AMARC is an international non-profit organisation, born as a movement in 1983 and formalised in 1988, which supports and serves community radio broadcasters around the world. AMARC aims to promote the fundamental right to communication and to support development by encouraging cooperation and exchange among its members.
There are more than 3000 AMARC members on all five contents. Its International Secretariat, located in Canada, coordinates international work. Regional offices assist it in Latin American, Europe and Africa. The working languages for AMARC are English, French and Spanish. In Africa, AMARC is now also introducing the use of Portuguese. It’s African section covers four sub-regions, West, Central, East and Southern. AMARC Africa members number over 300, based in all sub-regions of the continent.
The AMARC African Network aims at implementing a four-point plan of action:
1. Support the development of a legal, political and cultural environment conducive to participatory radio broadcasting.
2. Develop human resources and materials in community radio set-up, management, production and technology.
3. Promote African women’s access to and participation in all aspects of community radio.
4. Build and coordinate the regional network of radio broadcasters. This network is a means of distributing information; bringing together various experiences; transferring skills within the network; and bringing African affiliates to the International Solidarity Network.
AMARC Africa supports the community radio sector through a number of programmes:
- Training Programme involves training in content development, radio production, management and use of basic ICTs.
- The Women’s International Network and Gender Programme seeks to increase the capacity of women through training and to ensure gender equity in stations.
- The New Technology Programme enhances members access to new technology and facilitates access to equipment and internet connection
- The Communication Programme aims to strengthen information dissemination and sharing within the network and includes an online resource centre. Through this programme AMARC Africa also conducts radio campaigns and global broadcasts on social development topics.
- Exchange Programme: Members benefit from programme exchanges and exchange visits.
- Special Projects – Specialises in content development and audience research.
- New Initiatives – Supports radio projects in their early stage of development and helps them achieve sustainability.
- In 2003 AMARC Africa will launch Simbani Africa News Agency, the first community radio news agency on the continent. Content will be gathered from selected radio stations and re-distributed through the Internet.
