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The community radio channel will be set up by the Groupe de recherche et d’appui aux initiatives mutualistes (GRAIM or mutual benefit initiative research and support group), with the support of the local population and financial help from Frères des Hommes. It will promote the sharing and circulation of information among the villages and urban districts in the area, thus giving the inhabitants the knowledge necessary for participating in debates and for taking political decisions that concern them.

Programmes will touch on issues concerning the daily lives of listeners, such as decentralisation, natural resource management, promotion of local cultures and languages, and the urban-rural relationship The crucial question of land allocation will also be tackled. Adjacent to the overpopulated Dakar peninsula, this is, indeed, a vital issue for the Thiès plateau. By dealing with these issues, the channel will help diffuse conflicts about land use (agriculture, industry, housing…) and the current high speculation in real estate.

To ensure viable and good-quality programmes the project will provide ongoing technical training to personnel, radio presenters and administrators from the first year itself in the various radio (reporting, production), communication, institutional and local development techniques.

Grassroots community organisations, political authorities, women’s and youth groups will be involved in setting up the programmes. Some 40 local correspondents will be assigned to help with the production of programmes and lead listeners’ groups in villages.

Frères des Hommes and Graim’s team at Thiers in mars 2009.