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

Azerbaijani journalist Ayten Mammadova was assaulted in the building where she lives in the capital Baku, an threatened at knifepoint by an unknown man who warned against reporting over an ongoing trial.

Azerbaijani Journalist Threatened Over High-Profile Trial

Rights organisations maintain that systematic lack of action in investigating such crimes serves to empower perpetrators.

Transnistria Cancels May 9 Parade Over Mysterious Explosions

A series of blasts in Moldova’s separatist region have heightened fears of regional destabilisation.

A pier in Sukhumi, Abkhazia. © Tim Waters/Flickr

Ukraine Crisis Imperils Abkhazia

Experts believe that Moscow is now aiming to divert resources, given the heavy costs of its ongoing invasion.

Turkmenistan's authorities have introduced severe restrictions on women's appearance, banning beauty practices like dyed hair, manicure and fake nails and eyelashes. Since April, women are also no longer allowed to sit in the front seat of taxis and male drivers are barred from offering rides to women who are not family members. © Igor Sasin/AFP via Getty Images

Turkmenistan: Car and Beauty Bans Further Erode Women’s Rights

Fresh prohibitions have crushed hopes that newly appointed 40-year-old president Serdar Berdymukhamedov would pursue a more enlightened path.

This year’s LEADx took place online on February 7-18, 2022.

Project Highlight

IWPR Hosts Third Annual LEADx

Programme’s support for emerging leaders across Eastern Partnership particularly important in light of Ukraine war.

A recent protest in Yerevan against the government's changing stance on Karabakh. © Arshaluis Mghdesyan

Armenians Protest Against Government Shift on Karabakh

Anger over potential plans to drop the decades’ long demand for territory’s independence.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu discussed existing security concerns facing the country during a press conference on April 26 after several explosions took place in Transnistria. © Moldovan President's Official Website

Russian “False Flag” Operations Jeopardise Moldova’s Security

A flare-up in Transnistria could destabilise an already vulnerable country and open a new front in the Ukrainian conflict.

Tajik Society Divided Over Russian Invasion of Ukraine

With authorities remaining tight-lipped, emotions run high in Tajikistan as citizens argue over the ongoing conflict.

Luibov and Ivan at a loading warehouse in Lviv.

Ukraine War Diary by A. Borden

Ukrainian Volunteers: We Deliver

Both radically decentralised and profoundly efficient, a vast civilian volunteer network is mobilised across Ukraine.

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.