PRESS RELEASE
The National Communications Strategy Project (NCSP) in Sierra Leone has launched a weekly radio talk show, “Development Dialogue”, on UN Radio FM 103. The hour-long interactive programme airs live every Friday at 2:30PM and a repeat broadcast at 11:00PM.
The central aim of that platform is promoting stewardship and accountability among policy makers and political leaders to the citizenry of Sierra Leone. The debut programme (23 February) attempted to draw a nexus between the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and the development policy framework of Sierra Leone. Subsequent sessions will discuss the core elements of the policy document; including the “Good Governance, Peace and Security”, “Pro-Poor Growth for Food Security and Job Creation” and “Human Development” pillars of the policy document.
Each week, a panel of government ministers, senior civil servants and professional heads of sector ministries charged with implementing the policy, as well as development experts, academics, diplomats, media professionals and civil society representatives meet to discuss and critique the core elements of the development policy proposals of the government as stated in the PRSP. The interactive nature of the broadcast allows citizens to call in to the programme or send text messages to ask questions and comment on the discussed issues.
It is envisaged that "Development Dialogue" will go on the road in the near future to invite political leaders and other key implementers of the policy to town hall meetings in schools and colleges around the country, where the general public will have an opportunity to raise their questions and concerns with them in person. Audio files of the programme will be available for download on the project website www.ncsp.gov.sl effective 26 March 2007.
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