Focus
Giving Voice, Driving Change - from the Borderland to the Steppes
Years active: 2017-2021
The Giving Voice, Driving Change - from the Borderland to the Steppes project supports democratisation and governance, human rights and independent media across 10 countries in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Moldova and Ukraine.
More specifically, the project is delivering three main pillars of work:
1. CAPACITY. The key focus of the project is strengthening the capacity of local reporters, as well as citizen journalists and civil society groups. This includes training, mentoring, and effective institutional advisory support on management and sustainability for selected local media organisations.
2. VOICE. The second pillar supports a wide range of multi-format content production in local languages, Russian and English, from diverse voices of independent reporters, as well as citizen journalists, civic activists and bloggers. This includes independent digital, print and broadcast media, social media, regional websites (including CABAR.asia), investigative reporting and documentary production. Themes of focus are democracy and governance, human rights and rule of law, including freedom of the media. A strong emphasis is made on tackling corruption, and amplifying groundbreaking content across the region, including across language barriers.
3. ENGAGEMENT. The third pillar engages civil society, media, public officials and the public directly in the issues raised through the project’s media outputs. This takes the form of public fora and private meetings, social media, outreach and advocacy campaigns, and through IWPR’s own structured networks.
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
Reaching Out To Ukraine's Occupied Territories
New broadcaster will aim to combat propaganda while winning hearts and minds.
Georgia: Speaking Out About Postnatal Depression
Sociologists and mothers believe that the time has come to break their silence over debilitiating condition.
Slow Progress on Moldova's Justice Reforms
Coalition government struggles to prove it is depoliticising appointments.
Georgia's Clean Water Problem
Despite millions spent by the state and international donors, there is still poor access to proper sanitation.
Georgia's Strategic Game Changer
Infrastructure project will have enormous political, economic and security impact.
Azerbaijan: Women Journalists Under Pressure
Female reporters routinely intimidated by blackmail, sexual assault and harassment.
Georgia Struggles with Food Safety Standards
Regulation remains a challenge in a country of small producers.
Moldova Battles Hybrid Threat
Experts identify key areas of vulnerability, including Russian disinformation.
Tajik Entrepreneurs Struggle to Stay Afloat
Although official figures show that the private sector is thriving, business owners tell a different story.
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.