FRI Canada Launches Central Africa COVID19 Emergency Fund

By James Achanyi Fontem, camlinknews

Accordinging to Mrs. Blythe McKay, Director of Broadcaster Resources at Farm Radio International, Ontario; Canada; in late May 2020, it was decided that FRI could offer a COVID19 Emergency Fund to broadcasting partners in Central Africa. The Global Affairs Canada COVID-19 Support For Radio Stations aims at assisting broadcasters to engage in prevention of the pandemic. It is likely that most applicants will be from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Cameroon, although there may be some other applicants from other Central African countries (Congo-Brazzaville, Burundi, Rwanda), given that FRI Canada has broadcasting partners in these areas and are connected to these partners via email and WhatsApp. The application process Two separate application forms have been created based on the existing English and French application forms for other FRI countries. The fund and these application forms has been promoted primarily via WhatsApp, but also through email and reminder, beginning early June 2020. Applications are gathered into two spreadsheets (one English, one French) in the Element 4 > Emergency Fund Requests folder on the Gdrive. The review process The evaluation committee includes:

FRI representation: Kathryn Burnham & Hannah Tellier Finance representation: Abdoul Aziz Zonou Regional representation: Representatives from CORACON & Cameroon Link The FRI representatives check the spreadsheets regularly (minimum 3 times a week) and share any new applications with the rest of the committee who consider the merits of these applications. The FRI representative verifies that the applicants are existing broadcasting partners. The representatives from Cameroon Link & CORACON are helping to validate and verify these applications as well, by contacting the organizations to gather the following information: - Proof that the key contact works at the station, which is registered in its country - Verification of the stated needs in the application & ability to procure the equipement desired (if applicable) - Bank information for the organization and individual to transfer the funds. The selection process The evaluation committee meets at least twice, the first time in late-June to review the applications already submitted and to award the funds. (A second round of selection may take place in July or August , 2020 based on the level of demands.) For a list of criteria, see the following document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xAZCgoB29CvrlThBaiKnDhVTawJIKAHSY3KJ9MUQ0wI/edit The transfer of funds FRI will handle transfering funds to the selected stations, preferably through a bank transfer to the station’s account, or using individual transfers and Western Union if necessary. If the station is in an area without access to Western Union or bank, CORACON will assist with a transfer through mobile money. Follow up 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 / 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 Canada resources? How? What did they like or dislike? - Did they participate in our WhatsApp discussions with experts? What did they like or dislike? - How would they rate their satisfaction with the emergency fund process? The application process? The transfer of funds? The follow up from local networkers? Radio Broadcasters’ Team Leader for Francophone Africa, Sébastien Negre cautioned that the goal is to help FRI have a conversation on specific topics that enhances collective work. The documents shared should have concrete information about the activy carried out and that is exactly what is expected from postulants and contributors to the project. - Feel free to contact Radio Broadcasters’ Team Leader for Francophone Africa, Sébastien Negre , Hannah, Katie or Cameroon Link on whatsapp +237674374951 or +237653101286 - Telephone: +237677758840 - +237694340874 - Email: camlink99@gmail.com – jafontem9@yahoo.com