Somalia, a country that has been facing a protracted humanitarian and political crisis for more than two decades, has very poor media standards. This negatively impacts the production and dissemination of relevant humanitarian information. Therefore, communities do not sufficiently benefit from key information on food security, health, and hygiene. Similarly, the existence of programmes promoting peace and mutual understanding across the region is often challenged by a landscape dominated by partisan radios.

Radio Ergo’s (RE) main objective is to empower Somalis through the provision of information on resilience, food security, migration, good governance and peacebuilding, as well as to build the capacities of local journalists and Somali radio stations.

RE programmes are currently aired in approximately 40% of Somalia’s 18 regions, as well as in part of the Somali regions of Kenya and Ethiopia.

The beneficiaries of the project include radio listeners, Somali journalists and correspondents, FM radio stations as partners and beneficiaries, NGOs, UN agencies, as well as Somali government bodies.

• Increased access of Somali vulnerable groups to reliable and relevant information on resilience, health, migration, agriculture and peace-building.
• Enhanced opportunities for Somali vulnerable groups to contribute to and shape public discussions on issues affecting their lives.
• Greater uptake among Somali radios of humanitarian and development programming.
• Strengthened institutional capacity and sustainability of Radio Ergo.

Expected results:  

• One hour of daily radio programme broadcast across the region on issues of priority for vulnerable groups.
• Increased use of webpage, social media and other platforms for dissemination of content.
• Increased linkages and cooperation between RE and international and national actors, including among the Media.
• Feedback mechanisms further developed.
• Somali FM radio stations broadcast RE programming and produce their own humanitarian and development programming.

Results from previous phases:  

RE has been successful in developing and regularly broadcasting humanitarian news and related contents. Despite high levels of awareness and coverage, the radio still secures a limited share of listeners, mainly due to a media landscape dominated by non-humanitarian information providers (VoA; BBC).

More focus is required on improving the efficiency of the radio, introducing innovation in the content and form of the programming and building new partnerships (evaluation 2014).

INGO’s, NGO’s, UN-OCHA, local Somali FM radio stations

RE is partnering with different Somali radios and other media programmes, including Fojo, a programme co-managed by IMS and financed by SIDA.

Coordination/exchange with existing SDC funded programmes will be further developed and include:

• SomReP (NGO implemented Somalia Resilience Programme)
• Common Humanitarian Fund (OCHA)
• Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat (DRC)

Phase 7 01.09.2015 - 31.08.2017   (Completed)