Introduction

Welcome to the IARU-R1 webpage dedicated to the STARS program.

STARS stands for Support to The Amateur Radio Service and the Working Group (WG) is an integral part of the IARU-R1 organisation. The STARS program is supervised by the IARU-R1 Executive Committee.

Page content

• The STARS Working Group
• Terms of Reference
• STARS Program as defined in 2017
• STARS projects: Five Criteria
• Request for support
• Looking forward
• MoU with the African Telecommunication Union (ATU)
• STARS News Items

The STARS Working Group

The organisation

STARS projects are funded and sponsored by IARU R‑1’s Development Fund and are coordinated by the STARS WG. This Working Group consists of:

• A chairman appointed by the IARU-R1 General Conference. The chairman is responsible for the general coordination and logistics.
• A deputy Chairman
• A STARS support group, comprising of people who are in a position to provide advice, guidance and support to projects.
• Those EC members appointed to liaise with the STARS WG such as:
• The IARU-Region 1 Treasurer
• Representatives of all the interested IARU-Region 1 member societies. 

Chairman

Remy is looking forward to his new challenge and is now active in getting in touch with STARS related societies.

The objective of the STARS Working Group

The objective is to defend, protect, extend, develop and promote the amateur radio service. The work of STARS is specifically directed to those areas of the Region where amateur radio activity is low or non-existent.

IARU in general is at its most representative for the amateur radio service when it has member societies in all the ITU member countries and when those societies have friendly and regular contacts with their national regulatory authorities. The basis for an active, viable and truly representative society is the recruitment of members with the nationality of the country.

Terms of Reference

The STARS WG works along the guidelines consolidated in the Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference can be found via this link

Five Criteria

STARS works on the basis of in-country projects, selected against a set of defined criteria. The five criteria to commence a STARS project are:

Pre-qualification of the in-country program manager.

This is a critically important phase, and without a suitable program manager, a STARS program cannot be commenced.

The governmental dimension.

Here we seek confirmation of:

• The Program Manager having an “open door” to the Regulator.
  The Spectrum Regulator should support the development of Amateur Radio (accepting the ITU syllabus for accepting and organizing amateur radio exams) as well as having a governmental protocol for issuing individual licences.
• An appropriate licence fee being in place.
• An appropriate (non-penal) Import Duty for radio equipment being in in place.

Creation of a “Radio Club” or “Radio Society”

To set-up associated training facilities. This should form the basis of establishing and growing amateur radio in the country.

Ability to import and use of radio equipment

to be used by the radio society or radio club.

Consolidation of the STARS program

Nurturing, supporting and recognising local success of the program. 

Request for support

A STARS project can be requested in several ways:

• By a radio amateur in a country requesting for help to develop amateur radio in his country
• By a radio society, a member of the IARU-R1, where the society has not sufficient resources to start setting up activities due to the lack of knowledge.
• By a non-member radio society wishing to revamp its local radio activities. In this case the local society should apply for IAUR-R1 membership before a next step regarding STARS activities can be deployed.

How to Request for Support

The STARS Working Group of IARU Region 1 is committed to supporting projects that establish and strengthen amateur radio in countries with weak or no amateur radio activity. Based on the STARS Group’s objectives, the following criteria apply for submitting a project for financial support:

1. Alignment with STARS Objectives

The project must clearly demonstrate that it serves the objectives of the STARS Working Group:

• It contributes to the development, promotion, and strengthening of the amateur radio service in a country where amateur radio is currently not widespread or established.
• It contributes to establishing or strengthening a national amateur radio association (“Radio Club” or “Radio Society”) that represents the interests of the majority of the radio amateurs to the regulatory authority.
• It promotes the recruitment of radio amateurs with the nationality of the country in question and their integration into the international amateur radio community.

2. Local Sponsorship and Project Management

A promising project needs a reliable local base:

• There is a responsible project manager based in the country (“in-country program manager”) who has the necessary expertise, motivation and time to lead the project.
• The project manager is supported by a local amateur radio club or similar organization, which can act as the sponsoring organization.
• There is a clear connection to an IARU Region 1 MS (or an application for membership is submitted if not already a member).

3. Framework Conditions in the Target Country

The legal and regulatory framework must fundamentally permit amateur radio:

• There is a regular amateur radio license exam organised or recognized by the national regulatory authority.
• The license fees are reasonable and not so high as to prevent new radio amateurs from participating.
• There is a regulation that allows the import of amateur radio equipment for personal use without imposing disproportionate tariffs or penalties.
• It is possible to operate amateur radio equipment legally (e.g., through the allocation of amateur radio bands).

4. Project Content and Activities

The project should include concrete, measurable activities that will sustainably strengthen amateur radio:

• Establishment or strengthening of a local amateur radio club (“Radio Club” or “Radio Society”) as an organizational foundation.
• Organization of training courses and exam preparation for amateur radio licenses.
• Development of training and examination infrastructure (e.g., training materials, examination board, and, if necessary, an examination station).
• Activities for public relations and recruitment of new radio amateurs (e.g. school projects, trade fairs, media outreach).
• Setting up an amateur radio station (e.g. club station, school station, emergency communications station) and, if applicable, preparation for emergency communications or disaster relief.

5. Financial Planning and Transparency

The financial support must be carefully planned and transparent:

• A detailed financial plan is available that lists the planned expenditures (e.g. training materials, equipment, travel expenses, events).
• It is clearly stated which costs are to be covered by STARS support and which funds are already available or will be obtained elsewhere.
• A procedure for managing and documenting the funds is described (e.g. receipts, reports).
• A reporting plan is submitted that includes regular progress reports and a final report.

6. Sustainability and Consolidation

The project should have a long-term impact, not just a short-term one:

• A plan is in place for how the local club can continue and be financed after the project’s completion (e.g. membership fees, local sponsors).
• It will be shown how the successes achieved (e.g. new license holders, club station) are maintained and expanded.
• The intention is to integrate the club into the IARU Region 1 structure in the long term and to maintain regular contact.

7. Formal Application Documents

A clearly structured application should be submitted for registration:

• A brief description of the target country and the current situation of amateur radio there.
• Clear project goals (what is to be achieved?) and milestones (when?).
• A detailed description of the planned activities and their relevance to the STARS objectives.
• A financial plan with precise costs and counter-financing.
• A CV and contact details of the project leader, as well as information about the local sponsoring club.
• A declaration of compliance with the STARS guidelines and of willingness to provide reports.

8. Instructions for submission:

Such an application should be sent to the official STARS email address of IARU Region 1 (stars@​iaru-​r1.​org). It is recommended to speak with the IARU Region 1 MS of your country or an experienced STARS contact beforehand to best prepare the application.

Looking forward

IARU R‑1 welcomes initiatives from countries wishing to explore the possibility of starting a STARS project.

Please contact stars@​iaru-​r1.​org

MoU with the African Telecommunication Union (ATU)

Early 2023 a Memorandum of Understanding between the ATU and the IARU-R1 has been signed. Use this link to read the details of the MoU.

We are looking forward to working together with the ATU and hope that they will establish a good relation with the African Member Societies and the local government.

STARS News Items

What happened in the STARS group?

News from Bukina Faso

University of Koudougou and installation of club station

Donation to the Seychelles Amateur Radio Society in 2023

SUBJECT: QDX Kit Project — Seychelles

Dear Mr Espling

Last Saturday (6^th May 2023) the the QRP Labs QDX kits, tools and accessories were handed over to the SARA Members who are committed to the project. I am on the far right of the picture. Our mascot ‘Goula’ is a land tortoise that are common in Seychelles. The gentleman in the striped T shirt has 3 of the same size at his QTH.

My ambition is for the project team to progress to completing the kits into a dummy load and then experiment with different antennae which can be analysed on WSPR. They can also play with FT 8, FT4 etc. I would like us to experiment with NVIS which I believe can assist with Em Comms in the future.

The average wage in Seychelles is low and the licences are high. Without the IARU-R1 STARS assistance it would be very difficult to attempt to get amateur radio established in this country. My heartfelt thanks to all involved at the IARU-R1 and STARS for your generosity, it is very much appreciated.

Richard Perks – Chairperson SARA – S79RP

Amateur radio administration course in South Sudan (2015)

Amateur examinations in DRC (2013)

ESMT in Senegal (2011)

ADP seminar in Abidjan (2009)