4/1/2002
Radios for Guns? It's a Fair Exchange

A project that could potentially have widespread applications in international development has recently commenced in Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world that ranks 161st out of 162 on the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP)'s index of human development.

The project involves distributing free radios as an inducement to communities to hand over illegally held weapons, of which Niger has a proliferation. The radios are wind-up or solar powered, capable of functioning without batteries. The radios act not only as a straight inducement; they will also strengthen the country's network of community radio stations by providing more listeners. This network is a powerful medium for reaching the deeply remote rural villages, relaying the message about the need to turn in illicit guns and to promote peace.

The radios are a donation from the Freeplay Foundation, the charitable arm of South Africa's Freeplay Energy Group, which initially, manufactured them. Some 12,500 radios returned under warranty were given to the Foundation for distribution to the project after any necessary repair.

Even this aspect of the project is designed with a beneficial development purpose: a Freeplay technician will train youth associated with Radio Goudel, a community radio station in Niamey, and women recently released from prison to carry out the repairs, thus providing jobs. The Niger National Commission for the Collection and Control of Illicit Small Arms will distribute the radios and manage the collection and decommissioning of the guns.

Kristine Pearson, executive director of the Freeplay Foundation, joined Colonel Mai Moctar Kassouma, president of the National Commission for the Collection and Control of Illicit Small Arms, and Steven Ursino, UNDP Resident Representative, in launching the project in Niamey last month. The UNDP Trust Fund for the Prevention and Reduction of the Proliferation of Small Arms, along with Denmark, France, Italy and Japan, is supporting the initiative.