Ethiopia Community Radio Project
Supply, installation and commissioning of seven 700 Watt Community Radio Stations for the Ministry of Communication and IT, Federal Republic of Ethiopia — a landmark India-Africa technical cooperation project executed in 2015.
Project Overview
Project at a Glance
World Development Foundation won a global bid floated by the Ministry of Communication and IT, Federal Republic of Ethiopia, for supply, installation and commissioning of 700 Watt, seven Community Radio Stations in different parts of Ethiopia. The most remote places were chosen for socio-economic development of populations in these locations, increasing their participation in governance and helping improve their economic conditions.
Project Execution
The project involved comprehensive site surveys, system design, building modification and acoustics of studios, equipment supply by resourcing from India and many parts of world including USA, Italy and Spain, installation, commissioning and training for programme production and operation.
Initially an order for six stations was released, which was further increased for one more station. The project was led by Dr. Aprajita Srivastava as Project Director, who filed the global bid tender, vetted the contract signed with MCIT, Government of Ethiopia, opened the Letter of Credit, procured the equipment and got the project executed within a time frame of twelve months.
- Global bid won through competitive tender process
- Contract signed with MCIT, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
- Equipment sourced from India, USA, Italy (DB/DM Broadcast), and Spain
- Transmitter, antenna system and cable (RFS) from DB/DM Broadcast, Italy
- High quality acoustic panels designed by WDF with 30mm HD Glasswool
- Training provided for programme production and station operations
Project Timeline
Agreement signed with Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for supply and installation of 7 CRS
Transmitter and system inspection at DB/DM Broadcast, Italy (17-21 December 2014)
General Manager, WDF reached Ethiopia for system planning and forward logistics (10 March 2015)
Team of three WDF experts reached Ethiopia for final installation and commissioning (29 June 2015)
Installation of CRS, tower, office including acoustics. Roughly one week per station for I&C and handover
All seven stations commissioned and handed over to MCIT, Government of Ethiopia
The goods from India were transported from WDF Bhawan to ICD Tughlakabad, then to Mumbai sea port using Rail transportation, and from Mumbai port to Comet dry port using Ethiopian Shipping line.
Community Radio Station Sites
Seven remote locations across Ethiopia selected for maximum socio-economic impact.
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Equipment & Technical Specifications
High-quality broadcast equipment sourced from leading international manufacturers.
- 700 Watt FM Transmitters from DB/DM Broadcast, Italy
- Antenna system and cables (RFS) from DB/DM Broadcast, Italy
- High quality acoustic panels with 30mm HD Glasswool, fabric and wood (designed by WDF)
- Technical furniture fabricated in India
- Studio equipment, microphones, mixers, and playback systems
- Processing and encoding equipment for broadcast chain
- Backup power systems for uninterrupted operation
Media Coverage & Recognition
International recognition of WDF's Ethiopia project.
Embassy of India in Ethiopia
The Embassy of India in Ethiopia featured the project in its news coverage, highlighting the successful India-Ethiopia technical cooperation in community media and communications infrastructure development.
Africabiz International
The international journal Africabiz covered the establishment of community radios for the Ethiopian Government, recognising WDF's contribution to media development and community empowerment across East Africa.
Research Publication
Academic research on community radio for community participation in decision making in Ethiopia.
Community Radio in Ethiopia for Community Participation in Decision Making
This research paper, published by World Development Foundation, analyses the transformative impact of the seven community radio stations established across Ethiopia. The study examines how community radio serves as a platform for:
• Civic Engagement: Enabling citizens to express themselves socially, culturally, politically, and spiritually
• Decision Making: Preparing community members to participate in governance and local decision-making processes
• Socio-Economic Development: Providing information on agriculture, healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities
• Cultural Preservation: Broadcasting in local languages and preserving indigenous knowledge and oral traditions
The paper concludes that community radio is a powerful tool for democratic participation and inclusive development, particularly in remote and marginalised communities where other forms of media are inaccessible.
Reference: WDF Research Publication. For full paper, please contact WDF at info@wdfindia.in
Socio-Economic Transformation of Under-Privileged Communities by Community Radio Imitating Ancient Tradition of Oral Teaching
Authored by Dr. Aprajita Srivastava and published in Global Scientific Journals (GSJ Publisher), ISSN: 2320-9186, Vol.6, Issue 2, pp.233-248, February 2018. This paper draws on the Ethiopia project experience to demonstrate how community radio revives ancient oral teaching traditions to drive socio-economic change.
Srivastava, A. (2018). Global Scientific Journals, 6(2), 233-248.
Project Leadership
Dr. Aprajita Srivastava
Project Director — Ethiopia CRS Project
As Honorary Director of World Development Foundation, Dr. Aprajita Srivastava led this landmark international project from bid to completion. She filed the global bid tender, vetted the contract, opened the Letter of Credit, procured all equipment, and delivered the entire project within twelve months.
Prof. Dr. Sir Hari Om Srivastava
Founder & Chairman, WDF
Provided strategic oversight and guidance for the Ethiopia project, leveraging decades of experience in international broadcasting and media consultancy to ensure successful project delivery.
WDF Technical Team
On-Site Installation & Commissioning
A team of three experts from WDF reached Ethiopia on 29th June 2015 for final installation and commissioning. Work was done with the assistance and coordination of local people. MCIT, Government of Ethiopia provided the assistance of two engineers.
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