Focus
Giving Voice, Driving Change - from the Borderland to the Steppes
Years active: 2017-2021
The Giving Voice, Driving Change - from the Borderland to the Steppes project supports democratisation and governance, human rights and independent media across 10 countries in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Moldova and Ukraine.
More specifically, the project is delivering three main pillars of work:
1. CAPACITY. The key focus of the project is strengthening the capacity of local reporters, as well as citizen journalists and civil society groups. This includes training, mentoring, and effective institutional advisory support on management and sustainability for selected local media organisations.
2. VOICE. The second pillar supports a wide range of multi-format content production in local languages, Russian and English, from diverse voices of independent reporters, as well as citizen journalists, civic activists and bloggers. This includes independent digital, print and broadcast media, social media, regional websites (including CABAR.asia), investigative reporting and documentary production. Themes of focus are democracy and governance, human rights and rule of law, including freedom of the media. A strong emphasis is made on tackling corruption, and amplifying groundbreaking content across the region, including across language barriers.
3. ENGAGEMENT. The third pillar engages civil society, media, public officials and the public directly in the issues raised through the project’s media outputs. This takes the form of public fora and private meetings, social media, outreach and advocacy campaigns, and through IWPR’s own structured networks.
Established in collaboration with and funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the project directly supports Norwegian priorities and values, builds on long-standing Norwegian supported programming in the region, and expands on IWPR’s extensive local and regional networks of independent media and civic groups.
Latest from the project
Georgia: Risking All to Cross the Enguri
Pandemic restrictions mean that many face arrest or serious harm if they try to cross into Tbilisi-controlled territory.
Ukrainian Border Towns Calm in Face of Russian Buildup
Locals report hearing heavy weapons fire but feel in no immediate danger.
Kompromat is Back in Azerbaijan
The regime is exploiting social media to inflict reputational damage on its critics.
Ukraine Watches in Fear as Russian Mobilisation Continues
Moscow’s threat of invasion may aim to win concessions, but the momentum for violence continues to build.
Can Armenia’s Political Truce Last?
Early elections and a new chief-of-staff unlikely to resolve ongoing crisis.
Ukraine Antagonises China, While Pleasing the US
Move to nationalise aviation firm interpreted as a sign Kyiv views Washington as a more useful strategic partner than Beijing.
Georgia: Journalist Wins Peace Prize With First-Ever Article
Winner hopes to encourage more constructive dialogue around a sensitive issue.
Azerbaijan’s Children Let Down by Online Learning
Inadequate infrastructure and miscommunication have dogged more than a year of remote schooling.
Georgia: Protests Against New Power Plant Continue
Tbilisi hopes that 800 million US dollar investment will boost energy security and provide jobs, but activists say the risks are enormous.
Established in collaboration with and funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the project directly supports Norwegian priorities and values, builds on long-standing Norwegian supported programming in the region, and expands on IWPR’s extensive local and regional networks of independent media and civic groups.