A Realist Evaluation of a Community-Centered Radio Initiative for Health and Development in Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

A small, local-level communication initiative aimed to bring about social change and development in communities affected by sustained conflict in Mindanao, Philippines. A realist evaluation involved a secondary analysis of existing data sets that revealed previously undetected mechanisms and 13 outcomes for improving dialogue, livelihood, and participatory communication. This article describes the method developed for the realist evaluation and constructs Context-Mechanism-Outcome configurations from the existing data sets. The realist evaluation represents what took place in a context characterized by conflict, disadvantage and disempowerment through 2 key mechanisms, community-centered radio and community radio volunteers. Both mechanisms became voices for the voiceless. The community-centered radio program supported community volunteers to mobilize communities to participate in radio segments, offering opportunities for their voices to be heard on local issues resulting in discussion, provision of services not previously offered, community leaders more responsive to community needs, and coordinated community action that resolved needs.