This project supports ongoing efforts to counter COVID-19 misinformation, increase public vaccine confidence and support demand where vaccines are available. In 2020, Farm Radio International (FRI) implemented a short-term initiative providing gender-responsive interactive programming as an extension of their current GAC-funded Scale Her Voice on Air project. This short-term project contributes to dispelling myths and misinformation about COVID-19 in ten countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Building on these results, the current project increases the previous initiative’s geographic activity scope while disseminating gender-responsive COVID-19 content resources in up to 37 sub-Saharan African countries. Project activities include: (1) researching, developing and distributing 18-24 quality, gender-responsive Covid-19 content resources; (2) providing intensive, gender-responsive training and networking support; (3) linking broadcasters with national public health, livelihoods and gender experts; and (4) engaging in meaningful dialogue with communities, women, poor and vulnerable small-scale farmers in rural areas about their needs and opportunities concerning public health, gender equality and livelihood practices. The project distributes resources to 1,080 radio partners in 37 countries and expects to reach an estimated audience of 30 million, of whom 40% will be women. In addition, the project is offering training and networking services to 18 focus countries where FRI has operational partnerships and offices. These countries include Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. Also, the project expects that these additional services will reach 17,500 listeners, of whom 30% will be women.
