2004-2005 Annual Report
Message from the president
In last year's message, I reported that DCFRN was about to work in a new way – by joining forces with World University Service of Canada. A year later, I am delighted to report that the partnership is in place and has taken our organization to a more secure plateau from which to expand our service to African broadcasters and the farmers they serve.
While we remain an independent charitable organization, we have moved into the WUSC offices and WUSC provides us with a full range of administrative support. This means, first of all, that our staff can focus fully on our work with broadcasters. As it turns out, it also means that WUSC's sub-Saharan field offices now provide us with a physical presence on that continent. The synergies have started!
I am also pleased to report that we have gone through this transition year without missing a beat.We have researched, written and distributed the four packages of scripts that we planned.We have closed down our Toronto office and moved into the WUSC Ottawa office – and we have ended the year in the black.
Many staff and board members of both DCFRN and WUSC contributed mightily to this change, and DCFRN owes them all a debt of gratitude. It is not easy to transform your operations, even if you believe that the new way of working will have a better chance of succeeding. At the board meeting where we made the final decision to enter into a partnership with WUSC, we asked each board member to speak from the heart. The last speaker was our founder, Dr. George Atkins, and it was not completely clear to me what George thought of the changes. George's comment was brief. "Think of the African broadcaster and farmer. If this change will help him and her, then don't worry about the bricks and mortar."
Of course, it is now up to us to make sure that the change does help the African broadcaster and farmer. And that means providing more relevant and timely information, expanding the network of radio partners, and widening our range of services to broadcasters to help them be more effective. And that expanded work will require that we raise more money – from our loyal donors, from new donors, from government, businesses and foundations.
We are confident that we now have a firm platform under our feet and can spring forward to meet these challenges.
Doug Ward,
President, DCFRN Board of Directors
I am very happy for the work you are doing for us, and we are convinced that with the support of Developing Countries Farm Radio Network, a real change will take place in rural communities.
Louis Roland de Paul Nya, Radio Site-Dar, Cameroon
DCFRN 2004-2005 at a Glance
We implemented our decision to focus activities on sub-Saharan African where the need is greatest.
We began to provide training to radio broadcasters so that they can create finished scripts for the network.
We produced four script packages consisting of 35 radio scripts and covering topics on crop production, environment, nutrition & health, and small-scale enterprise. In each package there were scripts that were specifically related to women farmers, who make up the majority of farm labour in Africa.
We established a working agreement with World University Service of Canada (WUSC) to improve our effectiveness and efficiency and moved our headquarters to Ottawa in October 2004.
We collaborated with key Canadian organizations such as WUSC, the International Development Research Centre, the Commonwealth of Learning and the University of Guelph. These collaborations assisted us to meet our goals in providing and exchanging practical, relevant and timely information for use by our African broadcast partners.
We enhanced our computer capacities to improve our ability to provide relevant information to our partners.
Projects Overview
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) – $201,300
CIDA has been supporting DCFRN for 26 years. This financial assistance, along with the support of our individual donors and foundations, provides us with the funding base to implement our core program which includes script packages, training bulletins, and public engagement in Canada.
We are pleased that CIDA has agreed to another three year matched funding contribution agreement from April 1st 2005 to March 31st 2008.
International Development Research Centre (IDRC) – $30,000
IDRC provided DCFRN with the resources to use data management systems and the Internet more effectively. Outcomes:
- Increased broadcaster access to agricultural resources through improvements to our website, allowing us to post new and past radio scripts, publications and information on research institutions related to agriculture and food security;
- Facilitated broadcaster-to-broadcaster linkages.
- Provided African broadcasters with opportunities to link to other organizations and research institutions working for farmers on a local, regional, national and international basis.
- Furthered the development of our capacity to use data management systems and internet-based applications to better serve our donors and partners.
2005-2006 A Look Ahead
Our main objective for the upcoming year will be to extend our core activities to include:
- Increasing our partnerships with other Canadian and International organizations that will work with us to expand our service to our African Partners.
- Increasing the number of African radio station partnerships.
- Expanding our work to provide our African partners with the competence to:
- Write scripts and produce radio programs on food security and rural development.
- Connect to each other and work effectively with their local and national agricultural experts.
- Participate in training and professional development opportunities through a variety of media.
To do this, DCFRN will need to increase our funding base from donors and organizations.
Financials
Statement of revenues and expenditures for the year ended March 31, 2005
| 2005 | 2004 | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenues | ||
| Donations Individuals and groups Foundations Corporations |
173,973 36,000 - |
185,097 46,000 21,205 |
| Canadian International Development Agency | 201,300 | 200,000 |
| Project grants | 35,347 | 5,049 |
| Other | 45 | 102 |
| 446,665 | 457,453 | |
| Expenditures | ||
| International program (scripts and broadcaster support) | 187,029 | 264,461 |
| Administrative expenses | 193,083 | 134,729 |
| Fundraising | 53,761 | 66,340 |
| 433,873 | 465,530 | |
| Net Revenue (expenditure) | 12,792 | (8,077) |
In 2004-2005 we incurred one-time administrative expenses of approximately $50,000 related to the relocation of our headquarters from Toronto to Ottawa.
Commonwealth of Learning (COL) – $20,000
Sarah Kisolo of Radio Uganda (right), a participant in the COL electronic discussion group, with colleagues Robinah Nandudu (left) and Emily Arayo (middle)
The project was created to develop better means of teaming our African radio partners with agricultural researchers from around the world through Internet discussion groups. Twenty-nine broadcasters representing 12 African countries responded and participated in the electronic discussion groups with six research resource people. The process was conducted over a four-month period focusing on eight different themes. This was a new approach for DCFRN and for all of our participating partners. The outcomes:
- Increased awareness and understanding of the development topics discussed.
- An improved capacity to provide effective development programming to meet the needs of communities.
- A renewed energy amongst rural radio broadcasters, and other agriculture stakeholders in working and collaborating together.
- An understanding of the value of using the Internet for information-sharing.
Partners and Countries
West Africa
| Countries | Number of Partners |
|---|---|
| Benin | 10 |
| Burkina Faso | 13 |
| Gambia | 1 |
| Ghana | 17 |
| Guinea Bassau | 2 |
| Guinea | 5 |
| Ivory Coast | 6 |
| Niger | 3 |
| Mali | 23 |
| Mauritania | 1 |
| Nigeria | 23 |
| Senegal | 6 |
| Sierra Leone | 3 |
| Togo | 11 |
Central Africa
| Countries | Number of Partners |
|---|---|
| Burundi | 2 |
| Cameroon | 24 |
| Central African | 2 |
| Rep. Chad | 2 |
| Congo (Dem. Rep.) | 9 |
| Congo Republic | 7 |
| Gabon | 1 |
| Rwanda | 4 |
East and Horn
| Countries | Number of Partners |
|---|---|
| Ethiopia | 4 |
| Kenya | 2 |
| Sudan | 1 |
| Tanzania | 4 |
| Uganda | 17 |
South Africa
| Countries | Number of Partners |
|---|---|
| Angola | 2 |
| Botswana | 1 |
| Lesotho | 2 |
| Malawi | 3 |
| Mauritius | 1 |
| Namibia | 3 |
| South Africa | 22 |
| Swaziland | 3 |
| Zambia | 5 |
| Zimbabwe | 8 |
DCFRN provides information and support to 253 partner radio stations in 37 different countries across Africa.
George Atkins Award Winner
This Year's George Atkins Communications Award Winner – Aaron Kaah from Voice of Oku in Cameroon
Aaron Kaah (right) with Blythe McKay of DCFRN in Dakar, Senegal for a workshop linking agricultural research and rural radio.
Aaron Kaah, a broadcaster with Oku's Rural Radio Station 95.2 FM, nicknamed the Voice of Oku, has been active and involved in many DCFRN activities.He has worked as a radio broadcaster and producer with the Voice of Oku for six years and is keenly interested in improving the health of his community. Aaron is committed to expanding his capacity as a broadcaster and was one of the first broadcasters to join our electronic-based broadcaster discussion group – a project geared to provide training and resource links to DCFRN's African partners. Aaron has regularly provided information for 'Voices', DCFRN's training publication. Some of the topics Aaron has written about include beekeeping, agroforestry, and women in Africa.We are pleased to award this year's George Atkins Communications Award to this dedicated individual.
The Oku Rural Radio Station 95.2 FM is a community station that has been a DCFRN partner since 1999. The station is located in the North West Province of Cameroon, and broadcasts in Oku and Pidgin. The station was established in 1998 to create awareness among the Oku people about sustainable food production, food sufficiency, and other topics to improve livelihoods.
About the George Atkins Communications Award
The award is presented to a broadcaster committed to responding to small-scale farmers' needs and to partnering with DCFRN. The winner is awarded a Sony mini disc recorder and microphone to assist in their broadcasting work. To be eligible for the award, the recipient must be part of an organization that is directly involved in broadcasting activities and has been a DCFRN partner for a minimum of one year.
The George Atkins Communications Award was established in 1991 to recognize rural radio broadcasters for their outstanding commitment and contribution to food security and poverty reduction in low-income countries. The award is named after Dr. George S. Atkins, the Founding Director of Developing Countries Farm Radio Network.
Thank You
For over 25 years, small-scale farmers and their families have benefited from the generosity of DCFRN's friends and supporters. We greatly acknowledge the financial contribution of the many individuals, groups, corporations and foundations that gave to DCFRN this year. Because of their commitment and support, we were able to fund the activities outlined in this report. We would like to make a special mention to the following donors:
- Morrison Foundation
- The Peterborough K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation
- N.A. Taylor Foundation
Board of Directors
George Stuart Atkins, C.M.
Retired Farmer/Farm Broadcaster, CBC
Louise Atkins **
Senior Advisor, National Homelessness Initiative
Nancy Brown-Andison
Consultant (Public Sector), IBM
David Barrie **
Farmer/Volunteer Agricultural Missionary in Africa
Mary E.A. Carley *
Educator (Nursing), Conestoga College
Ray Hazzan (Vice Chair) *
Retired Journalist/Broadcaster, CBC
Heather Hudson **
Director, Telecommunications Program, University of San Francisco School of Business Administration
Jacques Konig (Treasurer)
Vice-President, Advance Planning & Communications
Graham McLeod
Lawyer, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Janette McDonald **
Executive Director, Alberta Pulse Growers
Matthew Mendelsohn
Associate Professor (Political Science), Queen's University
Helen Hambly Odame **
Local Institutional Development Specialist, Faculty of the School of Environmental Design & Rural Development, University of Guelph
Wendy Quarry **
Consultant, Communication and Rural Development
Owen Roberts *
Journalist/Educator (Agriculture Research Communications), University of Guelph
Heidi Schaeffer
Consultant, Development Communication
Keith Smith
Retired Director of the Agriculture Extension Centre, Manitoba Department of Agriculture
Doug Ward (President)
Retired Regional Director (Ottawa), CBC Radio
Staff
Executive Director
Sylvie Villemure
Managing Editor
Jennifer Pittet
Development Communication Coordinator
Blythe McKay
Program Assistant
Anne Girard
* completed term during the year
** appointed/elected during the year
