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
Armenian Prime Minister Under Threat
The tactical flexibility and impressive self-confidence that fueled Pashinyan’s rise to power have become his biggest weaknesses.
Georgia Weighs Consequences of Karabakh Truce
With both Armenia and Azerbaijan as neighbours, Tbilisi has long tried to stay neutral.
Armenia: Karabakh Defeat Sparks Political Crisis
Opposition protests continue over terms of treaty with Azerbaijan.
Anger and Jubilation Over Karabakh Deal
With questions remaining over implementation, any move towards reconciliation seems far away.
Central Asia: The Power of Conflict and Protest
Online event assesses the regional lessons and consequences of political dispute.
Georgia Faces Political Crisis
Refusing to accept election outcome, opposition demands fresh polls.
Kazak Journalists Face Routine Harassment
Although the media is protected by law, beatings and illegal detentions are common.
Kyrgyzstan: Fresh Elections Postponed
Country’s traditional partners, disturbed by ongoing crisis, suspend large tranches of aid.
The Post-Soviet Legacy of the Karabakh Conflict
Moscow’s role, as in other secessionist conflicts in the region, has been key.
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.