FemmepowermentAfrique is a project based at the University of Sheffield, in the UK, working with partners in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Switzerland. We are analysing the impact of radio on perceptions of women’s empowerment in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. We are working with Studio Yafa in Burkina Faso, Studio Kalangou in Niger and Studio Tamani in Mali, who are run by Fondation Hirondelle which is based in Switzerland.

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Image: radio focus group in Niger, shared with permission of participants.

ABOUT US

team members

Project Lead

Dr. Emma Heywood is a lecturer in journalism, politics and communication at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the role of the media, and particularly radio, in conflict-affected areas. As well as leading this project, she has also examined foreign conflict reporting of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict by Russian, French and UK television news providers.

Research Assistant

Mariam Ouédraogo is about to finalize her Master thesis in Communication for Development. Her research interests include behavioural change through communication and the role of communication in socio-economic development of marginalized populations. Besides her work as research assistant for Sheffield University, she teaches French at a highschool in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. 

Mossokoura KONATE

Research Assistant

Mossokoura Konate is a Malian journalist and Head of Radio Partners for Studio Tamani in Bamako. In this role, she manages broadcasts across 85 partner radios across Mali. Previously, she worked at the ORTM (Office for Radio and Television in Mali) and experience leader for women in radio in Mali. With a masters in Media Management, she has studied journalism and communication across many international institutions (Lille, Abidjan, Ouagadougou, and Dakar). 

Research Assistant

Haoua Issoufou Maikano is a research assistant for the FemmepowermentAfrique project in Niger. She has a BA in  Strategic Communications from the African University College of Communications (Aucc) which is based in Accra, Ghana.

Dr Beatrice Ivey is a Postdoctoral Research Assistant for the FemmepowermentAfrique project. Her research interests include the cultural memory of French colonialism, postcolonial feminist studies, and French-language cultural production. She is particularly interested in exploring neocolonialism, radio and concepts of women's empowerment. 

Research Assistant

Studio Kalangou is run by Fondation Hirondelle and based in Niamey, Niger. It is an independent provider of domestic news in five languages. Studio Kalangou programmes focus on the daily life of the population in Niger and are broadcast daily by a network of 34 radio stations across Niger. Topics covered include women, education, and politics

Studio Tamani

Studio Tamani has broadcast daily radio programmes in Mali since 2013 in 5 languages across 70 partner radios. All the broadcasts are produced by a team of journalists based in Bamako, Mali. Studio Tamani was created by Fondation Hirondelle in partnership with URTEL (Union des radios et télévisions libres du Mali).

Studio Yafa

Studio Yafa was founded by Fondation Hirondelle and since 2019 has been run by a team of journalists based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The studio produces programming across radio, video and multimedia  all dedicated to young burkinabès. It provide information and spaces for young people to discuss the social and political life of the country. 

Foundation Hirondelle

Fondation Hirondelle is a non-profit organisation based in Lausanne in Switzerland.

It was founded in 1995 and provides information to populations faced with crisis. The aim is to empower them in their daily lives.