"This is the final report of the Policy and Research Programme on the Role of Media and Communication Development. It provides a narrative overview of progress and impact between April 2010 and March 2012 of the DFID funded Policy and Research Programme on the Role of Media in Development, building on an earlier report submitted for activities carried out between April 2010 and March 2011. In 2006 the Department for International Development (DFID) allocated £2.5 million over five years for the establishment of a 'Policy and Research Programme on the Role of Media and Communication in Development' to be managed by BBC Media Action (formerly the BBC World Service Trust). The Programme ran from July 2006 through to March 2012, including a no-cost extension. A small additional contribution to the Programme from the Swedish International Development Agency was received over the period (approximately £300,000 over the period 2009-2012). In November 2011, DFID reached agreement with the BBC World Service Trust (since January 2012, renamed as BBC Media Action) for a new Global Grant amounting to £90 million over five years. The Policy and Research Programme ends formally on March 31st 2012 and all funding allocated under the programming will be spent by that date.
While this report only covers Policy and Research Programme activities, many of the initiatives under the Programme will continue under Output 4 of the DFID Global Grant, titled ‘Evidence and policy: Strengthening the evidence base on the role of media and communication in democratic development, including the role of donor support’. This two year report should be seen in that light as policy and research impacts continue to build on existing reports and activities." (Introduction)