L’Equipe Côte D’Ivoire: Final Evaluation Report

This evaluation survey was designed to measure the impact of L’Equipe (The Team) on the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of a cross-section of the Ivorian society on the themes presented in the drama related to overcoming ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic divisions. According to the evaluation, the survey results regarding the effectiveness of the drama in conveying its messages show that although the general population may not have found the coverage of l’Equipe effective on most issues, specific demographic groups found it effective, such as women, students and younger audiences. In terms of approaches to conflict resolution, these results suggest that l’Equipe succeeded in increasing the tendency towards peaceful negotiations of conflicts.

L'Equipe (The Team) is a radio drama and television series broadcast in Cote d'Ivoire that is designed to shift the way that Ivoirians think about their neighbours and themselves. The series is a local adaptation of a multi-national television drama initiative, The Team, which is designed to use sport as a unifier to transform social attitudes and diminish violent behaviour in countries dealing with deeply rooted conflict in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The report explains that since conducting the baseline research for L’Equipe in October 2009, the drama was aired on the Ivory Coast's national TV (RTI), only to be followed by a full blown civil war (referred to as the crisis in the Ivory Coast) in the aftermath of the presidential elections. The crisis ravaged for about one year when the elected candidate Alassane Ouattara was finally inaugurated, and the outgoing president brought to justice. Shortly after, on the recommendation of RTI, the drama was replayed on the air in 2011. Such dramatic events constituted a major confounding variable for the purpose of conducting an evaluation of the effectiveness of L’Equipe and its impact on the society.

Regarding themes related to ethnicity, tribalism and xenophobia, the results suggest that the Ivory Coast society is probably back to square one due to the crisis and the fresh memories of the violence. The strong re-identification with ethnicity, nationality and region, in addition to the strong presence of non-conciliatory approaches to conflict with others, all indicate that l’Equipe in its third season must find new and updated approaches to addressing these issues. The current approaches which existed with seasons 1 and 2, and which were produced before the crisis, may not be as useful after the horrific tragedies of the post-election crisis.

When asked about watching L’Equipe, and after using a prompter (poster of L’Equipe), 75.8% (298 respondents) reported that they knew L’Equipe. No major statistical differences existed between demographic groups in this regard. When asked about the number of episodes they watched, 38.6% (including those who did not recognise L’Equipe) reported watching none. When asked about the effect of the drama on them, and its effectiveness in addressing its themes, large percentages of respondents who watched reported that L’Equipe had some (17.2%) or a lot (63.9%) of effect on them, and that it addressed its themes effectively. The effect of the drama on respondents was most felt by primary school students, those from Bouake and Korhogo, and on housewives and employees. The results show that although the general population may not have found the coverage of l’Equipe effective on most issues, specific demographic groups found it effective.

The public survey included three questions related to tribalism, xenophobia, and religious tolerance, and found the following:

• The recent memories of the violence from the Ivory Coast civil war rebuilt strong identification with ethnicity, nationality, and region, in addition to the strong presence of non-conciliatory approaches to conflict with others. Those who watched most or all of the series saw the identification with ethnicity increase by 80% and nationality by 88%. The first two seasons of L’Equipe may not be useful after the horrific tragedies of the post-election crisis and thus the third season must find new and updated approaches to addressing these issues.
• The survey results suggest that L’Equipe succeeded in increasing the tendency towards peaceful negotiations of conflicts. At the same time, the country as a whole is reeling from a violent conflict, and in the process people are increasingly accepting forgiveness as an approach to heal and deal with conflict demonstrated by the 84% increase. Although, they have lost confidence in the traditional approaches to conflict resolution with an 85% decrease from the baseline to post-crisis survey.
• Interviews with open-ended questions assessing the involvement of the government and civil society showed that L’Equipe effected change at the level of actions by citizens, government, and civil society. Most of the interviewees showed some knowledge of efforts of reconciliation initiated either by the government or by NGOs’. Most respondents mentioned ‘better public service and respect of freedoms.’ Such services and freedoms included medical services, free schools, and freedom of expression. The evaluation noted that the selection of interviewees were perhaps from those who expressed appreciation for L’Equipe.

The report gives the following recommendations for the staff involved in the radio drama:

• The crisis seems to have disrupted the traditional methods of conflict resolution and the confidence of the public in their effectiveness. This issue should be considered carefully, first in discussions with officials and community leaders, and then in terms of how to infuse it in the third season of the drama..
• l’Equipe has already shown its success in improving viewers’ tendency towards peaceful approaches to conflict resolution. The new season should continue to emphasise and use the techniques that seemed to have worked positively to effect such change.
• The society seems prepared to accept forgiveness as an approach to deal with conflicts. The new season of l’Equipe should capitalise on this tendency, and provide viewers with concrete approaches to putting it to practice.
• The elements of identity, especially ethnicity, region and nationalism, seem to gain prominence in the public. Similar to the first recommendation, careful discussions and understanding of these elements must be attained before addressing them in future episodes.
• Develop a systematic model of monitoring of outreach activities and assessing their effectiveness.
• Develop a model similar to that mentioned in #5 above to follow up on the examples of success mentioned in this report, and to make use of them in the new episodes and in outreach activities.

The report concludes that the confounding circumstances did not allow for l’Equipe to be conducted within conducive conditions. It is not surprising under such circumstances that some of the expected results did not seem to materialise, at least when measured quantitatively. At the same time, despite such conditions it was remarkable that the officials responsible for the national TV were the ones to ask SFCG to put the drama on the air after the crisis, because they have become aware of its peace-making and peace-building potential. In addition, those who watched the drama regularly have shown quantitatively that they have increased their tendency towards peaceful negotiation and seeking direct communication and solutions with conflict parties. These positive results should encourage SFCG staff in the Ivory Coast to use this evaluation, and other lessons learned, to prepare for a new third season which would meet Ivoirians where they are in 2012, not where they were in 2009.