ComDev News

Listening to change: FAO-supported rural radio initiatives boost climate action

WATCH: Rural radio: Listening to change (WRD 2025) LISTEN: 80 ans de la FAO / Les radios rurales: des ondes qui rapprochent les communauté (in French) As the world marks World Radio Day 2025 on 13 February under the theme Radio and Climate Change, it is worth reflecting on the fundamental role of radio in rural communication. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, disrupting food systems, natural resources, livelihoods

COPEAM to announce winners of 2025 World Radio Day contest in February

In celebration of the 2025 World Radio Day, COPEAM, in partnership with UNESCO, introduced the inaugural edition of the international competition “Radio Bridges – Joint Actions for the Climate” in January 2025. Winners will be announced on 13 February 2025. Aiming to recognize the power of radio in addressing the climate crisis through local and global solutions, the contest seeks to foster and support collaboration among radio stations globally and

IAMCR 2025 Conference happening in July

The International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) invites you to its 2025 conference, which will be held in Singapore from 13 to 17 July 2025, hosted by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University. The 2025 central theme is “Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet.” Other thematic areas include The Role of AI in Environmental Communication, Promoting Environmental Journalism, Diversity in

FONTAGRO in Latin America announces 2025 Call for Proposals

FONTAGRO announces the 2025 Call for Proposals to co-finance innovative projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. This initiative seeks to identify proposals that promote the efficiency and resilience of agri-food systems, while also promoting the development of innovative and sustainable agricultural products, according to a report by Onda Rural. Deadline of submission is on April 11, 2025, at 3:00 pm (Eastern Time in the United States, Washington DC). For

Call for papers: FAO, IAMCR announce 2025 Rural Communication Services research award

The Rural Communication (RUC) Working Group of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) invites the submission of abstracts for its 2025 conference, which will be held in Singapore from 13 to 17 July 2025, hosted by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University. As part of the conference, IAMCR, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Award-winning radio program champions gender equality in West Africa

Radio Jamana’s Kodon Yiriba, the 2024 Liz Hughes Award runner-up for Her Farm Radio, is a transformative program addressing gender equality and social issues in Mali’s Koutiala region, reports Yenkasa Africa.  Co-hosted by Ibrahim Dembele and Maïmouna Ouattara, the weekly show raises awareness about sexual harassment and family issues, empowering listeners to report incidents and fostering community dialogue.  Targeting a diverse audience, including parents, adolescents, and local leaders, it collaborates

FAO, ComDev Asia, and Yenkasa Africa team up for 5-day Participatory Video Training

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), ComDev Asia, and Yenkasa Africa organized back-to-back Virtual Participatory Video (PV) Training in Agri-Food Systems and Digital Environments for Asia-Pacific and Africa from Nov. 19- Dec. 2, 2024 via Zoom.  The training was based on FAO’s Participatory Video  guide and e-learning course and was done in partnership with Digital Green and the University of the Philippines Los Baños College of

New FAO-IAMCR book on Inclusive Rural Communication Services out now

The new book titled “Collaborative Change: Towards Inclusive Rural Communication Services” published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) in partnership with the International Association for Media and Communication Research- Rural Communication Working Group (IAMCR) is out now. It can be downloaded from the FAO Knowledge Repository here. This book addresses the demand for evidence-based approaches to rural communication services (RCS). It presents theoretical foundations of RCS and

2024 Global Family Farming Forum held at FAO HQ

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) co-organized the Global Family Farming Forum on October 15-18, 2024, at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. The event brought together global stakeholders to highlight the UN Decade of Family Farming’s (UNDFF) impact, showcase successes, and chart a course for innovative, equitable, and sustainable agrifood systems. During the opening program on October 15, the UNDFF

Rural Radio: Voices for Change

Join the Global Family Farming Forum (15-18 October 2024) and tune into the Rural Radio livestreaming here: https://www.fao.org/communication-for-development/events/events-detail/rural-radio–voices-for-change/en The Global Family Farming Forum (15-18 October 2024) gathers global food champions to mark the Mid-Term of the UN Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF). A vital element of this event is a fully operational radio station streaming live from the FAO headquarters, reaching out to rural audiences. Experienced rural radio broadcasters from