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

Syria-born Hovik Asmarian reflects on how war has haunted his family for three generations. © Arshaluis Mghdesyan/IWPR

Karabakh Under Siege

As an Azerbaijani blockade continues, a Syrian Armenian in Stepanakert reflects on war and family.

A pro-Russian rally in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek. Kremlin's propaganda dominates in Central Asia, where Russian mass media, mainly TV channels, are the main source of information. © Kundemi.kg

Project Highlight

Central Asian’s Vulnerability to Russian Propaganda

International discussion hears that response must be as complex and varied as disinformation itself.

Struggling to make ends meet in her native Armenia, Lilit (not her real name) was lured into a nanny job in Greece. Instead she found herself trapped in Istanbul, with no documents and forced into prostitution. According to the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), 68 Armenian citizens were identified as having been trafficked between 2017 and 2021. © Armine Avetisyan

Armenia: Trafficked and Exploited

The pandemic and Nagorny Karabakh conflict of 2020 have led to a steep rise in the number of Armenian victims.

A screenshot of some of the televised forced confessions of Belarus' railway employees detained in March 2022 for their actions in support of Ukraine.

Belarus’ Epidemic of Public Shaming

Security services use TV confessions to spread fear and promote public self-censorship.

Schools Struggle in Armenia’s Border Villages

Fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan has affected thousands of children’s right to learn.

Russians Seek Armenia Citizenship

The Ukraine conflict has spurred many to acquire alternative passports.

Belarus’ long-time foreign minister Vladimir Makei suddenly passed away on 27 Nov 2022. © Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus - mfa.gov.by

Belarus Bids Farewell to Its Top Diplomat

Architect of Minsk’s multi-vector foreign policy dies as country faces pressure from the Kremlin to step up role in Ukraine.

Georgians in Abkhazia’s Gali district account for 98 per cent of the population. Yet, students struggle to study in their native language as authorities have imposed Russian as the language of instructions in all grades. © Monica Ellena/IWPR

Abkhazia: Erasing the Georgian language

Russian is now mandatory in all schools in Gali district.

The Manasyan brothers - Vigen, 46, and Arthur, 38 - get ready for the harvest. Most of their arable lands fell under Azerbaijani control in 2020, but they retain a small wheatfield near their house and tend vineyards for an owner who too scared to go there due to the proximity of Azerbaijan’s military posts. © Siranush Sargsyan/IWPR

Photo Essay

A Fearful Harvest in Karabakh’s Vineyards

Villagers in the Amaras valley vineyards pick grapes a few yards away from Azerbaijan’s military posts.

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.