Music to the ears of Tanzania's hitmakers

The Kililmanjaro Band has been playing and recording for decades, but band members have made little money from their work - unlike the pirates who have cashed in on their four albums. Tightening up copyright law is the answer - which DFID is helping to achieve.

04/07/2008

Bringing clean water closer to home

How one village in northwest Ethiopia is showing that it only takes a little money and the right technology to transform sanitation and provide water for a whole community.

26/06/2008

A female mayor in Somaliland?

Spurred on by seeing her female colleagues passed over for promotion in favour of men, one woman from Somaliland is looking to achieve a major breakthrough: becoming the region's first ever female mayor. A DFID-funded group is helping her on her way.

26/06/2008

A safety net against famine in Ethiopia

Faced with famine, over the years Ethiopia's people have repeatedly had to sell their most precious assets - like cattle and ploughs - in order to survive. Now, DFID is helping them to secure their livelihoods against future disasters.

12/06/2008

Ghostbusting saves Uganda’s public money

Shadowy public sector employees are costing Uganda huge amounts of money. But these workers aren't throwing away public funds through wastefulness or negligence - it's more that they don't actually exist. With DFID's help, these "ghost workers" are being busted.

30/05/2008

Mind where you go in Sierra Leone

A boldly worded sign in Ogoo Farm, Sierra Leone is hard for villagers to ignore. Recently, a DFID-backed community initiative has led to a flurry of toilet-building in Ogoo, and this billboard reminds locals that, when nature calls, the new latrines are the places to go.

22/05/2008

After the election: Red Cross volunteers bring hope to Kenya

As violence engulfed Kenya following 2007's general election, Red Cross volunteers like Nathaniel Gatonya worked tirelessly. Supported by DFID funding, Nathaniel and his colleagues helped make life bearable for the thousands of people left homeless.

06/05/2008

What's up with young people in northern Nigeria?

Shout out "Ya Take Ne?" ("What's up?") in northern Nigeria, and you're likely to get shouted back at you by a group of young radio listeners, "Hakan Take!" - "That’s the way it is!". Ya Take Ne? is the name of a DFID-funded radio show about HIV/AIDS aimed at young people.

28/04/2008

Smart protection against malaria in Tanzania

Thanks to DFID, Tabia's family are getting used to a good night’s rest. Although they sleep cramped up in one bed, they have something that until now has been pretty rare in rural Tanzania: an insecticide-treated mosquito net.

22/04/2008

A fair hearing for the poor in Malawi

When 16-year-old Georgina was threatened with prison after a dispute with her husband, it looked like nothing could save her. But then a DFID-funded initiative stepped in - settling the dispute and helping her to make a fresh start.

17/04/2008