International Programme for the Development of Communication

The International Programme for the Development of Communication ( IPDC ) is a funding program of UNESCO. It was founded in 1980 to promote the development of mass communication in the countries of the Third World. Its responsibilities include:

  • Identification of the needs of developing countries in information and communication development
  • Construction of communication infrastructures in the countries in need
  • Search for financial and material resources for the projects
  • Promotion of media pluralism, independence of the media and freedom of the press
  • Training of journalists
  • Strengthening local media and regional news agencies
  • Establishment of new information and communication technologies

The IPDC is coordinated by the so-called Inter -Governmental Council, an intergovernmental council of 39 Member States elected by the General Conference of the United Nations and is responsible to it. The Intergovernmental Council meets once a year and decide which of the proposed projects supported financially.

The IPDC funded entirely from voluntary donations that UNESCO Member States that participate in the program. One version would be grants for the so-called Special Account, which represent the main source of income of the IPDC. In addition, the IPDC can also projects through special grants from the member countries of the Trust Fund to finance. This acts a single country as the sole funder of a special project, and of course has a greater influence on the use of its funds.

In addition to financial support, some countries also participate in the form of training grants, seminars, workshops or equipment.

Projects of the IPDC

In total, more than 900 projects in 130 developing and transition countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Arab States in the Asia -Pacific region and in Eastern European countries have been funded since the inception of IPDC. Priorities of the program are infrastructure and personnel training, equipment and technology as well as studies for specific projects. Conditions for approval of a project are a realistic goal to be detected, and a positive effect on communication development. Selection criteria include the IPDC also defines the principles of the UNESCO Charter.

While at the beginning it supported a large number of projects with very small amounts, you then tried to reduce it to support individual projects adequately and financially strong can. But only in a third phase succeeded the real concentration on a few projects ( particularly for non- state-controlled media). The focus on fewer projects from the mid-80s did not last an increased continuity, ie longer-term funding of some media institutions - such as the large regional news agencies in Africa - benefit. Political background to support less, but all the major projects was certainly the Prestigeträchtigkeit, which should give a positive influence on the developing countries during the Cold War. The collapse of the Eastern Bloc in turn made ​​new strategies are needed because the number of potential agent receiver enlarged abruptly. The additional production to Eastern European countries were and are against declining donations.

Furthermore, the IPDC has awarded since 1985 every two years the UNESCO Prize for Rural Communication, which is worth 20,000 U.S. dollars. The award will be activities that promote communication in rural areas. Past winners included the National Association of Small Farmers of Cuba, The Acción Cultural Popular of Colombia and the Tambuli Community Radio Project of the Philippines.

News agency Asia-Pacific
414784
de