Project Title: Leveraging Community Radios and Digital Platforms to Promote Intangible Cultural Heritage in Katavi and Rukwa Regions, Tanzania
Organization: Tanzania Media for Community Development (TAMCODE)
Key Achievements
- Massive Awareness Reach: Enhanced community awareness on intangible cultural heritage, forest conservation, and cultural tourism (Kalambo Falls). Stories aired on community radios, ITV, Daily News Digital, The Guardian, and ten prominent blogs reached over 6 million Tanzanians, including 371,000 in Mpanda, 303,000 in Sumbawanga, and 316,000 in Kalambo.
- Policy Influence: Draft guidelines for by‑laws on intangible cultural heritage prepared in Sumbawanga and Mpanda districts, with district authorities committing to enact supportive legislation.
- Clean Energy Adoption: Following a media campaign, 9,765 gas stoves were distributed by Taifa Gas to residents of Sumbawanga, enabling women and youth fishmongers to transition from charcoal/firewood to clean energy, advancing forest conservation.
- Tourism Promotion: Media campaigns spurred the Tanzania Forest Reserve’s commitment to promote Kalambo Falls, resulting in increased local tourism and plans for infrastructure development.
- Digital Engagement: TAMCODE’s social media platforms achieved 5.63K combined views, 132 visits on Instagram/Facebook, and 4,600 website page views, extending impact beyond traditional media.
Contribution to Culture-Related TVET
The project strengthened culture-related TVET by raising awareness on how traditional knowledge, arts, and heritage can drive entrepreneurship, income generation, and sustainable energy use. It showcased cultural tourism opportunities in hard-to-reach areas, positioning youth and women as key beneficiaries.
Lesson Learned
Effective awareness creation requires strategic media engagement. Community radios remain the most trusted source of information in rural Tanzania, where 70% of audiences rely on radio. Future grantees should prioritize media partnerships and government engagement before, during, and after implementation to maximize impact.