Radio and Women's Empowerment in the Sahel

该项目以现有研究为基础，利用非政府组织掌握的数据资源，对马里、尼日尔和布基纳法索的性别平等问题进行高质量、有影响的研究。其目的是通过开发一种创新的方法来进行次级数据研究，并将传统媒体(广播)和社交媒体平台结合起来，进一步促进萨赫勒地区这三个发援会国家对妇女权利和赋权的看法和表述。使用自然语言处理(NLP)--人工智能的一种形式--对数据进行大规模的定性和定量分析，并使用WhatsApp调查听众的反馈，该项目审查了来自这三个国家的广播电台的非政府组织次级数据(无线电产出；概念说明；相关文件；统计学；变革理论和法律文本)。它调查和比较对妇女权利和赋权的看法，广播如何塑造和描绘妇女权利和赋权，以及它们如何影响各国对妇女和两性平等的理解和态度，以便提出建议，影响将促进两性平等并给予妇女更大社会发言权的政策和做法。这三个国家普遍存在性别不平等现象，妇女一直是欠发达的首批受害者。童结婚率高，识字率低，特别是在女孩中，一夫多妻制很普遍，对妇女的暴力行为很普遍，特别是在受冲突影响的地区。广播是信息的主要来源。为了有效和减少考虑到妇女声音的障碍，并确保与性别有关的问题的演变，电台需要以容易获得的方式广播相关主题，而且不仅必须以女性听众为目标，而且必须以全体人口为目标。节目的设计必须有听众和专家的参与。该项目使用NLP对二级数据进行转录和初始编码，从而能够分析大量信息。在整个项目中，听众通过WhatsApp调查，就节目内容以及他们对妇女权利和赋权的看法进行互动询问。这使大量个人能够在大范围内得到咨询，其中一些人受到冲突影响，研究人员无法联系到，而且费用较低，通过个人或集体访谈无法实现。这类调查还允许以语音信息的形式提出问题和作出答复，以促进识字率低的人口中更大的包容性。在项目期间，在知识交流讲习班上征求了民间社会组织、媒体专家和记者的意见，并让他们参与了这一进程。有两轮自动二级数据收集和分析(第3-7周和第11-15周)。每一项都与WhatsApp收听者调查相关联。在两轮二次数据收集和分析之前、期间和之后举办知识交流讲习班。在这两轮期间和之后，将对记者进行关于改进广播和转让最佳做法的培训。该项目使这三个国家的妇女和青年、广播电台、捐助者和其他非政府组织和媒体发展组织、各国的妇女民间社会组织、记者以及学术研究人员和从业人员受益。该项目根据非政府组织的二级数据生成了两个数据集，并另外生成了WhatsApp Listener调查的数据。它还预计提供至少3份学术论文、2份工作文件、小册子和海报，为传播活动提供信息；出席至少3次会议；至少举办3次传播讲习班；开发和维持项目网站和其他媒体平台。

Summary The project builds on existing research using data resources held by NGOs to produce high-quality, impactful research into gender equality in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. Its aim is to further contribute to improvements in perceptions and representations of women's rights and empowerment in these three DAC-listed countries in the Sahel by developing an innovative methodological approach to secondary data research and by bringing together traditional media (radio) and social media platforms. Using natural language processing (NLP) - a form of artificial intelligence - for the large-scale qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data, and WhatsApp surveys for listener feedback, the project examines NGO secondary data (radio output; concept notes; related documents; statistics; theories of change, and legal texts) from radio stations in the three countries. It investigates and compares perceptions of women's rights and empowerment, how they are shaped and portrayed by radio, and how they impact understandings of, and attitudes towards women and gender equality in the countries in order to give recommendations, impacting on policy and practices, which will promote gender equality and give women a greater voice in society. Gender inequality is extensive in the three countries and women have always been the first victims of under-development. There are high child marriage rates, low literacy rates, especially amongst girls, polygamy is common and violence against women is rife, particularly in conflict-affected zones. Radio is the main source of information. To be effective and to reduce obstacles to women's voices being taken into account and ensure the evolution of gender-related problems, radio needs to broadcast relevant subjects in an accessible manner, and must target not only a female audience, but the whole population. Programming must be designed with the participation of listeners and experts. The project uses NLP to transcribe and initially code the secondary data, allowing large quantities of information to be analysed. Listeners are questioned interactively on the programme content and their perceptions of women's rights and empowerment throughout the project using WhatsApp surveys. These enable significant numbers of individuals to be consulted over large areas, some being conflict-affected and not reachable by researchers, and at low cost, not achievable through individual or group interviews. Such surveys also allow for questions and responses as voice messages promoting greater inclusivity amongst populations with low literacy rates. Civil society organisations (CSOs), media experts and journalists are consulted and involved in the process at knowledge exchange workshops during the project. There are two rounds of automated secondary data collection and analysis (weeks 3-7 and 11-15). Each is linked to WhatsApp listener surveys. Knowledge exchange workshops are held before, in between, and after the two rounds of secondary data collection and analysis. Training will be given to journalists in between and after these two rounds regarding improvements to broadcasts and the transfer of best practice. The project benefits women and youth in the three countries; radio stations; donors and other NGO and media development organisations; women's CSOs in the countries; journalists; and academic researchers and practitioners. The project generates two data sets which are based on the NGO secondary data, and additionally generated data from WhatsApp listener surveys. It also expects to deliver at least 3 academic papers, 2 working papers, pamphlets and posters to inform dissemination events; present at a minimum of 3 conferences; hold at least 3 dissemination workshops; and develop and sustain the project website and other media platforms.