region

Young people in Mali work to promote peace and reconciliation

Learning to shoot and edit using a smartphone

"Pause-détente" (Take a break) reaches out to as many people as possible

Ensuring the survival of “Ça Pique” (That Stings): the key actions by Etrane TV média

Mediasahel promotes the digital development of community radio stations

Salissou Hassane Latifa: Nigerien and humanitarian whizz

"One of our objectives is to be representatives for peace"

"Digital technology provides innovative solutions to current media issues"

Project gallery

Public talk shows  to resolve or prevent conflict

Young people, key allies in preventing  COVID-19 in Burkina Faso

112 Sahelian radio programmes compete to be named one of the best in their country

Six months of production support for around 60 radio stations in the Sahel region