International Development Grant
Media Partnerships for Improved Economic Policies
Project Number: CA-3-D000393001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $1,093,445.00
Start Date: October 30, 2014
End Date: July 12, 2019
Duration: 4.7 years
Project Description
This project aims to increase citizen and media participation in the development and implementation of Vietnam's economic policies. The project supports the work of journalists in collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders to improve public accountability and transparency and create a greater space for civil society and citizen dialogue. The project seeks to improve access to information as well as the protection of journalists’ professional rights. It also strengthens the local partner RED Communication’s skills and knowledge in implementing and managing media strengthening projects and stakeholder coordination. Project activities include: (1) training approximately 250 journalists and members of CSOs on policy research and analysis including gender and environmental impact assessments; (2) conducting a gender-disaggregated study on media and CSO participation in policy development with a particular focus on economic policies; (3) producing communication tools to support citizen participation including a website for policy feedback one documentary film and up to 300 media interventions such as articles commentaries and other forms of media coverage; (4) developing mechanisms to monitor media obstruction cases producing and disseminating annual reports on media obstruction and developing a gender-sensitive code of ethics on journalism with technical support from Canadian experts; and (5) providing training to RED Communication personnel in project management leadership and institutional development.
Expected Results
The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: 1) Increased participation by media and civil society in national economic policy development and implementation; 2) Improved protection of journalists’ professional rights; and 3) Improved effectiveness of the implementing organisation in media project management and stakeholder coordination.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of March 2016 include: (1) built connections and trained journalists civil society organizations and subject-matter experts to participate in policy dialogue platforms—including dedicated websites and social media groups; (2) facilitated policy dialogue on pressing socio-economic issues that resulted in policy recommendations to the Parliament and Party Committee on Propaganda and Education (38% of which were recognized); (3) selected for review by academics independent experts and media/civil society representatives relevant policies/laws of great public interest such as the Law on Statistics Law on Press (adopted in March 2016 with documented input from the project) Law on Fees and Levies and the Master Program on Formal Education; (4) assisted in the documentation and reporting of journalists’ rights violations in 2015—of which 50% have been raised with and handled by authorities or parties involved.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
RED Communication Center for research on Development Communication
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
OGM Indo-Pacific
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated