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

Largely populated by ethnic Tajiks, Gelon sits at 2,336 metres, surrounded by the Hisar range, part of the Pamir-Alay mountain system. It can take up to three hours to cover the 70 kilometres from Uzbkistan’s southern city of Shakhrisabz to reach this high-altitude village. © Abdulhak Turgunov

Photo Essay

The Tajik Community on Uzbekistan’s Highlands

Surrounded by the Pamir mountain range, a remote village keeps customs alive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Kyrgyzstan's President counterpart Sadyr Japarov in Bishkek on October 12. It was Putin's first trip abroad since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant against him in March 2023. © Website of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic

Putin’s Bishkek Visit Signals Moscow’s Increasing Interest in Central Asia

The region’s role on the world stage is rising as the US and the EU also look at strengthening ties.The region’s role on the world stage is rising as the US and the EU also look at strengthening ties.

In Masis, displaced Armenians from Nagorny Karabakh were accommodated in disused kindergarten. The town of 20,000 people in western Armenia has received nearly 11,000 refugees. © Arshaluis Mghdesyan

Nagorny Karabakh: “My Children Don’t Know What Peace Is”

Some 100,000 civilians have fled the disputed region, facing an uncertain future and an unclear legal status.

On September 13 Belarus' opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya presented the project of the new "alternative" Belarusian passport to the European Parliament. A new decree requires Belarusians to return to their home country to obtain or renew key documents, leaving opposition politicians and human rights activists in exile at risk. © tsikhanouskaya.org

Belarusians Abroad Face Document Limbo

A new decree requires citizens to renew passports in-country, putting exiled government critics at risk.

A family walks through the cars parked waiting to visit the tents of the Armenian Red Cross on September 26, 2023 in Kornidzor, Armenia. About 100,000 Armenians have fled the Nagorny Karabakh region, out of a population of 120,000, since Azerbaijan launched a military operation and regained control of the breakaway region. © Astrig Agopian/Getty Images

Comment

Nagorny Karabakh: The Consequences of International Inaction

The absence of progress in outside mediation has been crucial in spurring Azerbaijan’s military option.

Children in central Stepanakert as families are packing their belongings and set to leave their homes. As people flee, there are large traffic tailbacks on the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting the enclave to Armenia. © Siranush Sargsyan

Nagorny Karabakh’s Uncertain Future

Despite Baku’s messages of reassurance, many locals fear campaign of ethnic cleansing.

Protesters carry the Nagorny Karabakh flag in central Yerevan after the region's armed forces were defeated by Azerbaijan's military operation of September 19. Thousands called on Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign over the debacle but there seems to be no real alternatives to his government. © Arshaluis Mgdesyan

Nagorny Karabakh Conflict Sparks Political Crisis in Armenia

Rallies called on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign, but the opposition provides no real alternative.

People on makeshift beds in a shelter in Stepanakert, Karabakh’s regional centre. “This is one of the city’s main shelters, it is considered to a safe place but safety is a relative concept… Many children from various areas of the city came here,” said IWPR contributor Siranush Sargsyan. © Siranush Sargsyan

“Yesterday We Struggled to Find Bread, Today We Are Struggling to Live”

Hundreds of people have been killed or injured and thousands displaced following Azerbaijan's military action.

Kyrgyz authorities are moving to shut down the nonprofit Kloop Media Foundation, which includes the independent news outlet Kloop.kg. Founded in 2007, Kloop.kg is one of the country's leading journalism outlets, known for its investigations into corruption schemes. © Monica Ellena

Kyrgyz Authorities Move to Shut Down Independent News Outlet

Investigative publication Kloop is the latest target of authorities’ campaign against independent media and critical voices.

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.