Brash hustlers, sinister colonels, resilient refugees, and intrepid radio hosts: meet the future of Congo In this extraordinary debut – called ‘gripping’ by The Times of London – Ben Rawlence sets out to gather the news from a forgotten town deep in Congo’s ‘silent quarter’ where peace is finally being built after two decades of civil war and devastation. Ignoring the advice of locals, reporters, and mercenaries, he travels by foot, bike, and boat, introducing us to Colonel Ibrahim, a guerrilla turned army officer; Benjamin, the kindly father of the most terrifying Mai Mai warlord; the cousins Mohammed and Mohammed, young tin traders hoping to make their fortune; and talk show host Mama Christine, who dispenses counsel and courage in equal measure. From the ‘blood cheese’ of Goma to the decaying city of Manono, Rawlence uncovers the real stories of life during the war and finds hope for the future.

Updated information on climate change are lacking in the Congo basin. Moreover, available data are worded in a coded language that impairs their use in decision-making and thus contributes to increase the gap between the information available at the global level and those circulating in the region. This work aimed at assessing the mechanisms of dissemination of scientific information in Central Africa in order to adopt the information channels and languages adapted to various stakeholders, according to their abilities and needs. It is in this context that radio platforms bringing together scientists, policy makers and the public have emerged in 2013 and 2014 in Cameroon and Congo.

This working paper sheds light on the impact of radio programs on the climate change knowledge of local populations in the Congo Basin. We provide an assessment of the change in knowledge of a rural village in the Congo Basin after inhabitants listened to one of the radio programs that were prepared on climate change. The document also provides potential indicators for result up-scaling. After applying a micro-economic model to a case–control experiment, both before and after exposure to one radio program, the results show an increase in knowledge of 22.3% attributable to the radio program. In addition, a series of reactions were recorded from different end users, such as other media, ministries, NGO representatives and researchers, who reacted positively to the broadcasts. We recommend the use of radio programs to increase knowledge and induce behavioral changes with regard to climate change adaptation and mitigation

Provides facts about the social, economic, political and millitary institutions of the country.