6 African Radio Stations Win Grants for Climate-Labor Radio Programs

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The Pulitzer Center is thrilled to announce that six radio stations in East, Southern, and West Africa are receiving Radio Engagement Initiative grants. 

Selected from 173 proposals, the grantees will produce participatory radio programs inspired by Pulitzer Center-supported stories on the intersection between climate and labor. These radio programs will address issues such as labor rights and conditions, livelihoods, climate justice, and the need for business adaptation and labor regulations in response to climate change and its impacts on communities.

These programs are aimed at inspiring informed action and dialogue, engaging communities to become active participants in the information ecosystem, and extend outreach to suburban and grassroots communities.

With radio being a trusted, accessible and a dominant medium of news in many parts of the African continent, our aim is to foster engagement and discussion through these participatory radio programs among communities in a format adapted to their context. Through these radio projects, communities will actively engage with the information ecosystem and through their participation in dialogue, we can explore solutions that are more inclusive.

Read more about the grantees and their programs below.

1. The Power Shift—South Africa’s Energy Future: by Underground Radio from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The radio series addresses energy inequality, climate justice, and green job opportunities in South Africa inspired by Pulitzer Center-supported reporting "Gauteng: Leading an (Unequal) Rooftop Solar Boom." While the story highlights Gauteng’s leadership in rooftop solar adoption, this project uses it as a benchmark to explore how KwaZulu-Natal can catch up in renewable energy while avoiding similar inequalities experienced in Gauteng. The grantee will produce 4 episodes on this topic and is expected to reach 9,000+ radio listeners per episode and up to 5,000 additional users online.

2. Voices of Resilience: Amplifying Community Voices on Climate Change, Labor and Livelihoods: by Koch FM from Nairobi, Kenya

Inspired by Pulitzer Center-supported reporting, "The Great Climate Migration," the initiative uses participatory media to foster community-driven discussions at the intersection of climate change and labor in informal settlements across Nairobi county. The project explores four thematic areas: labor rights and working conditions, livelihoods, climate justice, and adaptation of labor regulations. The radio program will produce 10 episodes and aims to reach approximately 200,000 listeners, most of whom are informal workers vulnerable to climate-related challenges.

3. Climate, Labor and Livelihoods Engagement Project: by Alternative Youth Radio (AYR) from Zorzor, Lofa County, Liberia

The project will produce six episodes focusing on livelihoods, youth migration, and how changing environmental conditions are affecting work and survival. Farming is the main livelihood source, but irregular rainfall and declining crop yields are making it less reliable, pushing many young people to leave their communities. Inspired by Pulitzer Center reporting, "Climate Shocks, Governance Gaps and the Refugee Crisis in the Sahel," the project will produce six radio programs focused on livelihoods, labor conditions, and youth experiences, and organize four community listening sessions. The program aims to reach about 25,000 listeners, primarily from rural areas.

4. Padoko Radio Series: by Nkhotakota Community Radio Station from Nkhotakota District, Central Region, Malawi

This participatory radio program will initiate community dialogue on the intersection of labor rights, livelihoods, and climate change among communities in Nkhotakota District. The initiative will produce 12 episodes, drawing inspiration from Pulitzer Center-supported stories "During Droughts, Pivot to Agroforestry"; "Expecting Extremes: How Much Heat is Dangerous During Pregnancy?"; "Senegal Struggles to Cope with Climate Change Despite Promises of Help From Other Nations;" and "Feeling the Heat: Malaria Cases Could Ebb in an Even Hotter World. But Other Diseases Will Get Worse." 

Through these programs they will amplify key themes focusing on labor rights, climate justice, and adaptation in response to climate-induced livelihood changes, localized to reflect experiences of women and youth engaged in small-scale economic activities along Lake Malawi. The program aims to reach 500,000 listeners.

5. Jitihada Yetu: Climate, Livelihoods & the Coastal Worker (The Voice of the Coastal Worker in Climate Change): by Baraka FM from Mombasa, Kenya

Inspired by Pulitzer Center-supported resource "Exposing Forced Labor and Human Trafficking in the World’s Oceans," the program aims to encourage members of the coastal communities to share challenges and concerns they face. The initiative also plans to invite leaders from the government at the local and central levels to detail their initiatives aimed towards safeguarding community interests in relation to these areas and also to respond to any concerns that may have been raised. Through production of 12 episodes, the initiative aims to reach 900,000 listeners, mostly coastal workers in informal sectors including fisherfolk, farmworkers, tourism staff, and casual port laborers.

6. Alaboyun Ati Oju Ojo (The Pregnant And The Climate): by Hi-Power 102.7 FM from Emure-Ile, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria

Inspired by Pulitzer Center-supported report "Expecting Extremes: How Much Heat is Dangerous During Pregnancy?", the grantee will produce five bilingual radio shows using English and Yoruba languages to address heat dangers during pregnancy. The initiative aims to reach about one million listeners, most of whom are pregnant women, men and women of reproductive age, traditional birth attendants, and emergency healthcare providers.