BBC Media Action Feed

How can media help? Research from six humanitarian crises.

2019-08-19T08:30:24+00:00

To coincide with World Humanitarian Day, BBC Media Action has launched a new humanitarian microsite, which uses data from six of its humanitarian evaluations to build evidence on how media can help people affected by crises. This blog originally appeared on Evidence Aid.

BBC Media Action has been broadcasting ‘Lifeline’ programmes to support communities affected by humanitarian crises since 2001.

Research is central to how BBC Media Action works. Understanding the needs and priorities of the audience is crucial for developing good media content, and rigorous research helps us understand programmes’ impact. This dedication to audience research, even in crisis situations, was one of the things that really struck me when I started working at BBC Media Action four years ago.

In 2015, the organisation decided to pull together data from four humanitarian project evaluations, to understand what role media can play for audiences affected by crises across the world. This synthesis involved recoding qualitative data from these evaluations into a research framework, which applies the OECD-DAC criteria (which are widely used in humanitarian evaluations) to media interventions.

We have now expanded what started as a report into a microsite, with data and videos illustrating humanitarian programming from crises in Lebanon and Jordan, Gaza, West Africa, Nepal, Somalia and Bangladesh.

For me, the most interesting finding is the similarity in how people affected by different crises feel about Lifeline programmes. People appreciated hearing voices of people like them sharing their experiences and solutions. Many said that the programmes made them feel more hopeful and less isolated. The synthesis has helped us understand what is most important to people affected by crisis, namely accurate, practical information; empathetic presenters who speak the language of the listener and represent their situation fully; and having a platform to voice concerns and hold government and aid agencies to account.

It has also highlighted challenges: while mass media is good at reaching many people quickly on a wide range of topics, it struggles to provide hyper localised information, such as the status of health clinics or where to buy building materials. This is where partnerships between local media and humanitarian partners are so important, and much of the evidence speaks to the importance of strong partnerships. For example, audiences say they trust information when they hear the same thing from different sources.

Coordination between media and humanitarian partners on the ground is crucial to achieve consistency, and programme makers are reliant on humanitarian partners sharing up-to-date, reliable information on air. The benefits of building trust between humanitarian and media partners before a crisis are discussed in the ‘preparedness’ case studies on the microsite.

Partnerships are important in research too. Sharing research in crises helps us to build the evidence on what role communication initiatives can play. For example, in the Rohingya response, similar studies carried out by BBC Media Action and our partners Internews and Translators without Borders at different time points, have shown a steady increase in the proportion of Rohingya refugees who feel they have enough information to make decisions for themselves and their families – providing evidence that our consortium project is doing something right.

BBC Media Action uses a research framework to guide our evaluation of humanitarian projects. This allows us to systematically build the evidence base for the role of media in a crisis. We hope that humanitarian and media partners will use and build on this framework, so that we can continue to develop our understanding of what does and doesn’t work during these crises, and work together to build an evidence base that will improve decision making in the future.

The power of making drama out of a crisis

2017-02-09T10:35:29+00:00

How radio drama helps earthquake affected communities in Nepal.

Harkhajit, 50, is a farmer from an earthquake-affected village in Nepal. He is saving to build a new house after the 2015 earthquake but doesn't have enough money. He's considering getting a loan from his relatives or neighbours.

“Why don’t you seek help from your neighbours to help build your house instead? Many villagers are using each other’s help to rebuild,” his aunt Bimla Kaki advises him when he approaches her for a loan. “You can help them build their house and they can help you. It will save you the stress of paying back a loan.”

After talking to more people, Harkhajit eventually decides to give up on getting a loan and reaches out to his fellow villagers who then help him rebuild his house.

This scene is from KathaMaala (Garland of Stories), a radio drama being co-produced by Radio Nepal and BBC Media Action to spark conversations – and action - within communities.

The five-minute episodes are broadcast as part of Milijuli Nepali, our radio programme providing people affected by the earthquake with practical information as they recover and rebuild.

During a recent trip the Milijuli Nepali production team, played the episode to community listeners group in Taruka, a village in Nuwakot district.

Collaborating and rebuilding

In Nepal, people help each other with work in the fields and construction, as well as during religious and social events, but building houses was something the residents of Taruka had not done for some time.

“We used to do arma-parma (community coming together to help each other) for building houses as well. From building the walls and the roof to carrying water, everything got done as a community, but we forgot about it over time,” said Rudra Prasad Dhakal after listening to the drama.

But listeners said that the drama had reminded them that it was still possible.

“It used to be a good way of sharing work in the olden days. You could ask neighbours to help you and offer to pay them with a meal and everyone would come out and help,” said an elderly woman who identified herself as Ambika. She said she had been living in a tin shelter with her husband since the earthquakes.

“It is actually going to be cheaper to do with the help of villagers, instead of bringing people from outside,” added another listener, Radha Shrestha.

Everyday realities in Nepal

Since the earthquake, most people have been living in temporary shelters in the villages so information about reconstruction is seen as valuable by those affected.

KathaMaala is now in its second series and has evolved to address the changing information needs of the audience. The first series followed the narrator, Maala, as she went from door to door selling milk. Her stories helped people see how they might cope better in the aftermath of earthquake. In the new series she has trained as a mason to rebuild homes in her village, becoming one of the first women in the country to take on a job that has been traditionally assigned to men. During a pilot episode, listeners said that Maala’s role was inspiring to men and served as a role model for women.

Daily life in Nepal has been difficult since the earthquake for people living in the worst-affected areas. The rural population depends greatly on radio as their source of information, and providing practical advice through radio drama is one of the most effective ways of communication.

KathaMaala is produced with support from USAID and is broadcast on Radio Nepal at 8:15 am 12:15 pm, 6:15pm on Sundays, and at various times on 58 community radio stations across Nepal.

BBC Media Action does not receive funding from the BBC licence fee and depends on the generous support of donors. Help support our work.

The Nepalese girl whose story touched thousands

2016-02-04T09:22:34+00:00

This external content is available at its source: The story of Ujeli

Bidhya Chapagain, presenter of Sajha Sawal (Common Questions) – a weekly debate show broadcast across Nepal on TV and Radio – writes a letter to Ujeli, a 15 year old girl she got to know while visiting earthquake survivors in Selang.

In a special episode of Sajha Sawal, Bidhya stayed with people in the village, eating and sleeping there to share and report on life within a community still living in temporary shelters built after their houses were destroyed by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in April 2015.

Ujeli captured the hearts and minds of thousands of viewers when she took Bidhya aside amongst the mountain rocks to share her story of hope and hardship.

Having had to quit school due to seizures, Ujeli was stuck at home and had been approached by a string of suitors. Her parents didn’t yet want to marry her off, but she was worried they would soon cave in under the pressure. “I’m not interested in marriage”, she told Bidhya, “I want to get educated and make changes in the village.”

Bidhya was so moved by Ujeli’s story, she wrote an open letter to her. Here’s what she had to say:

Dear Ujeli,

I was nervous, anxious and excited. It was 9pm and we were about to broadcast your story to the nation.

The show was about your life and your community, but with limited electricity and no TV in your temporary shelter, the show wasn’t accessible to you.

Ujeli, you may not know, but you’ve touched the lives of many – both at home and abroad. My taxi driver told me this morning, “My wife and I held each other and cried when we watched Sajha Sawal last Sunday. We talked about Ujeli and couldn’t sleep that night”.

Ujeli, you made the nation cry when you asked, “How long will I have to suffer in this life?” From your stoic perspective, lack of proper toilets, warm shelter, electricity, health facilities and education aren’t worth crying over, but do you know there are already hundreds of thousands of people on social media watching, listening and sharing your story?

Do you know people are posting poems for you on YouTube when they heard your yearning for education? Do you know there are hundreds of people on Twitter, tweeting to extend their support when they heard that you want to continue your education and not get married? The episode has been watched over 160,000 times on YouTube, many of the comments are about you.

Suna Gurung writes, “I’m just speechless. Being a daughter like you, I can feel your pain, even though I’ve not faced the problems you are facing. But people in my village in Rasuwa are facing the same problems after the earthquake.”

Raj Lama from Saudi Arabia writes, “As I watch Sajha Sawal thousands of miles away from home, I don’t feel like working today. I couldn’t hold back my tears when I heard what Ujeli had to say and I pray the Lord brings a smile onto the face of this village soon.”

Ujeli, I know that YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, fancy cars and big houses won’t mean much to you but I want you to know that thousands of people can’t imagine the life you have, the struggles you go through and the pain you take with a pinch of salt. They’re thinking of you and with heavy hearts, sharing their messages of support.

Ujeli, I hope you and your parents continue to refuse your suitors. I’m thinking of you and your quest for education. I ask you to be strong and not to steer away from your dreams, I’m asking you to be strong and remember your wish “to get educated and make changes in the village.”

Many politicians have promised a better life for people affected by the earthquake. With this in mind, Rup Rasaili, a YouTube user, has written a poem to you:

The city dwellers
Come with smiles on their faces
Butter up their lips, crack a few jokes
and vanish with promises.

I hope they are wrong. The fact that you entered the lives of so many will help realise promises for you and for thousands like you.

I’m confident that your story can become a motivation for a wider change. I’m hoping that the changes will be the ones you dream of.

May you shine like a bright light as your name so rightly suggests – Ujeli. And may bright light shine on you.

A life-saving radio station in the clouds

2016-01-21T11:00:00+00:00

A view from Mandakini Ki Awaaz (MKA) radio station

How a life-saving radio station in the Himalayas is helping prepare its listeners for potential flooding, earthquakes and landslides.

Tucked away in the Himalayas, close to some of India’s highest mountain ranges, hides a life-saving community radio station.

Named after a local river, Mandakini Ki Awaaz (‘Voice of the Mandakini’), the broadcaster is located in Uttarakhand state, an area in India at particular risk of earthquakes, flooding and landslides.

In 2013, devastating floods took the lives of over 5,000 people and displaced 100,000 more in the area. Lack of information proved to be a huge obstacle in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation process. Since the disaster, Mandakini Ki Awaaz (MKA) has worked tirelessly to provide information to help listeners prepare for future emergencies. Their work is vital, for many people living in isolated and inaccessible parts of Uttarakhand, radio is their only form of communication with the outside world.

My colleagues and I had climbed to the station’s lofty heights to deliver training on Lifeline, a special programme designed to help broadcasters provide timely, accurate and useful information to people during and immediately after a disaster.

Station staff with BBC Media Action Lifeline trainers, Rishika (third from right) and Shefali (far right).

Simple, doable actions

Training, conducted in collaboration with station staff, disaster experts and NGOs, helped them create a ‘message library’ of simple, doable actions to be broadcast at short notice in the event of an earthquake, flood or landslide. They also produced public service announcements (PSAs), using drama to explain the importance of keeping a first aid kit at home and taking early warning signs seriously.

After a week of collaborative training, a full Lifeline show was broadcast ‘live’; with a weather forecast, a quiz to test listeners’ knowledge of emergency numbers, an interview with a disaster risk expert, PSAs and a feature about avoiding building houses in earthquake prone zones. With this new structure in place, the station plans to continue the show on a monthly basis.

Radio station presenter, Uma Negi goes live with a Lifeline breakfast show special.

Innovative fix

Lifeline training is always a two-way process, and we learned a few things from the station too. Jugaad is the colloquially used Hindi term for an ‘innovative fix’ and an apt description for the station’s guiding spirit and ‘never-say-no’ attitude. Enterprising MKA staff have plastered mud on their walls to improve acoustics and connected their mobiles to a flash recorder (a device that converts voice into digital formats) in the absence of a recording or mixing console. This enables them to edit phone-in interviews ‘live’ – no mean feat in the middle of a show!

Up in the mountain clouds, it’s not difficult to imagine how hard it would be for the 300 surrounding villages to access information during an emergency without MKA.

Transmitting ‘live’ each day to 250,000 listeners (most without other forms of media), the innovative and creative staff at MKA are broadcasting vital information through radio – and with it, can help save lives.

Show your support for Lifeline Programming in time for World Radio Day (13 February 2016). Donate now to help BBC Media Action transform lives through radio.

Hope: 100 days after the Nepal earthquake

2015-08-03T08:00:00+00:00

Watch: How a teacher was able to demolish his school safely because of practical information provided by Milijuli Nepali.

I was alone on the ground floor of the new house I was constructing when I felt the earth shake beneath me. Instinct took hold and I was out into the open in a flash. Only then did I realise that we’d been hit by an earthquake.

As the streets filled with confusion and apprehension, I was one of the fortunate few whose phone call went through and was relieved to hear that my family was safe. Other people weren’t so lucky. Beside me, an elderly lady was frantically calling out her daughter’s name and crying while beating her chest with her fist. There were many more like her in the streets.

Questions without answers

I immediately left for home to see my eight-year-old daughter and my wife. My neighbours and family members had a lot of questions for me: “Is there a bigger one coming? Should we move inside the house tonight? How can we be safe? Will the school open tomorrow?” I wasn’t able to answer their questions as I too was searching for similar answers in my head.

Being a broadcaster with 15 years’ experience, along with the knowledge gained from BBC Media Action Lifeline training, I kept reminding myself; “Radio is the means to address these unanswered questions.”

I headed straight to the BBC Media Action office, as it’s the first meeting point under our crisis communication protocol. As no one had yet arrived, I quickly moved to Radio Sagarmatha, the alternative venue, where I finally spoke with Mona Laczo, our Country Director. She told me the team was planning to help affected communities by sharing life-saving messages through radio.

Life-saving information

The next day we gathered at Mona’s house, as we felt the office wasn’t safe to work in. We immediately got to work with the BBC World Service Nepali Service, creating a ‘Lifeline’ radio programme - designed to give people practical information to help them deal with the effects of the disaster. Topics dealt with questions about if and when another earthquake might strike, the protection of children, how to stay safe during an aftershock, building temporary shelters and issues of health and hygiene.

Dipika and Anuj, Milijuli Nepali producers, working from Mona's garden

As the days unfolded, the gravity of the situation gradually began to surface - thousands of lives were lost, property wrecked and families separated. Relief in every shape and form was key to survival and the need for a Lifeline programme seemed greater every day.

On May 1, we recorded our first stand-alone Lifeline programme, Milijuli Nepali (Together Nepal), in Mona’s garden. BBC World Service’s Nepali Service and hundreds of our local partner radio stations broadcast the show – collectively reaching the majority of the country.

Milijuli Nepali talking to farmers about rice harvesting and storage in Gorkha.

Since then, our team has travelled to various earthquake affected areas to meet people and to bring back their stories and concerns. The second major earthquake, which hit us on May 12, added more fuel to the crisis. Along with other practical information, our programme incorporated comforting stories of survival and interviews with mental health experts to address the insecurity and fear in the minds of many.

Success stories

These days, it gives the team and me immense happiness when we hear stories of lives positively impacted by the programme. A local school head teacher in Dhading talked about how the show became his lifeline when a helpline number broadcast on Milijuli Nepali gave him vital information to help him demolish his damaged school. A local farmer told us how he purified dirty drinking water and organised toilet cleaning in his community at Kutal in Kavre district, after being inspired by listening to an episode on health and hygiene.

Milijuli Nepali discussing child care with earthquake affected families in Nuwakot.

It’s been 100 days since the devastating earthquake of April 25. Currently, 250 community radio stations and 55 commercial radios are broadcasting Milijuli Nepali. Altogether, 79 episodes have been aired and more than 300 affected people, and 160 government officials and experts have been interviewed for the programme.

I can’t forget the day the earthquake hit us and how helpless I felt trying to answer all those questions from my family and friends. Now, 100 days on, Milijuli Nepali has become the platform on which to ask these very questions, share and learn and find practical answers and solutions.

Nepal Earthquake: sharing life-saving information during a crisis

2015-04-28T11:01:00+00:00

People queue at the airport in Kathmandu after the earthquake

When Saturday’s devastating earthquake struck, I’d just finished filming with Sajha Sawal, BBC Media Action’s debate programme in Nepal.

I’m now safely back at home in the UK, having negotiated the chaos at Kathmandu airport yesterday to get one of the few flights out. I was with the family of a Nepal-based colleague being pushed along with a crowd of hundreds when the second quake hit. Instinctively, I grabbed my colleague’s young son and hunkered down by a wall. As the ground buckled and flexed I watched the screws supporting the large information display above our heads pop out one by one. It somehow clung onto to the wall but the electricity was down, the control tower was abandoned, the jagged marble floor cracked open, and there was yet more panic and shouting. But the plane did eventually take off. I feel very lucky to be back here in the UK and I can’t get those left behind out of my head.

Aftershocks

The situation in Nepal will get much worse. The aftershocks keep coming, the damaged buildings and infrastructure are fragile. Water, food, shelter and medical supplies are all in short supply. The fatality and serious injury figures will continue to rise. Disease, with access to clean water and food increasingly limited, is another huge threat.

Makeshift camps

Our work using media to support people in crisis is more important than ever. Confusion and fear feed rumour and information is in short supply. In the hours that followed the first earthquake on Saturday I spoke to locals who were getting patchy news; “Another huge earthquake will hit at 6pm,” people told me categorically after hearing it on the radio. But it didn’t, the aftershocks kept coming, unsettling enough, but the next big one would come the next day.

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Makeshift camps were springing up all over the city, most shops stayed shuttered or collapsed, and everyone was out in the open, like some dystopian bank holiday.

As I left the first cargo planes of international aid were landing and soldiers worked in lines to ferry supplies to waiting helicopters. In addition to this rapid mobilisation, one of the vital things people need is useful advice on what to do and what to expect during a crisis. Radio programming can help give people practical advice on how to set up camp, where to seek shelter and what support might be available or on the way.

Soldiers ferrying aid to waiting helicopters

Our BBC Media Action colleagues in Nepal, once we had confirmed they were all safe, set about doing what they had been trained to deliver. They started to make contact with our local partner radio stations in Kathmandu and beyond, in the devastated rural areas. Over the past four years, we have been helping train local journalists and provide them with equipment in anticipation of just such an emergency. The goal is to get reliable, useful Lifeline radio up and running as quickly as possible in the aftermath of disaster.

Two radio stations were working with us within hours of the first earthquake to prepare information for broadcasts to update people with news and advice. In tandem with this, we are working with our colleagues on the BBC World Service’s Nepali Service to provide regular updates to people. But we still need to extend the reach of our work to directly help those in remote places and currently cut off.

BBC Media Action’s Nepal team members planning and coordinating our radio response just hours after the earthquake

The safest location for our team was the Country Director’s home and before I left colleagues were starting to arrive and converting her home into a makeshift office and studio. ‘Suitcase’ studios were fetched, portable radio kits to get broadcasting. A large tarpaulin was stretched across the garden to keep off the cold intermittent rain – outside still much safer. A colleague cycled off to a UN coordination meeting to ensure our communication efforts linked to and supported the wider NGO plans. I wondered if I should stay but my expertise is not in humanitarian delivery. What I can do is provide my account and endeavour to secure further funding for those struggling to first survive and then rebuild a country now on its knees. We need more help to extend the broadcasts, to replace damaged equipment and to get kit and expertise to support those in need.

Donate now

Generous individuals contributed to BBC Media Action’s emergency fund to draw upon during humanitarian crises such as this. It is proving its worth as we speak but much more funding is needed urgently. Every donation counts and will directly help people in need. Please support us to get vitally needed information out there fast through an online donation or by texting “INFO15 £5” to 70070 to donate £5.

For live updates on our work, follow BBC Media Action on Facebook and Twitter.

Related links:

• BBC Sajha Sawal audio and images (in Nepalese)
• BBC Media Action speaks to BBC World News
• BBC Media Action speaks to BBC World Service
• BBC Media Action's Lifeline programme