BBC World Service is an international radio and online broadcaster delivering programmes and services in 33 languages.

It uses multiple platforms to reach 163 million listeners globally, including SW, AM, FM, digital satellite and cable channels.

It has around 2,000 partner radio stations which take BBC content, and numerous partnerships supplying content to mobile phones.

Its international online sites, which include audio and visual content and offer users opportunities to interact directly with world events, receive over 500 million page impressions, attracting around 33 million unique users a month.

BBC World Service broadcasts more than 25 hours of programmes a week in English specifically for Africa including Focus on Africa, which gives a daily round-up of news and analysis from around the continent and Network Africa which sets the day's agenda, seven days a week, with a popular mix of news, sport, features and music.

Africa, Have Your Say is the hour long interactive BBC radio and online programme giving listeners an opportunity to have their say on a range of issues and the African Performance season showcases the work of African playwrights.

More info: BBC World Service Press Office
Read articles from World Agenda, the BBC's international journal