Community radio has developed into the most popular and successful medium in rural Mozambique. However, many stations may have to shut down when their funding runs out later this year, the Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) reported.
Almost 50 community radio stations have been set up since 1990 under a US $11 million media project by the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) aimed at strengthening democracy and governance.
"Community radio has been one of the most successful components of the project," said national project coordinator Tomas Viera Mario. However, he conceded that sustainability would be "the biggest challenge" when the project ended in 10 months' time.
UNESCO's main focus this year was consolidating the training of community radio volunteers, particularly in writing proposals for donor funding, and forming partnerships with other development agencies such as Action Aid, which has a programme focussing on girls' education, and the UN Children's Fund's 'Child-to-Child' radio programme initiative.
The growing popularity of community radio, which carries national as well as community news in local languages, has made it particularly effective in communicating health and rights messages to grassroots audiences.
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