The US Agency for International Development (USAID), international media development organization Internews and Zain Telecommunications Company last week launched a partnership with a local media organisation to expand coverage of radio in South Sudan.
The partnership between Eye Media and the three partners will enable the installation of Repeater equipment for Eye Radio. This will see the reach of independent radio expand to rural communities of South Sudan. It will enable expansion of Eye Radio broadcasts from Juba to other parts of South Sudan, beginning with Torit, which will reach approximately 100,000 listeners in Eastern Equatoria State.
“Radio is the primary source of information for most people in South Sudan, yet access to radio is challenging in many areas, particularly rural communities. That has been exacerbated by the conflict that erupted in December 2013, displacing more than 2million people from their homes,” said the USAID istream
The partners announced that installation of Radio repeater equipment will soon take place in Wau, Rumbek, Kwajok, Aweil, Bor and Yambio, to reach as many as 750,000 listeners, in addition to Eye Radio’s existing audience in Central Equatoria State.
In the partnership, Internews will also distribute approximately 50,000 solar-powered, hand-crank radios to South Sudanese communities that lack access to radio, building on USAID’s legacy of helping South Sudan’s citizens gain access to information.
“With USAID’S support, Internews has helped to provide lifesaving and life-enhancing information to people displaced by conflict in Lakes State, the protection of civilian sites at United Nations compound in Juba and other areas,” said the US Charge d’Affairs ambassador Charles Twinning.
“Access to information is a necessary component of citizen’s participation in democracy. With the collaboration of partners such as Zain, USAID and Internews, we are working to help strengthen free and independent media in South Sudan to become self-sustaining,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Eye Media Stephen Omiri said the partnership with Zain and USAID will boost the Eye Media coverage to the people of South Sudan. He said with the installation of the repeater equipment, the people of South Sudan will be able to receive Eye Radio signals across the country.
“Our role is to give a voice to the voiceless and Eye Radio has come a long way since 2003, then it was called Sudan Radio Service, which was covering the entire country until now,” said Omiri.
Robert West, the Chief Commercial Officer of Zain Telecommunication, who has been in South Sudan before independence till now, expressed his gratitude in watching the rapid development and changes that have emerged in the country.
“We know communication and information is power- either through receiving or sending information - it amounts to benefit people who cannot have access to such information, so we remain committed to partnerships with Eye Media,” he said.
The occasion was also graced by a representative from the ministry of Information, Justine Ayiir, and the Eastern Equatoria state minister for Information, Mark Akio. The event took place in the Eye Media compound.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID), international media development organization Internews and Zain Telecommunications Company last week launched a partnership with a local media organisation to expand coverage of radio in South Sudan.
The partnership between Eye Media and the three partners will enable the installation of Repeater equipment for Eye Radio. This will see the reach of independent radio expand to rural communities of South Sudan. It will enable expansion of Eye Radio broadcasts from Juba to other parts of South Sudan, beginning with Torit, which will reach approximately 100,000 listeners in Eastern Equatoria State.
“Radio is the primary source of information for most people in South Sudan, yet access to radio is challenging in many areas, particularly rural communities. That has been exacerbated by the conflict that erupted in December 2013, displacing more than 2million people from their homes,” said the USAID istream
The partners announced that installation of Radio repeater equipment will soon take place in Wau, Rumbek, Kwajok, Aweil, Bor and Yambio, to reach as many as 750,000 listeners, in addition to Eye Radio’s existing audience in Central Equatoria State.
In the partnership, Internews will also distribute approximately 50,000 solar-powered, hand-crank radios to South Sudanese communities that lack access to radio, building on USAID’s legacy of helping South Sudan’s citizens gain access to information.
“With USAID’S support, Internews has helped to provide lifesaving and life-enhancing information to people displaced by conflict in Lakes State, the protection of civilian sites at United Nations compound in Juba and other areas,” said the US Charge d’Affairs ambassador Charles Twinning.
“Access to information is a necessary component of citizen’s participation in democracy. With the collaboration of partners such as Zain, USAID and Internews, we are working to help strengthen free and independent media in South Sudan to become self-sustaining,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Eye Media Stephen Omiri said the partnership with Zain and USAID will boost the Eye Media coverage to the people of South Sudan. He said with the installation of the repeater equipment, the people of South Sudan will be able to receive Eye Radio signals across the country.
“Our role is to give a voice to the voiceless and Eye Radio has come a long way since 2003, then it was called Sudan Radio Service, which was covering the entire country until now,” said Omiri.
Robert West, the Chief Commercial Officer of Zain Telecommunication, who has been in South Sudan before independence till now, expressed his gratitude in watching the rapid development and changes that have emerged in the country.
“We know communication and information is power- either through receiving or sending information - it amounts to benefit people who cannot have access to such information, so we remain committed to partnerships with Eye Media,” he said.
The occasion was also graced by a representative from the ministry of Information, Justine Ayiir, and the Eastern Equatoria state minister for Information, Mark Akio. The event took place in the Eye Media compound.
