Tenders are invited for Sustainability Study for Radio Ndarason in Chad and Nigeria. Closing Date: 22 May 2026 Type: Consultancy Radio Ndarason International (RNI) is a regional radio network based in the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) area. With production and broadcasting facilities in Chad and Nigeria, it uses local indigenous languages (Kanuri, Kanembu, and Buduma) the only media outlet to do so to combat violent extremism and disinformation, and to promote sustainable development. Ndarason interacts daily with approximately 9.6 million listeners. Ndarason broadcasts three hours a day on shortwave across the LCB and 24 hours a day on its FM network. Its FM stations are located in Maiduguri, Nigeria; Baga Sola; Bol; Mao; Liwa; Ngouri; Doum Doum; and NDjamena, Chad. Ndarason is operated by Okapi Consulting, a South African-registered non-profit organization specializing in media projects in conflict zones and fragile states. Okapi Consulting has established branches in Chad and Nigeria, which implement the RNI project. RNI employs nearly 80 people, 95% of whom are from the region. RNI was launched in 2016 to reach the populations of the BLC (Burundi Central League) affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. Funded by the UK and the US, RNI debuted in Maiduguri, broadcasting exclusively on shortwave, with its signal reaching across the entire BLC. Since then, it has grown in stages. Initially operating with just a studio and team in Maiduguri, it expanded into Chad, establishing the radio stations headquarters in NDjamena in 2018 with Dutch funding. The French Development Agency (AFD) joined RNIs donor group in 2019 with funding for Nigeria and Chad, and Switzerland has committed to funding the same countries for the period 20222025. This has allowed the teams in both countries to expand and offer more and more programming to listeners over the years. The FM network around Lake Chad on the Chadian side was established in stages between 2018 and 2021 thanks to funding from the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Netherlands. In 2023, RNI launched FM broadcasting in Maiduguri, providing access to RNI for the 3 million residents of Lake Chads largest city. Also in 2023, the German federal government provided funding to Okapi Consulting for network expansion in Niger and Cameroon, where teams comprised of local staff were based in Diffa and Maroua. The stations in Cameroon and Niger have since closed. Objective of the radio station: Since it began broadcasting, RNIs main goal has been: Improving the lives of people in the Lake Chad Basin (men and women) through access to reliable information and the ability to make their voices heard by decision-makers. Context The violent insurgency that has plagued the entire BLC region is now entering its second decade. Progress has been made in establishing and unifying regional military efforts to combat Boko Haram and its affiliates, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), and the JAS, including through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF). However, the overwhelming focus on security responses to the insurgency has left the fundamental problems fueling the violence largely unresolved. These problems are numerous but can be summarized as follows: 1. Weak state presence in areas affected by the insurgency, particularly in isolated border areas. Non-state actors like Boko Haram have taken advantage of this feeling of marginalization, attempting to win over the population by spreading and, in some cases, imposing a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam that rejects democracy and the nation-state in favor of religious caliphates. 2. A region of fragile states : The countries bordering Lake Chad are fragile states, with porous borders and, in some cases, a marginal government presence beyond the capital cities. The states of the Lake Chad Basin have failed to contain armed groups operating in their peripheries, whether jihadist or otherwise. Non-state armed groups have exploited the weakness of these states. 3. The challenges are long-term, but the threats are immediate : Meeting the socio-economic needs and demands of the people living in the Lake Chad Basin is a long-term challenge for the regions governments. While conditions cannot be changed quickly, governments can and must try to regain the trust of their people. ISWAP has become increasingly adept at gaining the support of local populations. Unlike Boko Haram, it has worked to address gaps in service delivery and other grievances of local communitiesby providing social services and enabling the continuation of economic activities. This has strengthened its ties with the population while also facilitating the recruitment of fighters. This presents a new challenge for the Nigerian state and its neighbors Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. 4. Poor Civil-Military Relations: Mutual distrust between military and civilian populations hinders dialogue, undermines understanding, and hinders cooperative problem-solving. Bringing senior military officers togetheron airwith the people they are mandated to protect offers an opportunity to dispel rumors and foster constructive dialogue. Information and dialogue can counter instability and extremism. The role of RNI The complex issues at stake in the Lake Chad region require a comprehensive and long-term vision. Addressing these numerous challenges will take time, even with the support of international actors. However, there is room for immediate interventions to begin creating space for peaceful dialogue and interaction between communities, and to foster a deeper understanding of the issues at the local level among the affected populations. Local religious, traditional, and community leaders can help offer alternative perspectives on Islam and its role in society. Their voices and opinions must be given prominence. Armed groups and criminals seek to divide populations and fuel instability, which benefits their operations but has a dramatic impact on the well-being of local communities, both in the short and long term. Dialogue helps prevent and reduce conflict and fosters deeper understanding between communities. The wider the reach of a radio service, the larger and more diverse the number of participants in the dialogue. Because conflict is not confined to a single country, discussions about how to resolve it should not be either. It is in this space that a regional radio station can intervene and have a lasting impact. Radio reflects the concerns, realities, and issues of the moment and can give a voice to the voiceless. It encourages and supports dialogue, exchange, and understanding. Credible information is essential in conflict situations. The people of the Lake Chad Basin need objective, reliable, and regular information on current events and news, as rumors, misinformation, and a lack of reliable information in relevant local languages fuel conflict. RNI brings together isolated groups who do not usually communicate with each other and allows them to find common ground on issues that might otherwise divide them. This also allows those who are not usually voiced to express their fears, concerns, and hopes for the future using a medium that can reach and is taken seriously by politicians and leaders. RNI is also a supplementary support tool for larger-scale regional initiatives led by actors such as the EU, the UN, the AU, the LCBC, and others. Given the long-term communication challenges of the MFF and the CBLT, RNI is well-positioned as a platform for dialogue among all stakeholders. RNI offers diverse programming: national and regional news in the three broadcast languages, programs on health, education, and gender issues. It also features talk shows, programs on peace and Islam, as well as on reconciliation and the reintegration of disarmed combatants. The two national stations in Chad and Nigeria also offer interactive programs. Complete FM and shortwave schedules are in Appendix 2. [Disclaimer: The above text is machine translated. For accurate information kindly refer the original document.] Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4208955/etude-de-perennisation-pour-la-radio-ndarason-au-tchad-et-au-nigeria
