UNESCO’s role in Caribbean MICs: The Case of Communication and Information

by Kwame Boafo

DirectorUNESCO Kingston Cluster Office

Presented at UNESCO Workshop on: The Special Situation of Middle Income Countries (MICs)

in a Reforming UN SystemMontevideo, Uruguay11-12 December 2009 1

Kingston Cluster of Countries

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Member States in Kingston Cluster

1. Antigua and Barbuda2. The Bahamas3. Barbados4. Belize5. Dominica6. Grenada7. Guyana8. Jamaica9. St. Kitts and Nevis10. St. Lucia11. St. Vincent and the Grenadines12. Suriname13. Trinidad and Tobago

Associate Members: British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, The Netherlands Antilles

Non-self Governing Territories: Anguilla, Bermuda, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands

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Communication & Information Climate in the Caribbean

• Media in the Caribbean are relatively free and growing since liberalisation which started in the early 90’s

• Media in the Caribbean are relatively free and growing since liberalisation which started in the early 90’s

• Explosion of radio and television, particularly radio: Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, the countries with the largest population in this cluster (1.6 and 2.7 million people respectively) have: • TT: 38 radio stations, 10 television stations, and 3

major daily newspapers• Jamaica: 20 radio station, 3 television stations, 20

local cable channels, and 3 major daily newspapers • Countries in the Caribbean have been ranked in the 19th

– 50th range on the Reporters Without Borders WPFD Index 4

• In countries with a significant number of media houses (Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados), there is trend of centralization of media ownership and media conglomerates which jeopardize media pluralism and diversity

• 70-80% of media practitioners are below 35 years old

• Only 4 countries have national information policies and access to information acts (Jamaica, Belize, T&T and SVG)

• Access to information is skewed in favour of city centres and urban areas

• Limited local production of media content

Communication & Information Climate in the Caribbean

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Communication & Information Climate in the Caribbean

• Inclusion of ICTs in their development plans since late 1990: following WSIS Declaration

• In June 2002, Grenada launched the First National ICT4D Strategy and Action Plan

• In February 2003, Caribbean Ministers responsible for ICTs agreed to create a CARICOM ICT Specialized Group to develop and maintain the CARICOM ICT/Connectivity Agenda

• CARICOM strategy focuses on ICTs as instruments for strengthened connectivity and development to foster social transformation

• In May 2007, the CARICOM ICT Steering Committee was set up: UNESCO participates in meetings of this Committee 6

Communication and Information in the Caribbean: Challenges

• Rapid expansion of media outlets has led to increased demand for media professionals and increased demand for media and communication training

• Only the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname and Guyana have tertiary institutions which offer certified and accredited training in media and communication

• CARIMAC, the largest communication training institution in the Caribbean, services only about 10% of the demands for its courses

• Limited access to communication training: many media practitioners are not sufficiently qualified or trained

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Communication and Information in the Caribbean: Challenges

• Limited media and communication research• Limited publications with region-specific content• Formulation of National ICT Plans and Strategies is in

very initial stages: Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago are the first countries which have made some progress in this process

• Low cost ICT devices, FOSS, teachers training, new curricula development including ICTs, contents and text books development and corresponding ethical and legal aspects

• Preservation of documentary and AV/digital heritage• Difficulties in sourcing extra-budgetary funds

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Addressing major development challenges in Caribbean MICs: What functions for CI?

• Democratic governance (participation, transparency, accountability)

• Social inclusion (indigenous population and marginalized groups)

• Climate change, popularization of science, technology and innovation

• Enhancing quality of education: ICTs• South-South cooperation• Preserving Diversity and pluralism• Drugs, crime, youth violence and HIV/AIDS

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Communication and Information Projects in the Kingston Cluster of Countries

• CI carries out a number of RP activities, IPDC and other extra- budgetary projects in line with the Medium-Term Strategy for 2008-2013 and the two CI programme priorities for 2008-2009, namely

• Fostering free, independent and pluralistic communication and universal access to information

• Promoting innovative applications of ICTs for sustainable development

• Focus here is on the following two projects:• Developing community multi-media centres (CMCs) in the

Caribbean• Improving Information/Media Literacy in the Caribbean

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Developing CMCs in the Caribbean

• Project provides selected marginalized communities with access to information, knowledge, resources, ICTs, and training

• Access to information and knowledge: key determinants participation in development and opportunities for poverty reduction

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Developing CMCs in the Caribbean

Some results:• 25 CMCs supported in the Caribbean (Barbados, Belize,

Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent and Grenadines)

• 600 people trained in applications of ICTs in community development

• Preservation and dissemination of cultural expressions• Increased community access to information on issues

dealing with health, agriculture, community development, disasters prevention, environmental preservation

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Developing CMCs in the Caribbean

Some results:• Enhanced media pluralism as communities have

alternatives to media conglomerates • Increased awareness of indigenous cultures in the

Caribbean• 5 baseline studies on indigenous communities done: Belize,

Dominica, Guyana, Suriname, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

• In partnership with the Language Unit, UWI, a website on Caribbean Indigenous and Endangered Languages set up; it showcases preservation of 20 indigenous languages

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CMCs facilitate community development in the region in such ways as:

• Crime prevention and mitigation• Preservation and dissemination of cultural expressions• environmental preservation • access to information relating to HIV/AIDS, agriculture, disasters

for rural and remote communities • media pluralism as communities have alternatives to media

conglomerates

Sandwatch 14

The FREE FM (Facilitating Rehabilitation, Education and Entertainment): joint initiative of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) in Jamaica and UNESCO Kingston Office

It seeks to create a positive interactive multimedia environment involving correctional officers, administrators, inmates and families

The CMC functions as:A major vehicle to advance the DCS’s Life Skills Programme.Significant opportunity for positive change in education and communication within the prisons

Prison Radio Network (Jamaica)

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Programmes are designed to:

• Educate both formally and informally, the prison inmates

• Share information on events/activities across the penal system

• Create a learning atmosphere which benefits both inmates and staff

• Facilitate the reintegration of inmates in their communities and deter potential delinquents from a life of crime

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Container Project (Jamaica)

• Established in 2003 in the community of Palmers Cross. A 40ft container was turned into a community multimedia centre

• Offers sensitization and training in various ICT skills (Internet, digital music and video production) for marginalized youth and other groups in and around the community

• The Container offers the only Internet access point in the community

• It has galvanized interest from both the immediate and surrounding communities in its alternate mode of training for personal and community development 17

Radio Paiwomak, southern savannas (Guyana)

• Paiwomak is Guyana's first hinterland community radio station. It serves as a medium for the preservation and sustainable development of the forest reserves

• Oriented to preserve the culture of the Makushi people, one of nine indigenous peoples in Guyana

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Radio Muye, Guensi (Suriname)

• A remote village inhabited by the Saramacca people, descendants of Maroons

• The CMC grew out of Koni ku Libi, a local women’s association, whose name means “live wise to survive”

• It serves as a means of informal education in the community

• The radio is staffed by mostly women (95% )

• The CMC also provides entertainment for tourists through music and stories in local language

• It is the only access the community has to electronic media

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Radio Galibi (Suriname)

• Set up by the Carïb community

• Supports the preservation of their culture

• 80% of broadcast in indigenous language Kali’na, 20% in Creole and Dutch

• They stimulate and enhance development activities

• Promotes the production and distribution of indigenous music

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Communication, Information and Democratic Governance

Enhancing press freedom for democratic governance in Caribbean countries: reform of legislative framework, information access legislation, professional training

Increasing understanding of the relation between free press, good governance and citizen empowerment

Facilitating dialogue and cooperation among regional bodies such as CBU, CARIMAC, ACM, CARICOM, CTU thereby promoting the integration of communication and information in the region’s development planning and implementation

Information Literacy Clubs

• Caribbean Network of Information Literacy Clubs

• Clubs set up in 12 primary and secondary schools in six countries.

• 35 teachers, 150 students and community residents trained in library skills, media literacy and multimedia operations

• Integration of information literacy issues in school curricula

• Four community libraries serving as access points

• Information literacy resources developed

• Increased awareness, understanding and knowledge of information literacy

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Improving Media Education in the Caribbean

• Online courses on Community Media and Online Journalism • 15 media practitioners and professionals trained from 5 countries;

another 40 enrolled • Joint venture with the Caribbean Institute of Media and

Communication (CARIMAC), University of the West Indies

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH

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