“RadioActive”: an exploration of the critical role of materiality in shaping participatory spaces

Materiality plays a critical role in determining participatory spaces within social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) interventions focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, this role remains under-examined. This article draws inspiration from social practice theory to steer away from dominant individual-centred approaches. We focus on the material dimension of social practices to examine how materiality is involved in enabling or hindering participation, with the Rwandan “Itetero” Radio Listening Club (RLC) as case study. This research draws on one year of ethnographically inspired participant observations that involved attending 12 listening club sessions, 12 group discussions, and semi-structured interviews with 45 RLC participants (2019–2020). We provide insight into how the materiality of the RLC–understood here as infrastructure, architecture, and technology–shaped attendants’ ability to participate. We argue that acknowledging the material entanglements of people and (material) space might allow SBCC project implementers to develop more contextually appropriate and inclusive participatory spaces.