EVALUATION ON POLICY FORUM S COMMUNITY RADIO PROGRAMMES ON EXTRACTIVE AND ACCONTABILITY 2017

Transcription

1 EVALUATION ON POLICY FORUM S COMMUNITY RADIO PROGRAMMES ON EXTRACTIVE AND ACCONTABILITY BACKGROUND INFORMATION Policy Forum (PF) is an organization that aims at increasing informed civil society participation in monitoring and influencing policies related to public resources in Tanzania. In 2017 through its members, PF will strategically use upcountry community radios to inform public on current policies and legislative issues related to Accountability and Extractive Industry. Gender and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be cross cutting issues in the programs. In 2015/2016, PF engaged three radio stations namely Mashujaa FM (Lindi), Info Radio (Mtwara) and Safari Radio (Mtwara) to air 60 radio programmes on extractive and accountability in Lindi and Mtwara Regions. The radio programs objectives is to equip the targeted community with information and knowledge on the investment of extractive industry and how it can impact development of the community. Relevance and importance of openness in the extractive contracts, gender, oil and gas policy, laws and regulatory framework will be emphasized in the programmes. The programmes have been tailored to raise awareness, increase understanding and emphasize importance of shared obligation in governance and accountable use of public resources. 1

2 The community has participated in the programmes by contributing in the discussion through phone calls, short text messages and interviews. It is expected that they will participate during the assessment exercise. Themes The following are themes featured in the community radio programmes: Extractive industry Tanzania is endowed with abundant natural resources including hydrocarbons and solid minerals. Existence of unexploited energy sources (an estimated recoverable natural gas reserves of 57 trillion cubic feet estimated to generate potential government revenue of up to $6 billion per year /TZS 10 trillion) and minerals (Gold, Diamond, Gypsum, Gemstones, Iron Ore, Phosphate, Coal, Nickel, Cobalt, Tanzanite, Uranium) provide a high potential for economic growth. The government in 2013 and 2014 respectively formulated a natural gas policy and the local content policy so as to provide an all-inclusive framework for guiding the development and growth of the industry that ensures optimal benefits to the public. Despite the previous reforms, the extractive industry is faced with challenges which require advocacy initiatives to influence government to manage the resources more effectively for the welfare of the community. Accountability Policy Forum claims that, the state is responsible for ensuring that the citizens rights, needs and capabilities are met. Needs and rights of the citizens will be met when the state is able to manage and use public resources efficiently. In order to guarantee efficient allocation and use of public resources, the state should translate public goods into a process that will enable public officials to address citizens basic needs. 2

3 Citizens are the active right holders; therefore they have the right to demand for justification and explanation from their duty bearers on how it has collected, managed and used public resources. In order to do these citizens should be informed through various means including media outlets RADIO PRPGRAMME COVERAGE Four community radio stations were engaged from April to November 2017 to air the programmes. Past experience shows that people are much attached to their local media outlets because they feel more involved in discussing issues around their particular community. Selected community radio stations were as follows: Radio Theme Coverage Target Audience Mashujaa FM (Lindi) Extractive industry Safari Radio Extractive (Mtwara) industry Lindi and Lindi (Rural and Mtwara Urban) Mtwara, Lindi Mtwara (Rural and Coast and Urban) Region Purpose PF intended to continue informing the audience in Lindi on the relevance and importance of extractive industry investment (Natural gas) PF intended to continue informing the audience in Mtwara on the 3

4 relevance and importance of extractive industry investment (Natural gas) Ebony FM Accountability Mbeya, Iringa, Mafinga Urban In 2016 PF (Iringa) Njombe, and Mufindi conducted social Dodoma, accountability Morogoro, pilot training to Songea, Dar es 13 Councilors. Salaam and The programmes Songwe intended to emphasize their oversight responsibilities. And increase more debate & information among communities on rights to SA Kahama FM Accountability Shinyanga, Kahama TC and In the future PF (Kahama) Simiyu, Tabora, Kahama DC intends to Kigoma, implement SAM Mwanza, to Kahama Kagera and Council. The 4

5 Geita programmes will aid to inform the public and councilors on the same Programme Expectations Through the programmes, Policy Forum expects to: 1. Enhance awareness and understanding of the targeted citizens on their role in holding the government to account. 2. Inform the targeted audience on relevance of extractive industry and how revenue collected can contribute in the community development. 3. Gauge the issues/ themes from PF members and use them in the media outlets SUMMARY OF THE STUDY Policy Forum would like to engage an Independent Company to conduct a qualitative study in Lindi, Mtwara, Iringa and Kahama to assess feedback and impact of the radio programmes to the community targeted in the specific regions Objectives of the Study The purpose of the radio programme evaluation is to assess and learn from the process, achievements and challenges encountered in the radio programmes Specific Objectives I. Relevance Assess the relevance of the radio programmes to the context 5

6 II. III. Effectiveness Assess the strategies used in airing the programme Impact - Identify and analyze the significant changes that the project has brought to the community and how it has increased accountability of duty bearers Lessons What are the lesson along the way and how efficiently are the lessons learned been utilized in improving the radio programmes Scope or work The evaluation will cover 4 regions ( Lindi, mtwara, Kahama and Iringa ). In each region at least one area will be randomly selected for the evaluation. All relevant stakeholders who participated in the implementation of the radio progarmmes will be consulted (radio stations, community members, Government Officials, CSOs) Methodology of the Study The Evaluation will be conducted by an external consultant. The study will employ participatory methodology in order to make it a learning process. The Evaluation will be supported by staff from Policy Forum. The consultant is expected to come up with details of the methodology for conducting the evaluation but the study should employ a qualitative analysis through the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to the rural and urban audiences who participated by sending SMS and calling during the airing of the programmes. Moreover, the FGDs should include a larger sample of the rural and urban audiences who followed up the programmes but did not participate Output of the Study 6

7 Inception report (The inception report should show the evaluation design including methodology and sampling, the proposed study tools and field work plan). A draft report of the findings Final Report of the findings Duration of the Study The study is for a one-month period starting in 13 th November Mode of payment The consultancy fee will be paid in three instalments: 30% upon signing the contract, 40% when the inception report is approved and 30% when the final report is approved Mode of Application The application should not exceed 5 pages and will reflect the following: Understanding of the mandate Methodology description Timeframe Description of the consultancy team (CVs as separate documents) Budget offer Interested candidates should send in their application no later than 27 th October 2017 to the address: mel@policyforum.or.tz 7