From the rolling tea fields of Kenya to smallholder farms across Africa, Asia and Latin America, participatory radio is reaching people often left behind in the digital revolution, offering knowledge, voice, and agency in their own languages.
Meshack and Hannah have dedicated their careers to amplifying the voices of farmers, women, and workers who are rarely heard, yet who are central to the fight for gender equity, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
Meshack Kawinzi is a visionary educator and health informatics specialist with more than two decades in global development. He has led transformative initiatives such as Farmers’ Voice Radio and HERProject, directly benefiting over half a million smallholder farmers and workers across East Africa. Today, alongside lecturing and policy advocacy, he continues to shape development practice through research, mentoring, and digital innovation.
Hannah Davis is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and ethical trade. Over the past 20 years, she has worked with smallholder farmers worldwide—supporting cooperatives, advancing gender justice, and co-creating the Farmers’ Voice Radio methodology at the Lorna Young Foundation. This approach is now used in 15 countries, reaching more than two million farmers with vital, practical knowledge.
Together, Meshack and Hannah show us how radio is not just about broadcasting messages—but about handing farmers the microphone. From breaking down gender barriers to sparking community-led solutions, Farmers’ Voice Radio proves that participatory radio is more than a programme: it is a movement of empowerment, resilience, and connection.
So whether you are working to engage people on social issues or looking for a dose of inspirational and uplift – this conversation is for you.
Links:
Meshack Kawinzi
Hannah Davis
Farmers’ Voice Radio
Farmers’ Voice Radio resource hub
Twinings Sourced with Care programme
FCDO Work and Opportunities for Women programme
WOW/Twinings partnership project summary
The HERproject streams mentioned by Meshack have since evolved and expanded into RISE, an international coalition focused on embedding gender equality at scale across global garment, footwear, and home textiles supply chains
World Radio Alliance
Statistic about listenership comes form 2019 Deloitte report
