2023 saw a coup d’Etat in Niger, along with heightened security tensions in Mali and Burkina Faso. But despite an eventful 2023, Fondation Hirondelle’s media in the Sahel managed to consolidate their audience, as well as audience trust.
In 2023, the three Fondation Hirondelle media in the Sahel — Studio Tamani in Mali, Studio Kalangou in Niger and Studio Yafa in Burkina Faso — continued to evolve in a media environment weakened by persistent challenges linked to security, economic fragility and press freedom.
Political instability and the security crisis in the Sahel have led to restriction of space for free expression. In the three countries where we work, these constraints affecting the media as well as civil society and citizens have complicated the media’s ability to relay diverse voices and create debate on people’s concerns and needs.
Following the example of Studio Kalangou in Niger, where the July 2023 coup d’Etat changed the political situation, our three studios have sought to ensure diversity of voices by going to all regions, including the most remote, and staying in touch as closely as possible with the population. They continued to provide local information, vital in this context of crisis.
Relayed by more than 202 partner radio and television stations, Fondation Hirondelle’s three studios in the Sahel offered nearly 2,600 hours of audiovisual content in 2023, with a wide range of programmes in 12 languages to which over 7 million people regularly listen. The information and constructive discussions broadcast over the airwaves have become vectors of resilience and hope.
The trust rates earned by these three studios — up to 90% for Studio Kalangou and Studio Tamani, and 80% for Studio Yafa — give them great responsibilities. The studios meet these responsibilities by sticking to the facts and offering reliable information, a key factor in the fight against disinformation. In 2023, the three studios began implementing a digital editorial strategy designed to strengthen the hybridity of content distribution (both online and offline). Pilot media literacy formats and content emanating from this strategy were launched in 2024 to combat disinformation. Implementation of the Sahel editorial strategy for these three studios has led to co-productions on themes affecting all three countries, such as migration and the environment (see box). This regional dynamic will continue in 2024.
COPRODUCTIONS
MALI – NIGER – BURKINA FASO
Given the common challenges facing Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, the media in these countries have a major responsibility in the way they handle information. This year, Fondation Hirondelle’s studios in the Sahel joined forces to co-produce a series of programmes addressing shared issues. By joining forces, Studio Tamani, Studio Kalangou and Studio Yafa have been able to tackle crucial, sometimes vital issues in depth, to encourage constructive debate and promote regional, inclusive and sustainable solutions.
The relevance of this joint response lies in its ability to address topics of regional interest such as peace, security, migration, governance, gender equality and adaptation to climate change. The variety of formats used – roundtables, public debates, features, reports, surveys – also enables us to explore these key issues in depth, and so to contribute to the resilience of communities.
To ensure full understanding and proximity to the audience, they are available in 12 languages, including French, Bambara, Peulh/Fulfulde, Tamashek, Sonrhaï,Dioula, Gourmantché, Mooré, Haoussa and Zarma.
These co-productions now reach over 7 million people.
STRENGTHENING MEDIA TO PREVENT VIOLENT EXTREMISMT
Since November 2021, Fondation Hirondelle and the Peace and Human Rights division of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) have been working together on a training concept to support West African media in helping prevent violence. As a result, 26 journalists from seven countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Togo) have benefited from a project combining four training sessions in Ouagadougou and three editorial coaching sessions. The project, which ended in December 2023, provided participants with tools for prevention, inclusion, dialogue, balanced journalistic content and the safety of journalists and media.
