Farm Radio International celebrates excellence within its radio network with two awards. The George Atkins Communications Award celebrates an outstanding broadcaster in our network who is committed to family farmers and rural communities. The Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio celebrates a program team that addresses gender equality and has had an impact on the community.
This year, the deadline to apply for both awards is October 1, 2021. The winners will be announced at a special World Radio Day announcement in February, 2022.
The George Atkins Communications Award
The George Atkins Communications Award was established in 1991 to recognize rural radio broadcasters for their outstanding commitment and contribution to food security and poverty reduction in low-income countries. The award is named after George S. Atkins, the founding director of Farm Radio International. The award is presented each year to an individual who demonstrates overall programming excellence in responding to small-scale farmers’ needs as well as commitment to Farm Radio International.
The broadcasters who win the George Atkins Communications Award receive a certificate and a prize of $500 CA.
Meet the 2021 winners: Madelena Mkirema of Radio Amani, Alhassan Seidu Kayaba of Zaa Radio, Vianney Watsongo Katsuva of Radio Télévision Évangélique et de Développement Hermon.
To be eligible for the award, an individual must:
- Have a minimum of three years radio broadcasting experience.
- Work at an organization that has been a broadcasting partner of Farm Radio International for a minimum of one year.
If you’re not sure of your station’s eligibility, please contact [email protected].
The deadline to apply is October 1, 2021. Download the application form in English, French, Amharic, and Swahili. Applications will be accepted in English, French, Amharic, Swahili, and Hausa.
To apply for the George Atkins Communications Award, send the completed application form, as well as a photo (preferably of you at work in the studio or conducting an interview) and a recording of your program to one of the following email addresses.
Burkina Faso: [email protected]
Ethiopia: [email protected]
Ghana: [email protected]
Mali: [email protected]
Nigeria: [email protected]
Senegal: [email protected]
Tanzania: [email protected]
Uganda: [email protected]
If you live in a country other than the ones listed above, please send your application form to:[email protected].
The Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio
This award recognizes radio stations and producers who are dedicated to serving women listeners. Their radio programs address and advance gender equality. They may share the experiences and opinions of women, or address issues of concern to women. Farm Radio International developed this award in memory of former board member Liz Hughes.
In rural sub-Saharan Africa, women play an important role in farming, family, and the community. Yet they are more likely to experience extreme poverty, malnutrition, and poor health. They are also likely to have less access to and control over resources, including information. It is essential that radio programs serve the needs and interests of women as well as men. In this way, both women and men can benefit from the information shared, and have the potential to contribute to community development.
The winning broadcast team will receive a certificate and a $1,000 CAD prize in recognition of their excellent work.
Any radio station in sub-Saharan Africa may apply for this award. This award is for a radio station / program team, and broadcasters / station managers should submit on behalf of the team. Stations may submit more than one application if applying on behalf of different programs.
Note: “Program” refers to the program as a whole, and “episode” refers to individual (weekly or daily) broadcasts of the program. Please do not submit applications for multiple episodes. Use your best episode as the example in the application, but only one episode of a program will be accepted.
Applicants are asked to submit a recording of their program with their application so that we can hear the quality. Please select an episode that was broadcast in 2021.
Past winners are invited to be part of the judging panel for this award and so are not eligible to apply for 5 years after winning the award.
The deadline to apply is October 1, 2021. Download the application form in English, French, Amharic, and Swahili. Applications will be accepted in English, French, Amharic, Swahili, and Hausa.
We understand that programs are broadcast in many local languages. The episode recording may be in the language of broadcast. Please provide a summary of the episode in either English or French. Submit your application form, program lineup, and recorded episode to [email protected] with the subject line: Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio
Meet the past winners:
2019: Voice of Kigezi’s B’Omugaiga program
2020: Uganda Community Green Radio’s Nyinabwenge program
2021: Radio Communautaire Salama’s Ujeuri Dhidi Ya Wanawake program
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