Research briefings
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Local radio's impact on young Zambians’ participation in civic life
September 2024
This evaluation briefing looks at how our long-term work with radio stations has helped improve local accountability for the community, specifically young people. -
Supporting young Zambians to make sexual and reproductive health decisions
July 2024
This briefing summarises endline research that evaluated phase three of the youth-focused Tikambe (Let’s Talk) project, which used media and interpersonal communication to reduce sexual and reproductive health risks among young Zambians. -
Understanding how to increase uptake of WASH, nutrition and maternal and child health services
June 2024
This briefing summarises qualitative research with mothers, families, and key influencers in Afghanistan.  The study sought to identify Afghans' information needs, the barriers and enablers to accessing services and adopting practices, and the key issues for communication to address. -
Using drama to tackle mental health in the Rohingya camps
June 2024
This briefing summarises the findings from our evaluation of the drama series Aa’rar Kissa and provides recommendations for future programming on mental health. -
Leading efforts to adapt to climate change – locally
December 2023
This briefing summarises how communities are adapting to climate related problems and the benefits, barriers, and drivers of these adaptations. The study focused on locally-led adaptation techniques. -
How do social norms limit participation of women's political leadership?
September 2023
This briefing examines social norms in Tanzania that hinder women’s participation in political leadership. -
How understanding gender dynamics informed the development of the Niambie project?
September 2023
This briefing summarises baseline and formative research into the social, economic and political rights and decision-making powers of young women and girls in Tanzania. Findings informed the gender-focused Broadcasting for Change project. -
How can media represent LGBTQI+ communities more effectively in Ukraine?
This briefing outlines our research findings and learnings from producing a series of short documentary films designed to increase understanding around LGBTQI+ communities in Ukraine. -
Changing gender roles and attitudes in times of conflict in Ukraine: a research study
June 2023
Women in Ukraine feel acute impacts of the war on their mental and physical health, and risk returning to old gender stereotypes. This series of research briefings examines women's information needs, media usage and changing roles and is our largest-ever study in Ukraine. -
How radio can build a more supportive environment for girls’ education, learning and empowerment
April 2023
This briefing presents insights and recommendations from an evaluation of the reach, engagement and impact of two radio programmes produced by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Media Action for Every Adolescent Girl Empowered and Resilient (EAGER) project in Sierra Leone. -
Solomon Islands: Understanding audiences and the role of media and communication
April 2023
We conducted extensive research to understand the needs, values and media habits of Solomon Islanders. These insights are now being used to support the development of a better information ecosystem for the future of Solomon Islands. -
What do people in Nepal need to prepare better for disasters?
February 2023
We conducted studies to understand what people need to better prepare for natural hazards. The findings have been used to inform the co-design of the National Disaster Risk Communication Strategy and provide valuable information to others communicating with people in Nepal on how to prepare for disasters. -
Media usage in Nepal 2022
February 2023
This briefing provides an overview of media usage amongst people living in Nepal in 2022. -
Climate change: New evidence on how media can engage youth to take action
August 2022
This multi-method evaluation adds to existing evidence by showing how branded media content in Indonesia has been effective in increasing young Indonesian’s knowledge, motivation and confidence - to engage, take individual actions and discuss deforestation and climate change issues. -
How media and communication are supporting Somalis through the pandemic
February 2022
This learning brief highlights our research and project learning on producing media output around COVID-19. Identifying misinformation and tackling stigma to communicate important information related to COVID-19 in Somalia. -
Using radio drama to tackle disability discrimination in Nigeria
February 2022
This briefing examines the evidence for using drama to address disability-related stigma, discusses lessons on how best to engage audiences on disability inclusion through media and evaluates the impact of the Story Story radio drama on audiences. -
What is life like for young Cambodians and how are they participating in civic life?
June 2021
This study takes a look at the lives of young Cambodians, including what their key values are and how they participate in civic life. -
Understanding how young Cambodians use media and information
May 2021
This study takes a look at the lives of young Cambodians, including how they access and use media and information. -
Supporting young Ethiopians to succeed in employment. What role can communication play?
May 2021
This study of 5 research briefings sought to better understand young people in Ethiopia. The information needs of young people were assessed, as well as the existing networks which may impact their decisions and roles in their communities. Looking at the role of media and communication in supporting young people to realise their aspirations, succeed in employment, and lead healthy, active lives. -
How media and communication are helping to tackle malaria in Sierra Leone
February 2021
This briefing shows how media and communication can contribute to better malaria control and stronger take-up of health services among listeners in Sierra Leone. -
How can radio drama shift peoples’ perceptions around violence and support women to resolve disputes?
November 2020
This briefing takes a look at how gender norms have been addressed through Life in Lulu, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Media Action's radio drama in South Sudan. -
Water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition in Nepal
April 2020
This briefing explains how our formative qualitative research in mid- and far-western Nepal informed the production of radio public service announcements (PSAs) about key water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition issues. -
Supporting earthquake-affected communities through radio in Nepal
August 2019
This research briefing shows how the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Media Action team in Nepal produced radio programmes to support Nepali communities affected by the 2015 earthquake, and encouraged people to build homes that were more resistant to earthquakes. -
Countering trafficking in persons
August 2019
This research aimed to understand our target audiences - trafficked persons or those most at risk of trafficking in Thailand - to help inform our communication strategies. -
How a multi-media project supports peacebuilding in Myanmar
June 2019
Our research briefing describes the process behind the creation of our innovative multi-media project Khan Sar Kyi (Feel it!). -
Tea Cup Diaries - helping communities in Myanmar understand each other
May 2019
How can a radio drama support audiences in Myanmar to understand, and be more accepting towards, greater religious and ethnic diversity? Learn more in our latest research briefing. -
Helping radio listeners manage their money in Myanmar
May 2019
This briefing looks at the role radio can play in helping people manage their money effectively in Myanmar, and how audience research and adapting programming are important to achieving impact in this area. Find out more in our latest research. -
Violence against women within the Rohingya refugee community
November 2018
To inform the development of a new radio drama for Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, we carried out a small-scale qualitative research study that sought to understand more about Rohingya men and womens’ understanding and attitudes towards child marriage, intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation and abuse. -
How media programming is supporting polio eradication
October 2018
This briefing outlines how media can engage parents, caregivers and community influencers with issues about polio vaccination. -
A radio drama for Syria, qualitative research findings
April 2018
This briefing explores the impact on listeners of a contemporary serial radio drama set in conflict-affected Syria. -
Can a health drama and discussion show affect the drivers of behaviour change?
March 2017
This briefing explores the extent to which drama and discussion shows in Bangladesh can drive behaviour change around child and maternal health. -
Can media affect political participation?
November 2016
This paper makes an important contribution to the growing evidence base on the role of media in the developing world. -
What role does lifeline preparedness play in enabling effective communication in a crisis?
October 2016
This study evaluates to what extent ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Media Action’s preparedness work has built its own capacity and that of its partners to produce Lifeline broadcasts that meet audiences’ information and communication needs in a crisis.