International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC)

The IPDC draws on partnership - it is a multilateral forum based in the United Nations (UN) system - as a strategy for mobilising the international community to discuss and promote media development. In UNESCO's words, "For political and ethical reasons, multilateral cooperation is the most appropriate way of promoting media development." The IPDC asserts that it "has the necessary moral element which makes beneficiaries feel that the support comes from a genuine international partnership mechanism, in which both developing and developed countries are represented in the decision-making bodies." The programme not only provides support for media projects but also seeks an accord to secure a healthy environment for the growth of free and pluralistic media in developing countries.

The projects submitted to IPDC are considered as a part of the long-term programme implemented by IPDC in each country. Therefore, when selecting the projects, the IPDC Bureau considers the progress made in the country concerned through previous support. Each project has precise objectives contributing to the expansion of media pluralism in a programmatic manner.

IPDC builds the capacities of local media organisations to implement their own development projects with modest budgets. The projects have budget ranges from US$20,000 - 60,000 and should be completed within a maximum period of 18 months. According to IPDC, a project bearing the “IPDC / UNESCO” stamp has the legitimacy necessary to allow it to serve as the initial stimulus to attract further donor support.

The IPDC decision-making process is representative. It is ensured by an inter-governmental Council composed of 39 members from both developed and developing countries. (Click here for more information on the Council). The IPDC Bureau, which selects the projects to be supported, is constituted by eight members elected by the Council, and also has representation both from developed and developing countries. Media organisations such as press, radio and television, media training institutes, professional journalists' organisations, media development agencies, and community media organisations are eligible to seek support from IPDC. All proposals are processed by field-based UNESCO Advisers for Communication and Information. Media projects with potential to serve as models are especially encouraged. Particular attention is given to proposals from least-developed, landlocked and small island countries.

All projects approved by the IPDC aim at contributing to the achievement of one of the following objectives:

1. promote freedom of expression and media pluralism by encouraging the free flow of information at international and national levels, enabling wider and more balanced dissemination of information, and strengthening communication capacities in developing countries in order to increase their participation in the communication process. Example of beneficiary: Namma Dhwani (Our Voices) - India (click here for a summary in the Programme Experiences section)
2. develop community media that encourages open dialogue and transparency of administration at the local level and offers a voice to the voiceless. Example of beneficiary: Radio Toco for the youth - Trinidad and Tobago
3. develop human resource through basic and advanced training designed to improve the knowledge, skills, and awareness of media professionals. Example of beneficiary: The Pacific Women Television Producers Workshop and Exchange Programme.

All projects that have received support from the IPDC are featured in the Projects Database on the IPDC website; please click here to search or scan the projects database and to learn more about IPDC beneficiaries.

Media Development, Rights, Political Development.

According to UNESCO, media are the fulcrums of information societies and will remain so as the most affordable tools of access to information and knowledge on day to day basis. Moreover, free, independent and pluralistic media are essential to facilitate democratic participation in the development discourse and assuring the accountability of governments. However, UNESCO suggests, serious inadequacies of media in many countries prevent people from voicing their democratic aspirations, from sharing and accessing information, and from making life-saving decisions. UNESCO created IPDC in 1980 to address these needs and to accelerate media development.

UNESCO believes that the international assistance provided through IPDC does not interfere with the integrity and independence of media institutions given its nature as a multilateral forum, which is in a way anonymous and therefore de-politicized. Since its inception, the IPDC has channelled more than US$93 million to over 1,100 media development projects in 139 developing countries.