The Media and Civil Society for Transparent Governance (MCSTG) project builds upon IREX’s ongoing DRL-funded activities to develop the media sector, strengthen civil society and government cooperation,and promote participatory governance.
[5]The program is designed to support the US Democracy Strategy Goal: Iraqi citizens, civil society and democratic Institutions work cooperatively to reduce violence and build a sustainable, accountable and responsive system of governance.
MCSTG is a program of the US Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
• Improve professionalism and sustainability of Iraqi media through new media training and new media pilot projects, development of Iraqi journalism training institutions, on-site outlet consultation, specialized reporting training and grants, market research, media monitoring, and communication between media, government and civil society.
• Improve advocacy and democratic regulatory systems through legislative drafting and advocacy, development of a constituency for broad media law reform, supporting legal defense of journalists, and development of media associations and NGOs.
• Increase the capacity of indigenous civil society organizations to provide oversight of and hold their governmental and legislative officials accountable through organizational development for NGOs, advocacy, budget monitoring , and other training and technical assistance to support advocacy and oversight initiatives, networking among civil society organizations, and networking and cooperation between civil society organizations and media.
Despite a significant public turnout in the March 2010 elections demonstrating a popular interest in democratic governance, Iraq ranked poorly (176 out of 180) in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, illustrating a lack of effective participation in and oversight of governance within the country in the period between elections. Two pillars of participatory democracy, an independent media and a robust civil society, continue to face difficulties that threaten to block the desires of citizens for their voices to be heard before and after elections.
Violence, government attempts to rein in the press, and owners interested in media as a political tool are among the key threats to independent media development in Iraq. Additionally, Iraqi civil society organizations do not play an effective watchdog role over the workings of government.
• Research and Monitoring to Improve Media Content and Enhance Sustainability
• New Media as a tool for Audience Engagement
• Specialized Reporting and Media Management
• Support Media, CSO and Government Communication for More Transparent Governance
• Constituency for Media Law Reform
• Support Media and Journalists’ Professional Interest Organizations
• Strengthen Civil Society Organizational Capacity
• Strengthen Civil Society Organizational Advocacy and Watchdog Capacity
• Develop Civil Society Organizational Networks and Strengthen/Create Coalitions