Participation Leads to Ownership and Sustainability of a Radio Program: A Case Study of Local Women’s Groups’ Sponsorship of Phukusi la Moyo (a bag of life) Radio Program in Malawi

Abstract

Phukusi la Moyo, a health, Integrated Management of Child Illnesses and Safe Motherhood radio program started with funding from Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in 2009. The program went through three phases all funded by COL. It reached the point of dying because of lack of funding. The partner, Ministry of Health, who had promised to continue funding through district assembly, failed. Why? The women’s groups having seen and experienced more good results than they had expected when they were demanding it, decided to serve their brain-child from dying by contributing cash for airtime at Mudzi wathu (In My Village) Community Radio. Some results included kind and good healthcare provision from health service providers, support from their husbands and village headmen, among others. The program succeeded in achieving the goal of providing the non-formal education to the communities surrounding Mchinji and Mudzi Wathu Community Radio Catchment area in giving the women’s groups discussion platform for health and safe motherhood issues, some of which are taboo and gender oppression on women and children. // The results did not come on silver-platter but took several scrutinizes and changes of strategies to finally encourage women’s groups to fund the program during transition periods. This paper therefore discusses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats which Phukusi la Moyo program well managed to reach fourth phase, now funded by Maimwana, the pioneer and major stakeholder. The project fulfills the theory that communities’ participation in programs conceptualization, designing, planning, and monitoring makes the project sustainable. // Paper ID: 157