Focus

Amplify, Verify, Engage

The Amplify, Verify, Engage project promotes democratic growth, participatory governance, and cross-border cooperation, by strengthening civil society and independent media across Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus.

Years active: 2021-2023

The Amplify, Verify, Engage: Information for Democratisation and Good Governance in Eurasia project builds on IWPR's previous Norwegian-supported initiatives, including the Giving Voice, Driving Change project. AVE will continue to promote democratic growth, participatory governance, and cross-border cooperation, by strengthening civil society and independent media across Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus.

Amplify, Verify, Engage (AVE) has three key objectives, through which IWPR will:

Amplify journalists and independent media voices producing verified, evidence-based reporting;
Verify reliable information by strengthening the capacity of civil society and independent media to counter misinformation and disinformation;
Engage civil society, independent media, public officials and the general public to foster increased dialogue and cooperation.

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

Lacking fossil fuels, Armenia imports natural gas and oil for most of its energy needs, largely from Russia. © Gazprom Armenia

Armenia’s Energy Security Faces Frosty Relations with Russia

Lacking fossil fuels, Armenia leans on Russian gas and oil for most of its needs.

In the village of Salchia, in southern Moldova, a sign states that the playground was built with funding by Ilan Shor. The fugitive businessman retains significant influence on Moldovan politics despite a sentence in absentia on fraud charges. © Piotr Garciu

Shor: Moscow’s Man in Moldova

Life in exile has not hindered the fugitive magnate’s political powers.

Tamar Chkhaidze (left), communications officer at the Human Rights House Tbilisi (HRHT) and Gulo Kokhodze, director of the news outlet Southern Gates. Kokhodze collected the Lekso Award on behalf of Teimuraz Inasaridz, winner in the category of best human rights article. © IWPR/HRHT

Project Highlight

Lekso Award: Supporting Journalism and Human Rights

Pieces highlight plight of vulnerable and underrepresented communities in Georgia.

Demonstrations started on 3rd of November and continued to grow and lasted days and nights until 23rd of November of 2003. © Irma Bajelidze

Rose Revolution Still Haunts Georgia

The political upheaval of 2003 was a seminal moment in the country’s history, but its legacy is up for debate.

Ukraine: Supporting Civil Society Oversight

Resources will enable public activists, journalists and ordinary citizens to monitor state expenditures and investigate corruption.

The International Criminal Court building in The Hague. © Jbdodane/Flickr

Armenia Joins ICC, Angers Moscow

The move has widened the rift with the Kremlin, but Yerevan stated that its motivation was its national security vis-à-vis Azerbaijan.

Karine (not her real name) was 15 when she realised that the male body she was born into was not hers. She moved from the rural community she grew up in to the capital Yerevan to be free to be herself. Unlinke many people in her community she was able to find a stable job as a hairdresser and manicurist. © Anahit Zakaryan

Life in the Shadows for Armenia’s Transgender Community

Recent murder highlights widespread discrimination and violence against LGBTI people.

Madlena Ghahiryan with two of her nine grandchildren. “The journey from our homeland was harrowing. We had no food, not even bread… We found wood along the way, lit a fire and managed to roast some potatoes.” © Siranush Sargsyan

Photo Essay

Nagorny Karabakh’s Armenians Struggle to Cope with Displacement

Tens of thousands of refugees are sheltered in centres across Armenia and face economic and psychological hurdles.

The photo of a fallen 19-year-old soldier from Fuzuli, in south-western Azerbaijan, hangs on the walls outside a former student dormitory, which has housed dozens of internally displaced persons from Nagorny Karabakh since the 1990s. © Ulkar Natiqqizi

Displaced Azerbaijanis Eye Return to Nagorny Karabakh

Following the mass exodus of Armenians, Baku plans to resettle some 40,000 people in the region over the next three years.

IWPR ACADEMY

Newsrooms Countering Disinformation

IWPR film and online course available in seven languages is supporting young journalists across the Eastern Partnership region and Central Asia to detect and combat disinformation in their daily work.

Related Social Media pages

The Amplify, Verify, Engage (AVE) project builds on IWPR's previous Norwegian-supported initiatives, including the Giving Voice, Driving Change - from the Borderland to the Steppes project. AVE will continue to promote democratic growth, participatory governance, and cross-border cooperation, by strengthening civil society and independent media across Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus.