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

A Ukrainian soldier walks past a missile from the MLRS Uragan at the frontline positions near Izyum, the south of the Kharkiv region. May 23, 2022. © Anatoliy Stepanov

Ukraine: Life in Occupied Izyum

Communication is sketchy in the Russian-occupied city as former residents try to locate loved ones struggling to access fuel, food and water.

Moldova's largest Pride march took place on June 19 under heavy security. Police officers outnumbered participants by one to four. © Aliona Ciurca

Moldova’s Largest Ever Pride March Defies Critics

Discrimination remain common as the country edges towards the European integration.

Comment

Georgia Faces More Disappointment in its European Dream

It will be near-impossible to fulfil EU-mandated obligations without a paradigm shift in how the ruling party views its role and place in the country’s history.

Alu Gamakharia, 74, fled Sokhumi in 1993 and settled in Kutaisi, Georgia's second largest city. In 2009 he founded the Peace and Business Caucasus Association to help people from the region receive medical care in Tbilisi-controlled territory. © Nino Bakradze

Georgia’s Health Diplomacy

A medical support programme aims to heal wounds between Abkhazians and Georgians.

Belarusians in Ukraine Help Their Adopted Home

Tens of thousands fled over the border after the disputed 2020 elections. Now, many are volunteering to help the war effort.

Vasyl leaves the battlefield after being wounded. He lost his son, a soldier, in early March. © Anatoliy Stepanov

Photo Essay

Ukraine: The Fight for the “Dead Cities”

In eastern Ukraine, Zelensky calls for long-range weapons to contain the Russian advantage in artillery and airpower.

Infographic on Belarusian media and extremism 1/9.

Belarus’ Crackdown on Media Continues

Regime uses accusations of extremism to silence dissenting voices – and intimidate news consumers.

Workers of the Borjomi water's two bottling factories in Georgia have been on strike for weeks over wages and uncertainty after the iconic Georgian brand was caught into the sanctions against Russia in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. © Maradia Tsaava

Georgia Nationalises Iconic Mineral Water Due to Russian Sanctions

The instantly-recognisable brand has become a collateral victim of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Businesses have been hit hard by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finca Coffee, a coffee roasting company, managed to relocate its operation from Hostomel, outside Kyiv, to Rivne, in western Urkaine as part of a ministry of economy's programme, which supports entrepreneurs to equipment and workers to safer areas. Smaller businesses, however, have to fend for themselves. © Vitaliy Koval Facebook page

Ukraine: Businesses Relocate to Safer West

With government help, hundreds of strategic enterprises have moved to the safer west of the country. Smaller businesses, however, have to fend for themselves.

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.