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���������䰿’s&�Բ�����;International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) is launching 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.

Established in 1980, ���������䰿’s IPDC is the only multilateral forum within the UN system dedicated to mobilizing the international community around media development issues. It serves as a laboratory for ideas on emerging and pressing media policy issues. Moreover, it offers seed funding to grassroots and local media development projects tackling media issues on the ground. For over 40 years, more than 2,200 projects globally have been approved and supported through the IPDC, with US$115 million channeled to media development.

As the focal point for the Mekong countries, the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok collects, initially evaluates and submits high-quality project proposals for these countries to the IPDC Bureau for further examination and potential approval. The recipients of IPDC funds will be determined annually by a panel of UNESCO Member States elected to the IPDC Bureau.

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)

• 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 (1) the adaptation and/or use of ���������䰿’s journalism education handbooks and other publications, while also considering innovative approaches, (2) addressing specific gender-related challenges that contribute to inequality), and (3) the economic challenges facing media around the globe, including the issue of media viability, where relevant.

• UNESCO Bangkok
• UNESCO Hanoi
• UNESCO Phnom Penh

#CallForProposals #FreedomOfExpression #SafetyOfJournalists #MediaDevelopment #AccessToInformation #BuildingKnowledgeSocieties