Poverty Reduction Cooperation Fund

TA 6316: Asian Development Community Broadcasting Initiative - Regional

Financed by Poverty Reduction Cooperation Fund

Project Summary

This SSTA aims to increase the awareness and knowledge of ethnic minority groups on the risks of HIV/AIDS in northern Lao PDR through pilot demonstration of a strategic combination of information and communication technologies (ICT), particularly through the use of digital satellite broadcasting to reach out to them as an effective technology option for broad application. A GMS regional technical assistance (RETA) 6247: HIV/AIDS Vulnerability and Risk Reduction Among Ethnic Minority Groups through Communication Strategies — aimed at reducing vulnerability to, and risk of HIV/AIDS using information and communication technologies to inform vulnerable and high risk populations about HIV/AIDS prevention—was approved on 1 July 2005 under the PRF with cofinancing from the UNESCO. This SSTA will be implemented alongside RETA 6247, and will demonstrate the feasibility of digital satellite broadcasting and potential for broader application in RETA 6247 and in other ADB operations in the future.

The key activities of this TA include:

• Planning a satellite broadcasting approach in two villages in northern Lao PDR
• Establishing two Community Health Information Centers (CHICs) to test the multimedia satellite broadcasting approach
• Working with NGOs in northern Lao PDR to establish listening groups at centers of community life
• Organizing a regional workshop to share lessons learned in the approach and recommendations for its replication
• Publishing a report on the lessons learned and disseminating it widely
• Seminar: Getting the message out - Using ICT and satellite broadcasting for HIV/AIDS prevention
• RETA 6316: Asian Development Community Broadcasting Initiative National Workshop
• Case Study [ PDF: 115kb | 3 pages ]
• Related Article: Learning from the Sky (Development Asia, No. 1, June 2008)
• Consultant's Report