Rongo University UNESCO Chair

Background Information

Rongo University and the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific organization – UNESCO signed an agreement to establish a UNESCO Chair on Community Radio for Agricultural Education on the 18th October, 2019. Subsequently, Prof. Samuel Gudu was named the Chair holder. Prof. Gudu is assisted by Dr Peter Day from the School of Media and Arts at the University of Brighton, in the United Kingdom.

The mission of the Chair is to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 2. This SDG seeks sustainable solutions to end hunger in all its forms by 2030 and to achieve food security for all. The Chair also aims to promote UNESCO’s focus area of promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships through training, research and innovation. Achieving these novel ambitions will require an ingenious use of the media and other ICT platforms suitable for knowledge and information sharing. To this end, experts involved in the project believe that Community Radio platforms have got a huge potential for participatory knowledge sharing and capacity to mitigate some of the most pressing global challenges, which include climate change, food security, and conservation of biodiversity.

The initiative targets smallholder farmers who constitute at least 80 percent of food producers in Migori County, Kenya. This will be achieved through enhanced participatory knowledge sharing on sustainable farming systems through radio programmes and new media content. Other targeted beneficiaries include students of media and agriculture from Rongo University, agricultural extension workers, community radio broadcasters, environmentalists, agronomists, agribusiness experts who will receive training on research and content production for radio broadcasting and social media sharing.

Majority of Kenyan households have access to a variety of radio channels which broadcast in indigenous languages.  On the other hand, youthful farmers, who constitute a sizeable proportion of local food producers believe in the power of new media platforms. If harnessed well, these networks are capable of sharing novel farming technologies within a wide network of agricultural stakeholders. In this regard, the philosophy of the Chair is hinged on the unlimited potential of radio power and new media technologies and, their ability to catalyze social change and enhance a widespread adoption of sustainable farming practices.

Officers of RU UNESCO Chair

Chairperson

Prof. Samuel Gudu

Vice Chair

Dr Peter Day

Coordinator

Mr. Enock Mac’Ouma

Activities

Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic through a responsive media

The Kenya National Commission for UNESCO in partnership with the UNESCO Chair on Community Radio for Agricultural Education – Rongo University recently hosted a highly successful radio content production session from 25th – 27th January 2020. The event brought together top producers and studio engineers from leading community radio stations in Migori, Homa-Bay and Kisii Counties. The aim of the event was to refine, polish and produce draft adverts which had been made during an earlier workshop, which occurred in November 2020. The project is a strategic intervention to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in society.

The technical crew consisted of experts from Milambo FM, Anyuola FM, Onagi FM Rongo University FM, Capital FM and Vuna FM. The success of the vent is largely attributed to the generosity of Rongo University Management and support from the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO. The theme of the event was “Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic through a responsive media”

Promoting Responsive and Proactive Media

The Unesco Chair on Community Radio for Agricultural Education – Rongo University, in collaboration with the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO recently hosted a workshop whose aim was to promote responsive and proactive media in the region. The workshop was officially opened by the Vice-Chancellor on the 16th November 2020 and closed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics and Students Affairs on 20th November. Community Radio Broadcasters and programme managers from vernacular radio stations in Migori and Homa-Bay Counties benefitted immensely from the training in areas such as radio content conceptualization, drafting and production. 
 
The event was graced by representatives from the County Governments of Migori and Homa-Bay, ActionAid Kenya, the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation – KBC, Kenya Television Network – KTN and Citizen Television. 
 
During the event, a total of 16 draft adverts and podcasts focusing on a variety of issues related to COVID-19 education, management and response were created. A follow-up activity to polish, produce and broadcast the draft content is in the pipeline. 
 
 
 

Developing Local Radio Content for Farmers’ Education in Migori County

The Kenya National Commission for UNESCO – KNATCOM in partnership with Rongo University  hosted a joint workshop on “developing local radio content for farmers’ education in Migori County”. The event was held in Rongo University between 4-8th November 2019.

The workshop presentations were preceded by the official inauguration of the Rongo University UNESCO Chair on 4th November 2019

The theme of the workshop was “positioning community radio as a catalyst for sustainable farming systems”

Community Radio for Agricultural Education

The workshop programme was validating the suitability prototype radio adverts and podcasts. It was organized by The Kenya National Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Chair On Community Radio For Agricultural  Education- Rongo University                                                  

Date: February 24th – 28th, 2020

Venue: Rongo University, Kenya

The Theme of the workshop was “POSITIONING COMMUNITY RADIO AS A CATALYST FOR SUSTAINABLE FARMING SYSTEMS”

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