Centre Lokole: Bukavu

This 49-page report shares the results of an internally-led evaluation carried out to learn about the programmatic work of the Bukavu office of the Search For Common Ground (SFCG) Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Programme - locally known as "Centre Lokole" (hereafter, "CL Bukavu"). The evaluation describes 4 of CL Bukavu's radio-based and interpersonal initiatives carried out during the period of January 2002 to the end of October 2003; these radio projects drew on entertaining/educational strategies, as well as the provision of information and exchange of ideas, to address issues of conflict in the DRC. The report also offers an assessment of the appropriateness of those projects in order to refine and improve CL Bukavu's strategies so as to maximise its future impact.

Specifically, the report begins by providing context for, and a history of, CL Bukavu's work. The Centre was established in 2001 to support communications around the Inter-Congolese Dialogue (ICD), the cornerstone of the peace process that began in Lusaka in 1999. Overarching goals include supporting the peace process, promoting unity for the DRC, and reinforcing the capacity of local organisations to resolve local conflicts through the use of media, arts, dialogue, and training programmes based in peacebuilding centres around the country. To achieve these objectives, CL Bukavu has developed a range of projects, including the following regular radio programmes:

1. Jirani ni Ndugu (Swahili for My Neighbour, My Brother), a radio soap opera dealing with problems endemic to the Kivu provinces which airs once a week for 15 minutes on the national radio station.
2. L’Arbre A Palabre, a 30-minute roundtable discussion programme which "provides a forum for the public to engage in dialogue with their leaders." Journalists collect "vox pop" (Editor's note: click here for a Wikipedia definition of this term) on a variety of issues in urban streets and present the ideas to guests, most of whom are political and civil society leaders. The show is produced weekly and aired on Radio Maendeleo and Radio Maria.
3. Batisseurs de la Paix, "a programme that highlights positive examples of individuals and communities who have found ways to live and work together despite tense and violent circumstances." The programme is aired on Radio Maendeleo and Radio Maria
4. En Parler C'est Agir, a dialogue programme that brings together people from different groups to discuss various issues. It is aired on Radio Maendeleo and Radio Maria

CL Bukavu also provides regular information on the ICD to local groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the form of information bulletins. In addition, CL Bukavu provided a 2-part conflict resolution (CR) training for approximately 30 participants and also began to participate in peace-journalism trainings.

According to the document, the evaluation - conducted by 3 SFCG staff members - had a participatory approach and was sensitive to the conflict context as well as adhering to the SFCG guiding principles, such as being affirming and positive while honest and productively critical. The evaluation methodology consisted document review, internal reflections with the team, and partners and external data collection and analysis. External data collection involved a blend of questionnaires, focus groups, and in-person structured interviews - drawing centrally on the insights of existing radio club members. Among the findings:

• CL Bukavu supports indigenous civil society, providing them with information and services that enable them to be more effective and informed in their work.
• CL Bukavu has developed a "highly popular and effective radio medium"; for instance, the radio soap opera Jirani Ni Ndugu programme is highly popular and effective, with what appears to be a dedicated listenership that takes to heart many of the messages of the programme.
• CL Bukavu's programming has initiated a "multiplier effect", in that independent initiatives resulting from engagement in a CL activity or project were clearly visible.
• CL Bukavu's projects have "rekindled lost hope and inspired many to act to help create a positive future for themselves and their communities."
• The people of the area want conflict resolution work to continue and are very interested in what conflict resolution skills and projects can offer their families and communities. Overall, there appeared to be a high demand for more of these types of efforts.

Despite these encouraging findings, the evaluation stresses that achievement of CL Bukavu's programmatic goals and objectives varied - and that, in fact, there were a few concerns raised about the potential for negative results through the current programming. For instance, there were several instances where participants in CL Bukavu's CR training were inspired - after being given a very brief introduction to a skill or approach - to engage in potentially violent and dangerous conflicts (e.g., by setting up mediation groups). In addition, the authors stress, radio shows that encourage self-help and need to also articulate the limits inherent within these actions.

Cautionary remarks aside, the evaluators found that CL Bukavu is "a young vibrant organisation which has created positive change through some of its programming. In many cases new attitudes have been sparked and behaviours enacted..."