Central Africa Emergency COVID 19 Fund - Cameroon

June 2020 Monthly Report By James Achanyi Fontem, camlinknews

In late May 2020, it was decided that FRI could offer the COVID19 Emergency Fund to broadcasting partners in Central Africa. It was likely that most applicants will be from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)RC and Cameroon, although there could be some other applicants from other Central African countries like Congo-Brazzaville, Burundi, and Rwanda , given that FRI has broadcasting partners in these areas and are connected to these partners via email and WhatsApp. The application process was circulated by FRI Canada in two languages, notably in English and French. Two separate application forms were created based on the existing English and French application forms for other FRI countries. The fund and these application forms were promoted primarily via WhatsApp, but also through an email and reminder, beginning early June. The applications were gathered into two spreadsheets (one English, one French) in the Element 4 in an Emergency Fund Requests folder on the Gdrive. The review process with evaluation committee will includes FRI representation: Kathryn Burnham & Hannah Tellier, Finance representation, Abdoul Aziz Zonou, Regional representation Representatives from CORACON & Cameroon Link. The FRI representatives had to check the spreadsheets regularly at lest minimum 3 times a week and share any new applications with the rest of the committee, which had to consider the merits of the applications. The FRI representative also had the role of verifying that the applicants were existing broadcasting partners. The representatives from Cameroon Link & CORACON assisted in the validation process through verification of the applications as well, by contacting the organizations to gather information related to: - Proof that the key contact works at the station, which was registered in its country - Verification of the stated needs in the application & ability to procure the equipment desired (if applicable) - Bank information for the organization or individual to transfer the funds. The evaluation committee met twice, the first time in late-June to review the applications already submitted and to award the funds. A second round of selection is expected to take place in July or August 2020 based on the level of popular applications. The transfer of funds by FRI is handling through bank transfer to the station’s account or using individual transfer by Western Union where necessary, If the station is in a rural area without access to Western Union or bank. CORACON is assisting with transfer of fund through mobile money in extreme difficult situations. Representatives from CORACON and Cameroon Link are assisting in following up in August and September 2020 with stations awarded the funds to gather: - A photo of the station and broadcasters - A short description of how the funds were used and how the station staff & listeners benefited with an emphasis on how women, youth, and marginalized communities may have benefited. - A short description of how their radio station addressed the COVID-19 situation with its programming. - Feedback on FRI’s resources, particularly resources & services produced related to COVID-19 - Have they used any of FRI resources? How? What did they like / dislike? - Did they participate in WhatsApp discussions with experts? What did they like or dislike? - How would the stations rate their satisfaction with the emergency fund process? The application process? The transfer of funds? The follow up from local networkers? On the 5th June 2020, Cameroon Link received the following instructions on: Local Networker Objectives 1. 1st objective: Support radio stations in the use of FRI resources, FRI services including WhatsApp and hotline and FRI emergency fund To achieve the objective: • Follow the work plan requested by the Networking Focal Point The Networking Focal Point (NFP) provided Cameroon Link with expectations for the entire project and detailed expectations per week. (For example: "In the first week, Cameroon Link promoted the emergency fund and how FRI was going to deliver it. In the second week, Cameroon Link promoted the whtasapp and hotline links. • Promote gender equality in all Cameroonn Link activities Value the contributions of women and men equally, which meant making extra efforts to obtain women's contributions. Every day and at every stage of our work, we aim to represent the diverse needs and interests of women, men and other vulnerable groups. Share the information needed for understanding the implications of COVID-19 related to gender inequality (for example, women's higher risk of contracting the virus since they are often the ones who care for the sick, and the increase in violence against women in times of crisis). Make a maximum commitment to contact an equal number of men and women. when Cameroon Link calls or writes to a man, we also call and write to a woman. FRI recognizes that this is sometimes difficult to achieve, but is our responsibility to strive for this goal as much as possible. • Cameroon Link maintains regular, one-on-one contact with each station's broadcasters Responds on the same day to the messages it received (whether they are WhatsApp messages, emails or phone calls). Cameroon Link adapted its tools of communication to the specific needs of individuals. With the list of radio stations provided by the Networking Focal Point (NFP), it was ensured that Cameroon Link remained in close contact with the radio stations that do not contact us. Every day, we contacted at least 5 male and 5 female broadcasters, representing a daily total of 10 different radio stations. Contact with a radio station means that Cameroon Link had to individually writte or call one or more people from that radio station using WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram and/or telephone). It is should be noted that contacting a person through a WhatsApp group is not an individual approach. For this reason, Cameroon Link noted the names of the radio stations, as well as the names of the people contacted including their gender. • Cameroon Link prioritized "marginalized" radio broadcasters and radio stations located in rural communities.Marginalized radio stations' means a radio station located in a remote area and/or broadcasting in a local minority language and/or with fewer financial resources and/or fewer staff and/or less technical capacity and internet than the average. Cameroon Link had to identify the specific needs of people from marginalized groups and respond to their needs with specific information. It prioritizes networking with marginalized radios, with radios that target marginalized groups, and with non-active broadcasters in WhatsApp groups. • Cameroo Link found ways to include broadcasters who are not proficient in English of French when communicating with them was difficult. Pidgin English is spoken in over 9O% of Cameroon communities where the local language of our interlocutor is not understood for the information Cameroon Link shared, but also so that he / she felt valued when he / she communicated his / her opinions and suggestions. If the person does not speak English or French and we do not speak the person's local language, we informed the Networking Focal Point. He / she could help us by putting us in touch with another local networker or another person who could facilitate the conversation. It should be noted that there is no extra budget allocated or translation in this COVID 19 project. • Cameroon Link uses the various social media and digital tools to enable broadcasters to share issues and experiences on COVID-19 and to support each other. We encourage our broadcasting partners to join the WhatsApp group or Telegram / Facebook group to be part of our community of practice and share discussions, experiences, local information and their questions, • Cameroon Link contributes to the search for information from reliable and verified sources, by searching to receive a large flow of information on COVID-19 and the impact of this emergency activity in Cameroon on gender equality and women in particular, then verify its reliability and sort it out before sharing some of it. The slightest doubt about the reliability of an item of information is prevented from disseminating without any hesitation. • Cameroon Link contributes to the fight against fake news on air, networks and digital platforms. We ask to the radio stations what information they broadcast in their programmes. Check to be sure that the information is accurate. We encourage review of sources of information to be aware of fake news by checking the WHO and Africa Check websites. We ask the community radio stations on how the programmes address gender equality issues. The second objective of Cmeroon Link is to Support the radio stations in the improvement of their COVID-19 programmes through animation, journalism and technical know-how. To achieve this objective Cameroon Link follows the work plan requested by the Networking Focal Point . The Networking Focal Point (NFP) has provided us with expectations for the entire project, but also with detailed expectations per week. Cameroon Link promotes gender equality in all its activities through understanding and analysis of information on gender equality. It makes and effort to sure that we get broadcasters to question themselves about gender equality issues and avise them to contact gender equality experts in the ministry of women’s affairs or respective regional delegations in the country to support them. They should ask questions like “Does each piece of information apply equally to the realities of women and men? Do women have the power to decide to implement the proposed measures on COVID 19?” The aim of Cameroon Link is to try to get broadcasters to think about the gender implications of such a crisis like COVID 19. Gender-based violence is often on the increase in crisis situations: “Is it a phenomenon observed in Cameroon’s local communities? Are there services available to help women in their communities?” It is also very important to respect and enforce VOICE standards while communicating. See the FRI fundamentals at all times and apply them. http://scripts.farmradio.fm/radio-resource-packs/101-getting-and-using-audience-feedback-and-evaluating-radio-programs/use-voice-standards-to-improve-your-farmer-program/ • Broadcastes should respect and enforce FAIR standards and apply these FRI fundamentals at all times in the delivery of their activities: http://scripts.farmradio.fm/radio-resource-packs/104-post-harvest-cow-pea/f-r-journalism-standards-farmer-programs/ • Cameroon Link motivates broadcasters to take pride in their work and encourage Them with Congratulatory messages and certificates. We emphasize on the positive aspects of broadcasters’ work on and off the air and celebrate radio stations' successes with them. Cameroon Link also share good news with other radio stations to value people. Cameroon Link’s third objective is to Increase FRI’s network of radio stations To achieve this objective : • Cameroon Link follows the work plan requested by the Networking Focal Point The Networking Focal Point (NFP) has provided us with expectations for the entire project, but also with detailed expectations per week. • This implies enrolling new broadcasting partners in the FRI network, encouraging new radio stations to become FRI Broadcasting Partners and have them complete the Broadcasting Partner Participation Agreement. Cameroon Link review the list of FRI's broadcasting partners, identify radio stations that are not on that list, and then contact them to provide them materials about FRI. The fourth and last objective of Cameroon Link is Sharing insights from our interactions with radio stations to improve FRI services To achieve this objective Cameroon Link FM Network follows the work plan requested by the Networking Focal Point . The Networking Focal Point (NFP) has provided us with expectations for the entire project, but also with detailed expectations per week. While promote gender equality in all our activities, we pay particular attention to good practices related to gender equality, as well as to radio stations that have the capacity to address these issues related to COVID-19. The observations and comments we receive are shared with the Networking Focal Point and the Gender Focal Point like sharing information about services available to women survivors of violence, radio stations taking specific steps to address the needs of women. Cameroon Link collects information and views from radio stations and communities to share with FRI. Assist us in collecting any ideas, comments, questions or reactions from other radio stations and listeners that could help improve FRI's work with us. Share them with the Networking Focal Point and other FRI colleagues. These may include comments or questions related to COVID 19 project beneficiaries, the use of FRI resources and how to improve them, our networking, our responses to gender inequality issues, FRI emergency fund, our impact results, our experiences,...It may also include important local information. For more information, please visit these links: https://camlinknews.blogspot.com/2020/06/central-africa-covid-19-emergency-fund.html https://camlinknews.blogspot.com/2020/06/rapid-gender-analysis-of-covid-19-in.html https://camlinknews.blogspot.com/2020/06/what-are-we-learning-about-covid-19.html