Stabilization through Media Partnerships (STMP)

Stabilization through Media Partnerships (STMP)

Photo courtesy of Enab Baladi.

Overview

The Stabilization through Media Partnerships (STMP) project is a response from IREX to address the challenging situation in northwestern Syria.

The project works to ensure that local communities have access to reliable information on security, health, COVID-19, stabilization, political processes, and local services in the region.

The Challenge

As COVID-19 cases increase in Idlib (in northwestern Syria), the international community has the challenge of implementing projects in a context of war and with a health care system that has been almost completely destroyed during the conflict.

Concerns about the social, political, and economic impact of the pandemic in Idlib are of paramount importance for its inhabitants and internally displaced people in the northwestern region.

Photo of two health workers and a patient who are standing outside. One of the health workers is taking the patient's temperature.
Photo courtesy of Radio Al-Kul.

 

Photo of two people. One person is helping the other put on a face mask.
From Radio Fresh's campaign to distribute masks and information about COVID-19. Photo courtesy of Radio Fresh.

 

Project Activities

The project will:

  • Work to strengthen Syrian democratic culture through civic education in support of any upcoming political process, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254
  • Support stabilization efforts in Syria through programming on health and humanitarian communication and the creation of a coordination mechanism between local media partners and civil society organizations to create content and improve responses to local needs

The project has two main components:

  • Stabilization communication, including health communication and increasing awareness about COVID-19, preventive measures, and availability of health care providers
  • Civic education, including programming on civic education, rights, and the upcoming political process

Photo courtesy of Enab Baladi.

Photo of five medical workers who are talking in an emergency room. They're standing in a circle and wearing hairnets, face shields, face masks, gloves, and scrubs.

Partners

To implement this project, IREX has partnered with four independent media outlets:

Examples of Content

Here are a few examples of content that the project's media partners have produced to inform the population and internally displaced people about COVID-19 and civic education.

Fresh FM

Radio Al Kul

  • Hakeem (Doctor): A weekly health-related news program that covers COVID-19. Go to episodes of Hakeem.
  • Hiwar Madani (Civil Dialogue): A weekly program that raises awareness about democracy, citizenship, constitutional rights, and other issues. Go to episodes of Hiwar Madani.
     

     
  • Imra’a Souria (Syrian Woman): A weekly radio program that focuses on women’s rights and empowerment. Go to episodes of Imra'a Souria.

  • Explainer videos: A series of short animated videos on civil rights and responsibilities.
     


     
  • Three-minute videos: A series of short, animated videos on civic, political, social, and public-health topics. Go to the three-minute videos.
  • People's Voice: A program that focuses on showcasing locals’ opinions on matters of stabilization in their country. Go to episodes of People's Voice.
     
     

Enab Baladi

Watan FM