Rural Communication Access and Development Centre (RCADC) Kibengwe is a project in Bukoba rural district, Kagera region in Tanzania. This project emerged from local research by the University of Dar es Salaam in collaboration with the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) in the Netherlands. The main stakeholders in this project are:

·         Kagera Agricultural Environmental Management Project (KAEMP)

·         World Vision (Tanzania)

·         Bukoba District Council (BDC)

·         Kibengwe User Committee

·         University of Dar es Salaam 

·         International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) 

Motivation for the Research

Primarily the idea to conduct this research was driven by local needs for reliable and affordable communications. Like in other rural areas in Tanzania, people in Kibengwe were facing difficulties in communicating with other people within and outside the region. The only means for communication that was available was by walking, cycling or travelling by bus to the respective destinations to deliver the messages physically to the recipients. These means were, however, applicable mainly within the region. In the event that messages were to be delivered outside the region one had to write a letter and post it via post office. Depending on the locality of the recipient’s destination and the efficiency of the post office an ordinary mail could take a month or more to reach the recipient. Other constraints for this kind of communications were financial difficulties among the people in the area. A few could afford to buy piece of paper, a pen, postal stamps and an envelope for mailing purposes. These could cost around US$1.2 if mailed within the country and up to US$ 2.5 per letter if mailed abroad. Even fewer could afford to own and maintain a bicycle or pay a bus fare to get to the nearest post office. As a result these people were less informed due to communication incapability.

Having observed this situation the University of Dar es Salaam conducted the research to investigate how best can people in rural areas get reliable and affordable access to communications within and outside the country.  Findings and recommendations of the research were submitted to IICD to seek for sponsorship of the implementation. One of the major recommendations was to establish Telecentres in rural areas in Tanzania. The research further suggested commencing with a pilot project at one locality to save as a model. Upon successfulness of such a model to duplicate the set up in other places with similar situations.  IICD were positive on this and agreed to partially finance the pilot project.