MMRK: A new tool for the elaboration of radio programmes to support small business

In order to facilitate the preparation of radio programs for the reinforcement of the capacities of women involved in small business, that the Multi Media Resource Kit (MMRK) was conceived and elaborated by PROTEGE QV under the auspices of the Commonwealth Connects Programme.

How was this tool elaborated?

Based on a field research carried out in the year 2005 with 400 women in Cameroon and a validation workshop that took place in 2006, PROTEGE QV went ahead to identify micro-entrepreneurs women’s needs in information, their radio listening habits and particular subjects on which they would wish to be better informed.

These topics, grouped under seven main chapters were the core of the first draft of the MMRK tested by two pilot radios (Radio YEMBA and Rural Radio FOTOUNI in Cameroon) to detect the insufficiencies and to evaluate the relevance and the quality of the contents by their listeners.

Presentation of the MMRK

The Multi Media Resource Kit (MMRK) merged from one subject all the dates relating to the creation, improvement and management of the micro-enterprises. It is divided into seven main parts:

• Starting the micro-enterprise; beginning from the required qualities of the promoter, the choice of the activity to implement, right up to studying the market. • Financing the micro-enterprise; that presents the methodology of evaluating financing needs and the different opportunities available to promoters. • Taxes and Duties required from micro-enterprises and how to behave during tax controls. • Training and information: this part brings out the different possibilities of reinforcing the capacities of micro-entrepreneurs as well as training to the acceed the necessary information; • Improving production; notably agricultural and animal production for rural promoters, as well as the methods of conservation and transformation to reduce looses after harvesting and improve the added value. • Management of the micro-enterprise; presents the ways to handle the necessary production and sales by the promoter. • Sale of products; which is the final stage is determined by the quality of the products, the market, marketing, the inputs and the selling price.

To facilitate the access of the tool for many users, the MMRK is available in hard copy as a manual, Compact Disk to be use on computers (Windows XP installed) and on web at the following link.

Who is it intended for?

The MMRK is intended for radio professionals in charge of preparing radio broadcasting programmes. It is conceived to ease the elaboration of distance training programmes and to reinforce the capacities of women micro-entrepreneurs in the rural and urban areas through radio broadcasting programmes under different formats: • The magazine: the text from the MMRK can be read as it is. • Interview: the user can invite a resource person and uses the texts in the MMRK to draft the questions for the interview. • A round table: the user has to invite resource persons and use the MMRK text to demonstrate the bases from where it is enriched by the exchanges from the resource persons.

The user can also in accordance with the exigences of his listeners, translate the MMRK in a local language. By gathering on one support the necessary resources, the MMRK makes it possible for radio stations to prepare programs at low cost and limited time, to assist micro-enterprises in the rural and urban areas. This also economises the necessary expenses that is required to make researches from several sites and several resource documents in order to prepare this programme.

How can you obtain it ?

The MMRK can be accessed :

 on its website,

 or by sending a mail to PROTEGE QV,

 or by postal mail at : PROTEGE QV B.P. 4888 YAOUNDE, CAMEROUN.

Author : Sylvie Siyam

Source : APC blog

Publication date : December 2007