About

The UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) has launched a call for project proposals for its 2025 cycle, aimed at expanding support for free, independent, and pluralistic media.

The call is open to local media organizations in UNESCO Member States worldwide, with project proposals from Mekong countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam) undergoing a preliminary round of screening by the Communication and Information (CI) unit at the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, the National Offices in Phnom Penh and Ha Noi, and the Antenna Office in Yangon.

Themes

• The IPDC supports projects that align with one or more of the following themes:

  • Supporting media pluralism (particularly community media), gender equality, independence (e.g. improving self-regulation and professional standards), and innovation

  • Promoting the safety of journalists

  • Countering hate speech, fostering conflict-sensitive journalism, and encouraging cross-cultural dialogue

  • Supporting law reform to foster media independence

  • Promoting access to information

  • Conducting media assessments and research based on UNESCO's Media Development Indicators (MDIs), Gender Sensitive Indicators for the Media (GSIM), Internet Universality Indicators (IUI), Journalists' Safety Indicators (JSIs), or Media Viability Indicators (MVIs)

  • Engaging in capacity-building for journalists and media managers, including enhancing journalism education (e.g., utilizing one of UNESCO's handbooks for journalism education)

  • Tackling emerging media policy issues, including those defined by the Windhoek +30 Declaration (e.g., media viability, and transparency of digital platforms)

Beneficiaries

• Your direct beneficiaries can also include media and journalism students, duty bearers and public officers, civil society, law enforcement actors, and others.

• They pay special attention to gender equity and gender mainstreaming in line with UNESCO’s Global Priority Gender. Consider how gender equality will be achieved through leadership, project management, and decision-making, and consider whether it is appropriate to have women as special target group.

Funding Information

• A project may apply for IPDC funds of at least US$10,000 and up to US$35,000.

Expected Outputs

• Awareness raised and advocacy;

• Knowledge developed;

• Capacities and skills reinforced;

• Technical support or policy advice provided;

• Partnerships and networks established, strengthened or fostered;

• Policy analysis and monitoring ensured.

Eligible Projects

• Projects can be national or regional.

Application Requirements

• As general guidance, the applicant should:

  • Complete two application forms (the Applicant Identification Form and the Project Proposal Form);

  • Complete an Excel Budget Template (please note that it contains two tabs).

Eligibility

• Projects submitted by organizations such as online and print publications, radio and television, community media organizations, media training institutes, professional journalists’ organizations/unions/associations, media development agencies, universities and journalism schools, research labs, and think tanks.

• National/regional projects submitted by and/or for countries covered by the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

• Note: The IPDC pays particular attention to proposals from least developed, landlocked, and small island countries, as well as those in conflict or post-conflict situations.                                             

• Proposals are encouraged to consider the adaptation and/or use of UNESCO’s journalism education handbooks and other publications, while also considering innovative approaches, addressing specific gender-related challenges that contribute to inequality), and the economic challenges facing media around the globe, including the issue of media viability, where relevant.

Post Date: January 14, 2025