USAID

Strengthening Civil Society Monitoring Capacity in Moldova (SCSMCM)

Program Overview

Media Sustainability Index 2006: Moldova

Through the Strengthening Civil Society Monitoring Capacity in Moldova (SCSMCM) program, IREX supports journalists, media outlets and media NGOs in their “watch-dog” role as the Moldovan government undertakes reforms to reduce corruption as part of its commitment to the Millennium Challenge Corporation Country Threshold Program. For this program, IREX is as a subgrantee to the Academy for Education Development (AED) under a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Key Issues and Objectives

The overall goal of the program is to strengthen the monitoring capacity of civil society and mass media to help prevent and deter corruption. To accomplish this goal, program activities will support two primary objectives:

Improve transparency and support public scrutiny of government performance by mass media and NGOs, and
Diversify and improve the quality of investigative journalism and promote access to information.

Project Results

Increased public awareness of corruption and its costs.
Increased number of NGO-initiated anti-corruption reforms.
Journalists increase their professionalism and the quantity and quality of investigative reports thus building the capacity for media coverage of the GOM’s anti-corruption initiatives.
Increase in sanctions for corruption as result of media reports.
Improved access to information by journalists and NGOs.
Improved advocacy capacity of NGOs and mass media.
Improved legislation regulations ensuring editorial independence and legal protection of investigative journalism.
Youth-focused journalism activities to build appreciation for media’s role in fighting corruption.
Work with associations to strengthen the credibility of the media and public understanding of its importance in the fight against corruption.

Project Activities

Corruption Coverage Media Monitor: IREX will provide partner Independent Journalism Center with ongoing technical assistance to generate a monthly monitoring of the quantity and quality of coverage of corruption in the Moldovan media. Produced according to international standard methodology, the monitoring reports will guide media sector strengthening and highlight impediments to media’s watchdog role.
Subgrants to Individual Media NGOs: Small grants will be available to media sector organizations seeking to build the capacity of a broad cross-section of print and electronic media to fairly, impartially, and accurately cover corruption as a public issue and monitor the performance of the Moldovan government in combating corruption.
Training for Investigative Journalists: IREX will provide journalists with practical training to improve professional skills and produce investigative journalism in print, broadcast and on-line formats. Training will examine rights and responsibilities of investigative journalists; effective use of the Law on the Access to Information; identifying and establishing reliability of information sources; interviewing; and collaborating with the business community, NGOs, representatives of law enforcement bodies, and other relevant organizations. The on-going training workshops will be accompanied by stipends to support the journalists’ investigative reporting projects.
Media Law Support: IREX will make available legal consultations to journalists and editors, as well as work with partners to support media law reform efforts and develop expertise in media law.