Civil Society and Media Leadership Program

The project seeks to increase organisational capacity of CSOs to serve as a vehicle for representing members' interests and influencing the policy process, as well as strengthening capacity of a core group of advocacy CSOs to monitor government policy, performance, and expenditure. It also seeks to improve independent media capacity to operate more professionally, including programming and economic self sustainability, and encourage community radio stations to engage with the community and work to include diverse audiences. It is also working to engender professionalism in the Liberian media industry by improving the quality of information, injecting new skills and opening avenues for media assisted by technology, to give citizens voice in national dialogues.

Key strategies include the following:

• Institutional Strengthening and Advocacy Training: IREX is selecting 6-10 Liberian organisations to work with as Resource Partners (RPs); each receives a six-month, customised training programme to strengthen the organisation and improve advocacy. RPs are also supported through grants to continue institutional strengthening and to support the institutional strengthening of smaller CSOs. RPs select 1-2 staff that are trained in how to train (TOT) and developed into Master Trainers and as lead agents in their technical areas who go on to train multiple CSOs throughout seven counties in Liberia. Small grants are offered to CSOs who have completed their training programme.
• CSO Media Plan: The media plan is designed to broaden and deepen the impact of CSO activities. Live coverage of CSO workshops on community radio, promotion of interactive programming, use of SMS networks, and new media are used as channels to reach and educate a broader audience in the key counties.
• Joint CSO, Citizen, and Government Roundtables: Joint roundtables between government officials and CSOs and individual constituents are intended to enhance understanding of one another and build positive perceptions between government, CSOs, and citizens.
• Media Development Forum: The Media Development Forum serves as a space for the discussion of issues facing journalism in today’s Liberia and the best and most practical approaches to tackling them.
• Specialised Training and Consulting for Media Outlets and Journalists: IREX and partner Liberian Media Center (LMC) provide technical assistance to partner media outlets and individual journalists to improve their operations. IREX and LMC offer specialised reporting training which includes regular workshops or seminars, lasting between one to three weeks, to selected journalists on how to cover specific issues. Additionally, IREX developed a 1-2 year comprehensive journalist training programme.
• Women’s Media Initiative: IREX works with the Liberia Women’s Media Action Committee (LIWOMAC) on a comprehensive strategy on advancing women in the media. The process begins with a mapping exercise - a needs assessment - to identify priority areas, existing programmes, partners, and expertise. Following the assessment and consultations, the comprehensive strategy for advancing women in the media is designed and a one year plan of action developed.
• Business Development and Sustainability Training: To assist media outlets in becoming sustainable, IREX offers business development training. Additionally, outlets have access to a business development fund to produce content, thus employing their newly gained skills.
• Model Radio Stations: IREX supports key stations to become models for others. This is done through equipment upgrades, skills training - both editorial and technical - and a mentoring programme.
• Mobile Phone Innovation Conference: At the Mobile Phone Innovation Conference, IREX will explore the development of mobile phone SMS technology in villages in the counties. Voice SMS is also given consideration given the high illiteracy rate in Liberia.
• Advance the Right to Access to Information: This includes strengthening the consortium that is engaged in advocating for the Freedom of Information Act by providing training on promotion strategies and post-passage activities.

Programme news and experiences are shared through the CSML newsletters as well as the IREX Liberia facebook page.

Democracy, Media development, Technology

IREX is currently working to strengthen civil society and support independent media in Liberia, Rwanda, and Somalia. Through these projects, IREX seeks to develop the operational, advocacy, and outreach capacity of CSOs to more effectively influence public policy formation and implementation, provides technical support to media outlets and journalists to increase the quantity and quality of their work as well as the sustainability of media outlets, and trains on conflict transformation and the development of media products to promote positive approaches to resolving conflict. Additionally, IREX provides an annual analysis of the media environment in 40 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.