We are working in partnership with a network of 2,500 community-based organisations, more than 50 Nepali radio stations and the BBC Nepali Service to produce drama and discussion programmes to support the peace process and development of a new constitution in Nepal.
Start date: October 2007
End date: March 2010
Media types: radio, television
Issue: governance and human rights
Country: Nepal
Context
I am a landless Nepali. There are four million landless people in our country. Why have you and your ministers not said a word about our problem?
Narendra Bahadur Limbu, from Dharan
Underlying social, cultural, ethnic, religious, and gender inequalities have fostered and sustained 10 years of conflict in Nepal.
These inequalities have, in turn, been made worse by the conflict.
The root causes of the conflict need to be addressed if sustainable peace is to be achieved in the country.
Programme objectives
The radio programmes and pilot television programme seek to facilitate social cohesion and understanding between communities, and to broaden participation in the political process, including in building a new constitution for Nepal.
The programmes aim to do this by:
- Providing the Nepali People with accurate and impartial information on key issues related to the constitutional process
- Facilitating open and honest dialogue between citizens and politicians
- Establishing a platform for the participation of all communities - particularly those that have been traditionally excluded
- Countering attitudes and behaviour which have led to inequality
Political discussion programme
"I am a landless Nepali. There are four million landless people in our country. Why have you and your ministers not said a word about our problem?"
Narendra Bahadur Limbu, from Dharan
'Sajha Sawal' ('Common Questions'), a weekly radio political debate programme, creates dialogue between those in power, and communities that have traditionally been excluded, including rural communities and women. More
A pilot television version of Sajha Sawal was also launched in early March 2008.
Radio drama
In February 2008, Katha Mitho Sarangiko, a weekly radio drama, was launched to explore key themes related to the conflict, such as social exclusion and attitudes towards different ethnic and caste-based groups.
The main narrator of the drama is a 'Gandarba' - a type of traveling folk singer or bard - recruited from the Pokhara region.
The drama examines events from the viewpoint of a range of characters - both men and women - from different ethnic, social, cultural and religious backgrounds.
Each episode is 15 minutes long and will be broadcast by the BBC Nepali Service. The drama will also be made available to non-BBC partner stations.
Research and impact
Formative research was carried out by our Nepalese research team to inform the development of the programmes' content and messages.
Focus group discussions were held to examine people's attitudes, opinions, values and priorities around the issues covered by the programmes.
A 'baseline' survey of 4,500 people was carried in 60 districts to:
- Understand the media consumption patterns and preferences of target audiences (15-49 year olds)
- Assess knowledge, attitudes and practices around social inclusion and political engagement
'Midline' and 'endline' surveys were then be carried out to assess progress in changing attitudes and behaviour that have created inequality, injustice and discrimination in the past.
Working in partnership
'Sajha Sawal' is broadcast by the BBC Nepali Service and its network of 35 FM partner stations, as well as a network of over 20 community radio stations in Nepal.
It is a joint initiative with the United Nations Development Programme's Decentralized Local Governance Support network of 20,000 community-based organisations.
The first discussion programme was recorded in partnership with Purbanchal FM, Nepal's first all-women's radio station.
The recording doubled as a training opportunity for the station, which was only recently established.
Training
Dozens of radio stations across Nepal will benefit from both formal and on-the-job training.
We will work in partnership with Nepalese broadcast media organisations to build editorial commitment, sustainable structures and technical capacity beyond the life of the project.
This will allow them to continue to generate radio programmes that provide audiences with accurate, balanced and fair information.
Formal training for radio partners working on the drama will cover production, script writing and editing. Training will also be provided on using communications for development.
Listener's groups
Working in partnership with 2,500 community-based organisations, thousands of listener's groups will be set up in rural areas to discuss and debate the issues covered in the radio programmes.
Group discussions will be lead by a 'social mobiliser' from one of the community organisations.
We will train approximately 200 social mobilisers, who will facilitate the listening groups with the 2,500 community-based organisations.
Building on past experience
'Sajha Sawal' is based on the successful model of 'Bangladesh Sanglap', a series of televised political discussion and debate programmes produced by the BBC World Service Trust in Bangladesh.
Note: in April 2010 Sajha Sawal and Katha Mitho Sarangiko became seperate ongoing projects.
