Annual Report 2018-2019

For the audited financial statements for 2018-2019 please go here.

—

Year in Review

For many years, Farm Radio International has been about more than just “farming” in the traditional sense. This year, we formalized that in a renewed mandate and vision: we aspire to a prosperous, just and vibrant rural African people and communities by making radio a more powerful force for good in rural Africa — one that shares knowledge, amplifies voices and supports positive change.

It’s a more holistic approach in our work to support underserved communities. African farmers need to be healthy; women need opportunities to lead; youth need to be heard
and empowered. Our Scaling Her Voice on Air project in West Africa is supporting women and men in tackling issues in their communities as more equal partners, while our projects with Uniterra in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi and Tanzania supported youth in taking up new trades and finding opportunities in different sectors. Additionally, our programming that spread critical information about the invasive Fall armyworm in Ethiopia resulted in a 31 per cent reduction in the area destroyed by the pest.

We expanded our reach in 2018-19, growing the network of radio stations that we serve to nearly 900 — a 23 per cent increase in the number of stations that can provide their listeners with better programs using our scripts, guides, and other resources.

We initiated new projects in Nigeria, Senegal, and Kenya, bringing to 10 the total number of countries we operate in.

We also saw growth in revenue, thanks to our successful efforts in securing funding for long term projects. While these projects mean bigger reach and impact in Africa, we continue to count on the generous financial support of thousands of Canadians — support that enables us to test new approaches in radio, and make sure the work we do makes an impact where it is needed most.

2019 witnessed important transitions in the governance of Farm Radio, with long-serving directors Doug Ward, Nancy Brown-Andison and Sarah Andrewes wrapping up their final terms in office. I am grateful for their years of tireless service. While they will be greatly missed, Farm Radio will continue to be led by an exceptional board, with John van Mossel assuming the role of chair.

As the new fiscal year begins, we are busy putting plans in place for 2020 and beyond — exciting plans for continuous learning and innovation as we deliver time-tested approaches to sharing knowledge, amplifying rural voices, and facilitating positive change.

In 2018-19:

• We provided 132 resources to 882 broadcasting partners in 40 African countries.
• We worked directly with 131 of these partners on 33 projects in 11 countries.
• We reached 18 million listeners through radio programs, resulting in 3.5 million improving their farming, nutrition, and health practices.

Learn more about our work in 2018-2019 in this year’s annual report.