![IWPR Ukraine Conference held in Kiev, October 6-7, 2017. IWPR Ukraine Conference held in Kiev, October 6-7, 2017.](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_glossy+ret_img/https://iwpr.net/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/images/focus/Borderland-to-the-Steppes-01_1.jpg?h=dc7003cc)
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
Georgia Looks East
Experts argue economic future may lie in ties to China and India.
Wildfire Sweeps Abkhazian Villages
Local Georgians feel they have been abandoned to face disaster alone.
Uzbekistan Looks to Diversify Labour Migration
Remittances from those working abroad make up a key part of the country’s economy.
Ukraine’s Coal Industry in Crisis
The devastating effect of decades of neglect and corruption have been exacerbated by conflict.
Armenians Displaced By Post War Demarcations
Some villages have been divided in two by new boundaries.
Karabakh: New Boundaries, New Realities
Many villages have become border settlements, with no buffer zone.
Kazakstan's Unsurprising Elections
President’s party wins again as pressure grows on independent observers and opposition forces.
Fears for Armenian Cultural Heritage in Karabakh
Officials warn that historic sites in areas under Baku’s control risk damage.
Karabakh Welcomes Peacekeeper "Brothers"
While their visible presence is reassuring, questions still remain over longer-term solutions.
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.