Assistance to Broadcasting Services

Project GAM97005 -- Start Year: 1998;  Approved Budget: $452,904.00; End Year: 2001; Implementing Agent: Gambia Radio and Television Services - GRTS Executing Agent: Dept. of State for Works, Communication & Info

Cost-Sharing Arrangement:

UNDP: $150,000.00

Government. $302,904.00

Govt. Inputs (in kind) 50,000 Dalasis

Brief Description:

The project will assist in the preparation of a Master Plan for the development of radio and television broadcasting, based on technical and economic studies. Implementation of the plan will enable the entire Gambian population to have access to radio broadcasting services with improved quality and total national coverage. It will also permit the extension of coverage of a national television broadcasting service. 

Objectives:

1. To develop a Master Plan for the phased and orderly development of radio and television broadcasting services for effective national coverage and good quality reception. This includes a proposal for a broadcasting centre covering all aspects of architectural and acoustic design, and establishment of modern sound archival systems for both radio and TV. 
2. To establish the viability of the investments required for the implementation of the proposed development plan. This will be done through financial and economic studies.
3. Prepare manpower and training plans for broadcasting services for all public and private sector broadcasting entities, including Community Radio Stations, and conduct training programmes in programme production/development, and technical maintenance of studio and transmitter equipment.

Three short-term International Experts in Broadcast Network Planning, Manpower Planning/Training, and Financial Studies and Economic Assessments of Broadcasting systems will be provided, as well as three UN Volunteers in programme development, production, maintenance of sound equipment, and Sound Archival Systems. This project will also pursue the finalization and adoption of the National Information and Communication Policy. The project is an integral part of Pillar IV of the National Strategy for Poverty Alleviation, and targets all broadcasting institutions in the Public and Private Sectors, as well as the Community Radio Stations. The Master plan will ensure the orderly and sustainable development of all broadcasting services, by establishing efficient broadcasting systems for nation-wide coverage, which could play an important role in supporting social communications for development. The project will also have a positive effect on poverty alleviation, since poverty activities require the dissemination of appropriate information as widely as possible, particularly in the rural areas, considering that radio broadcasting is the most effective and cheapest means of information and communication tool in The Gambia.