IPDC 2010

1. UNESCO’s International Programme
for the Development of
Communication (IPDC)

2. Voluntary contributions
in 2008-2009
Donor countries 2008 2009
Afghanistan 500
Andorra 14,743 37,000
Czech Republic 56,541 -
Denmark 191,388 100,299
Finland - 559,362
India 30,000 30,000
Italy 50,000
Norway 142,958 152,206
Russia 100,000
Spain 567,376 259,068
Switzerland 457,497 476,420
USA 118,544 357,833
TOTAL 1,801,240 1,910,062

3. IPDC and 35/C5
Among the key priorities of the UNESCO Programme,
as approved by its General Conference, are:
• Promote freedom of expression and press freedom,
media independence and pluralism
• Development of communication, especially through a
strengthened IPDC
The mission of IPDC embodies both these priorities.
(IPDC’s mission is to support the development of print
and electronic media in developing countries by
financing approved projects through voluntary
contributions to the IPDC Special Account)

4. IPDC in UNESCO’s mission to foster
the free flow of information
• IPDC plays an important role in UNESCO’s
strategy to develop free, pluralistic and
independent media in the developing countries
with particular emphasis on Africa, LDCs, SIDS
and countries in conflict/post-conflict situations.
• IPDC reinforces international cooperation to
support media development based on the IPDC-
endorsed media development indicators.
• “The IPDC can be described as a catalyst with
the possibility to produce significant change
using relatively small amounts of money”.
From the 2006 IPDC evaluation report by Prof. Helge Rønning from
the University of Oslo

5. IPDC projects: influencing significant
change with modest funds
214 media development projects
in 88 countries supported in 2008-2010
for a total cost of US$ 5.6 million
*
Least Developed Countries received
US$ 2,338,000 under 74 projects.
This amount represents 40% of all funds
allocated

6. IPDC’s strengths
• The project beneficiaries are key local actors seeking
opportunities to expand press freedom and media
development;
• The IPDC modality enables them to receive UNESCO
support without going through any national authority;
• The multi-donor Special Account allows beneficiary media
and civil society organizations to receive support without
compromising their independence and integrity;
• The projects are proposed and implemented by the
beneficiary organizations under UNESCO’s expert
guidance

7. IPDC’s strengths #2
• IPDC financial support is modest but adequate
• Support is provided to sustain endogenous efforts over the
years in a programmatic manner;
• The IPDC does not work as a stand alone entity within the
Communication and Information (CI) Sector; rather, all the
Divisions of the Sector work for the IPDC
• IPDC is more than just a funding mechanism for media
development projects; the IPDC catalyses policy advocacy
(Media Development Indicators, Safety of journalists, Criteria
for training excellence).
• But projects are essential interventions to empower local actors
to influence necessary changes.

8. IPDC special initiatives
• Setting standards for media
development: Media Development
Indicators
• Safety of journalists and issue of
impunity
• Creating centres of excellence in
journalism training in Africa

9. IPDC governing bodies
IPDC Intergovernmental
Council:
• representative forum for
policy debate on emerging
media development
issues
• oversight mechanism to
deter impunity on crimes
against journalists
(composed of 39 member
states elected by
UNESCO's General
Conference)
IPDC Bureau:
• assumes full responsibility for
project selection, approval and
allocation of funds from the
Special Account
• acts as a jury for selecting the
winner of the UNESCO-IPDC
Prize for Rural Communication
(composed of 8 members
elected by IPDC
Intergovernmental Council)

10. Examples of the catalytic effect of IPDC projects
• NEPAL: IPDC stamp, with its multilateral,
intergovernmental backing, has legitimized the community
radio movement in Nepal, contributing directly to the
government’s initial, reluctant agreement and its growing
recognition of community radio as a development tool
• CAPEVERDE: IPDC support led to the development of the
revision of number of press laws, concerning inter alia the
creation of private media, the regulation of journalists’ press
cards, and rules governing access and activity for television
operators.

11. Examples of the catalytic effect of IPDC projects #2
• Support to Freedomof Expressionnetworksat
regional and national level: eg. IFEXregional
networks(7 projects since 1992)
• AFGHANISTAN: IPDC was instrumental in
the establishment of women-owned and
operated radio stations in Afghanistan.

12. Key findings (based on country
evaluation report - IPDC support to
Nepal)
• Strong sense of local ownership.
• IPDC financial contributions are manageable for local
organizations.
• They do not skew the local playing field by introducing
external structures, international salaries etc.
• Projects have specific objectives and tangible outputs with
concrete results that clearly contribute to media
development
• Projects are accompanied by technical support of
UNESCO.