The Contribution of Community Radio to Rural Development: The Case Study of Sengerema FM, Mwanza, Tanzania.

Mzava, Hadija Moses (2025) The Contribution of Community Radio to Rural Development: The Case Study of Sengerema FM, Mwanza, Tanzania. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study investigated the contribution of Community Radio, Sengerema FM specifically in Tanzania to rural development. It was guided by the following objectives namely to; examine the role of community radio for enhancing participatory development in Mwanza Region; ascertain whether Community radio involved in rural development and what its broadcast community in programs making, determine the extent to which community radio facilitated the process of mutual sharing of development information among community members, and establish how Community radio could be more involved to boost the capacity of communities in order to bring about rural development. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combined surveys of listeners and in depth interviews with key stakeholders, including community leaders, radio staff, and development practitioners. Findings revealed that community radio significantly contributed to rural development by raising awareness of issues, facilitating community participation, and providing educational content. However, challenges such as limited funding, lack of training for radio personnel, and political interference hindered its potential. The study concludes that sustainable funding models, capacity-building programs, and policies protecting editorial independence are essential. Recommendations include fostering partnerships, enhancing community involvement, and leveraging new technologies to expand reach . Keywords: Community Radio, Rural Development, Participatory Development, Community Engagement.

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