Media Development Programme Funding: USAID
Media Development Programme Funding: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
USAID supports programmes in more than 30 countries to strengthen journalistic professionalism, establish media management skills, and promote free and independent media. The Information Safety and Capacity programme is USAID's flagship internet freedom programme to support USAID partners' ability to operate safely in the digital space, managed centrally by the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance's Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance (DCHA/DRG). They also administer programming on countering disinformation through the Advancing Integrity in the Media (AIM) programme.
Examples of media development programmes supported by USAID include:
Boresha Habari - Media and Civil Society Strengthening (2017-2022) - USAID's Boresha Habari ("Better News") activity supports an open, inclusive environment in which media and civil society provide accurate and impartial information that promotes participation, inclusion, and accountability. A core focus of this activity is to engage and empower women and youth. Contact: Jennifer Horsfall, Assistance Officer's Representative jhorsfall@usaid.gov
Balkan Media Assistance Program (2017-2021) The aim is to make media practitioners in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia more competitive in the local and regional marketplace and to strengthen the sustainability of independent media in the region.
Liberia Media Development (LDM) Activity (2015-2020) - The goal ois to increase citizens' access to independent and reliable information, and to empower them to engage in well-informed public discussions on issues of national importance.
North Macedonia Media Program - This programme seeks to increase pluralism and transparency in the country's media market in support of the production of professional, fact-based, in-depth news reporting, and to encourage the use of balanced, entertaining, non-partisan TV content that analyses and presents North Macedonia's issues of public concern.
Cultivating Media Independence Initiative (Media-K) (2017-2020) - Funded by USAID and implemented by Internews and FHI 360, the 3-year project provides comprehensive support to selected media outlets, administers small grants for the production of high-quality local content, runs journalism trainings, brings the media community together at an annual conference, works towards the development of audience measurement capabilities, and supports local organisations' efforts to advocate for key reforms in the media sphere. (See also here [PDF].)
Rasana (2017-2020) - This programme supports the independent Afghan media sector to provide reliable and balanced information to citizens across the country. (See also here.) Contact: kblaiddocinformation@usaid.gov
Afghanistan Media Development and Empowerment Project (AMDEP) (2010-2013) - To support the sustainability of an independent, robust, and energetic media landscape, AMDEP strives to build the capacity of local independent media through technical support, equipment upgrades, hands-on training, and business development. (See also here.)
Nai Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan - Nai is a media advocacy and vocational education agency that, since its establishment in 2005, has delivered media training to over 11,000 participants from the media sector, both students and practicing professionals. Contact: info@nai.org.af
SABA Media Organization for Rule of Law - SABA facilitates the development of capable and sustainable free media in Afghanistan. With USAID's support, SABA aims to promote rule of law by mobilising people, raising public awareness, providing civic education initiatives, and coordinating advocacy activities on formal and informal justice systems and basic human rights. (See also here.) Contact: info@sabacent.org
Independent Media Empowerment Program (2017-2022) - This USAID programme seeks to sustain independent media in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) by providing direct support for media that produce professional and independent reporting and by supporting the legal representation for media organisations and journalists targeted by politically motivated defamation lawsuits.
Increasing East African Media Coverage of Conservation and Wildlife Issues (2019-2021) - Through this project, promising journalists receive story production stipends that allow them to spend time researching and investigating important conservation pieces.
Voices for Peace (V4P) (2016-2021) - V4P is a regional project in West Africa that seeks to counter violent extremism (CVE) and promote democracy, human rights, and good governance by leveraging both traditional and new media at the community level in areas affected by violent extremism.
Civil Society: Mutual Accountability Project (CS:MAP) - CS:MAP aims to foster a more legitimate, accountable, and resilient Nepali civil society, capable of advancing the public interest. The project will collaborate with a wide range of civil society organisations (CSOs), including non-governmental and non-profit organisations, non-governmental media outlets, member-based organisations, associations, unions, and federations.
Editorial note: The above list of media programmes is based on a search of the USAID website using the keyword "media" and only includes projects that ended in 2015 or after. Where available, we have included further links to information and contact details.
Image caption/credit: Ice FM journalist Ms. Consolata Damian Motto (standing on the right) producing a radio programme based on women and youth. Boresha Habari is helping make media content and creation more inclusive. Photo: Temigunga Mahondo, Internews Media Trainer