Project profile — On-Air for Gender-Inclusive Nature-based Climate Solutions

The project supports local sub-Saharan African communities, particularly women and youth, in implementing nature-based solutions for climate adaptation using Farm Radio International’s wide radio network and its innovative approaches to design, produce and air gender-responsive, interactive and local radio programs. The High Impact Radio Series partners with 20 radio stations to produce broadcasts in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda and Zambia. The project aims to ensure a just and gender-responsive enabling environment for nature-based solutions to help local communities address their climate adaptation needs. Project activities include: (1) engaging with climate adaptation specialists, in-country stakeholders, women-led rights groups and relevant knowledge partners in the targeted communities to extract content priorities relevant to their expressed climate change adaptation needs; (2) designing, producing and airing the gender-responsive, interactive High-Impact Radio Series to significantly expand access to information about nature-based solutions for climate adaptation across sub-Saharan Africa; and (3) engaging with the Canadian public to inform them about the adaptation needs of countries in sub-Saharan Africa and how nature-based solutions can be part of the solution. This project aims to reach 50,000 individuals to engage with the programs at least one million times and reach a combined potential audience of at least eight million rural people over the project`s duration.. Tools and knowledge, including the High Impact Radio Series, will be shared with over 200 radio stations in an additional 20-25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, increasing the project`s reach to a combined estimated audience of at least 25 million people across sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, the public education and engagement program aims to reach 300,000 Canadians.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) promoted and enhanced enabling environment for rural community action on climate change adaptation using locally-relevant and gender-inclusive nature-based solutions; (2) increased responsiveness by decision-makers to the expressed needs, wisdom and experiences of rural communities, particularly women and youth, in adapting to climate change using gender-inclusive nature-based solutions; and (3) increased Canadian interest and engagement in Canada’s support of climate adaptation in developing countries using nature-based solutions.

Results achieved as of March 2024 include: (1) produced 54 documentary series and participatory radio campaigns, totaling 275 episodes broadcasted on 25 partner stations across 6 countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Uganda, and Zambia. These programs reached approximately 9,295,076 listeners, including 4,847,124 men, 4,447,952 women, and 5,609,438 youth; (2) recorded 125,292 contributions involving 23,688 unique callers through interactions via the Uliza system. Additionally, 549 communities took concrete actions based on nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation. This helped to address challenges such as food insecurity, droughts, and ecosystem degradation. In terms of impact on public policies, the project influenced 5 national initiatives in key areas. This includes the integration of gender equality into climate change adaptation plans and the implementation of nature-based solutions within agricultural extension services. Furthermore, the dissemination of the first podcasts, highlighting community stories, engaged 163 partners. This includes government institutions, NGOs, women's rights organizations, and youth associations, reinforcing an inclusive and collaborative approach.