Observation .
G . Including All Listeners in Radio Communication in Afghanistan ( Lesson # 2600 )
A U . S . military communications group developed extensive radio programming for eastern Afghanistan ( prior to late 2014 ) without taking into consideration the gender of listeners . After programming was adjusted to account for this crucial missing element – the gender dimension – many lives were saved in that region .
Discussion .
The Communications Action Group for Regional Command-East was responsible for coordinating information operations ( IO ) and public affairs in eastern Afghanistan . This group developed an intricate system to consistently communicate the military campaign plan with the Afghan people . Over 500,000 hand cranked radios were handed out to Afghan villagers in a vast coverage area . These radios caught signals from 54 high-powered radio stations staffed by Afghan disk jockeys . Over 50 officers and non-commissioned officers ( NCOs ) were involved in an extensive effort to train Afghans and broadcast culturally appropriate program content and public service messages .
However , despite hours and hours of pre-deployment training , cultural awareness briefings , and mission analysis , these officers missed one crucial element - the vital component of gender analysis . Even though Afghan women play key roles in society ( albeit often from behind the scenes ), they had been completely omitted from consideration by the U . S . Communications Action Group since the group had not seen or interacted with Afghan women . As such , the content of the radio programming was constructed for Afghan men . Yet , many Afghan men were outside of the home during the day – working , farming , or fighting – not at home listening to the radios . Instead , Afghan women were the main people who had access to the radios at home and who listened to the programming .
A brigade IO officer in eastern Afghanistan brought this omission to the attention of the director of the Communications Action Group . This officer had spoken to a female engagement team in the area who was familiar with the local women . From this team , he had learned that many mothers and babies were dying in childbirth and that a primary concern of Afghan women was healthcare . For cultural and religious reasons , these Afghan women were not comfortable going to a male doctor ; however , female physicians had either fled or been killed and so were not available .
The officer suggested that radio programming be shifted immediately to reach these Afghan women by broadcasting female Afghan doctors discussing pre-natal health . The director decided to support this suggested initiative with resources , contracts , and coordination . Within a week , two hours of broadcasting time each day was devoted to female physicians . These broadcasts reached across all of eastern Afghanistan .
Within six months of this shift in programming , incidents of death in childbirth and infant mortality decreased by 50 % across eastern Afghanistan . There were also reports of an increase of calls to the radio station . Furthermore , this shift raised awareness among military units and local politicians , changing attitudes about the importance of women in Afghan society . Many lives were saved by incorporating gender considerations into this initiative , reaching out to women and not just to men .
Table of Contents | Quick Look | Contact PKSOI Page 25 of 34