Country experiences

On the first day of the workshop the participants gathered in groups to discuss their country experiences. The answered following questions:

Ambitions : Role of media for the development of a society
What is possible: Opportunities, challenges and constraints ?
Response : Successful strategies of media with in response to opportunities and challenges ?

The key points of the discussion presented on flipcharts in the plenary are listed below.
Please read the country analysis to gain in-depth views about the respective context. If available, you also find the description of the SDC's projects and the analysis of the cooperation offices. Download here the SCO analysis of the Great Lakes region.

Burundi

Country analysis

Video: Interview with three Burundian journalists in exile

Projects

Ambition	Défis et limitations
Offrir au grand public l’accès é une information fiable et diversifié.- Servir de tribune à la population pour relayer ses préoccupations Promouvoir la cohésion sociale au regard du context à travers les messages qui unissent (et ne pas divisent) Privilégier l’info factuelle et/ou commentaires qui rapprochent les gens Déconstruire le discussion de haine Promotion de la redevabilité au niveau local et national sur les questions fondamentales	Difficultés d’accès aux sources d’information (officielle, popu rurale, etc..) Difficultés d’accès à l’information pour les population (média fermé recours au numérique) Economie des médias en difficultés (effondrement des recettes et diminution aide bailleur) Intolérance politique Censure et autocensure Profession paupérisée Climat hostile Journalistes nombreux en exil Presse publique devenue outil de propagande gouvernementale et discours de haine Propension de certains médias à relayer discours teinté d’ethnicité
Opportunités	Stratégies
Création et développement des médias numériques qui ont permis de combler le vide, absence ou manque d’information Public attachée à l’accès à l’information et se dotant d’outils pour y accéder Existence organisation plaidant pour l’exercice libre du journalisme journalistes attachés à leur métier et courageux Certaines autorités plaidant pour l’exercice du métier Existence d’agences de coopération soutenant les médias	Collaboration, partenariat et réseautage pour partager les éléments recueillis au cours des reportages Utilisation de la télé et des réseaux sociaux pour accéder à l’information - Recours aux satellites Recours au short wave Organisation de fora pour échanger sur les médias Relayer les différents point de vue des parties en conflit ( diabolisation de l’autre, etc..) Inclure la question médias Arusha Renforcer le monitoring des média (discours de haines)

DRC

Country analysis

Projects

Ambition	Challenges and Constraints
Advocacy for the information access law Popularization of such a law by the media, help people to know about the law Journalist’s petition to make such a law effective The use of legal remedies by the journalists Civic education of the listeners by the media Giving voice to the voiceless Report abuse of public decision-makers - Good information and respecting the equilibrium of all stakeholders Promoting the culture of accountability so that decision-maker can understand the utility of journalists Promoting investigative journalism	Economic stability Energy stability Equipment Corruption of journalists Inaction and partiality of regulatory bodies Lack of professionalisms Poor management of media Lack of a special law regulating the freedom of expression Lack of management plan Multiplicity of public taxes Lack of public support for media Lack of political will to de-criminalize press offenses
Opportunities	Strategies
Significant number of media in South-Kivu (86 in total) Democratic momentum New technologies of information and communication The presence of international enactment of provincial law protecting journalists donors	Need of synergies between media, stronger lobbying; development of joint programs Capacity building of journalists Listening Income generation activities Use of new technologies Improvement of the standard of living of journalists - Security

Rwanda

Country analysis

Projects

Ambitions	Challenges
Educate and inform and empowering Tell Rwanda story in context Voice of the voiceless Advocacy Hold the leaders accountable Media as a tool for dialogue, are the platform used How are public funds used Transparency is needed more There are a lot good laws, need to understand external relations	Still have self-censorship related to culture, mindset change needed : now perception of media s PR Low technical capacities Low or weak media institutions Criminal defamation Low professionalism and corruption Low solidarity Poor management by media houses and funding Poor content Low readership
Opportunities	Strategies
Legal and policy-framework Access to information law Self regulation Institutions : media associations and schools for journalism Political will Rwanda´s location: belonging to EAC Internet	Audience sensitization Increased funding in the sector -> sustainable funding Strengthened capacities Political advocacy to decriminalized defamation

Tanzania

Country analysis

Synthesis SDC Cooperation Office Tanzania

Projects: Promoting Youth Civic Engagement through Media, Empowering Local Radios, Tanzania Media Foundation

Ambition	Challenges
Media contributes to sustainable development Media diversity/pluralism Media recognition of its power Redefinition of media: inclusion of new media	Media poorly supported (e.g DPs) Lack of editorial independence and financial sustainability Lack of capacity e.g on issues of global interests: SDGs, climate change; skills, reach, production quality content Government’s interference; enabling environment, laws
Opportunities	Strategies
Media/community: trust Media and government issues of common interest e.g Tz Media can work even in difficult environments Social/community media can promote community engagement : are giving a leeway to really engage	Enabling policies and regulatory frameworks Safety and security of journalists Need to create platforms for dialogue; ethics, cohesion Address gender related issues Promote production and dissemination of diversified , quality, content Support media transformation for financial sustainability Differentiating, connecting local and national Promoting capacity building through the culture of networking Content sharing e.g Commneta in tanzania Promoting citizen awereness of how media works, relevance to draw in community support media Educate media for peace

Benin

Projects: L’éveil des sans voix: Capitalisation de dix-neuf ans d’appui de la Coopération suisse aux radios de proximité au Bénin, Capitalisation résumée FR, Awakening the voiceless capitalisation summary EN

Kenya

Projects: Profile International Media Support (IMS), Radio Ergo