NEWS:
Communication as an instrument of development
March 7, 2025
The CDN association favoured the practice of communication because ‘participation of the population is becoming the central issue of our time’, as stated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its 1993 Human Development Report. One should add: ‘and communication is the essential tool for participation’. Development projects will only reach their true potential if the actors involved effectively share their knowledge, skills and techniques, and if the population of Cibitoke is motivated and determined to succeed. Until the population becomes the driving force behind its own development, no amount of investment, technology or inputs alone will lead to a lasting improvement in its standard of living. Communication is, in more than one sense, at the heart of the problem: it allows the CDN association, right from the stage of identification and formulation of development projects, to dialogue with the population of Cibitoke province through various community radio broadcasts initiated by the association, in order to understand and take into account their needs, attitudes and knowledge. It is through communication that the beneficiaries of development projects become protagonists and ensure their success.
Encouraging communication enables the people of Cibitoke to identify and prioritise their problems, to seek collective solutions and to strengthen their sense of belonging to the activities they have decided to undertake. Moreover, development often entails major changes in economic systems and lifestyles. Are the inhabitants of Cibitoke confident enough to implement new projects? Do they have access to the new skills and knowledge that these projects require? How can they overcome the obstacle of illiteracy? These are all questions that community radio can answer, as it is a powerful tool to spread new ideas and methods, encourage their adoption and make the transfer of knowledge and skills more effective. Communication is also a valuable tool to encourage teamwork, which improves the management of development projects. Finally, it helps gain the support of institutional decision-makers and funding agencies. We live in the age of communication and its impact on development is beginning to be felt. The CDN association is a pioneer in this field in the Cibitoke province and its experience is beginning to show that the effects of communication on the development process can be considerable.
