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Resource Guide on Advancing Digital Inclusion

Zeynep Varoglu, Wondwossen Mulualem Beyene et al.

Paris: UNESCO (2026), 19 pp.

"Digital inclusion is essential for equitable access to knowledge and full participation in today’s digital society. As digital public infrastructure expands, it is critical that digital transformation reduces—rather than reinforces—existing inequalities, particularly for persons with disabili ... more

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External Evaluation of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication

Aida al-Kaisy, Xavier Lewis Rodriguez, Daniel Skillings

Paris; London: UNESCO; Aleph Strategies Ltd (2026), v, 97 pp.

"THE IPDC IS A UNIQUE STRUCTURE IN THE MEDIA DEVELOPMENT ECOSYSTEM. The IPDC’s core strength and unique contributions to the media development ecosystem lies in its Member State-driven intergovernmental Council decision-making body, coupled with its support to grassroots projects across the globe ... on an annual basis. Interviews consistently highlighted the strong alignment of its normative function with key requirements for a healthy media ecosystem. This includes its work on media viability, which stakeholders noted was particularly timely, coming at a moment when many independent media outlets were facing “existential threats”. The IPDC is also the only Special Account within UNESCO’s CI Sector with an explicit focus on journalism education. Interviewees further emphasised the Programme’s unique position to use its Council to hold Member States to account on issues related to journalist safety. The evaluation also generally found that the IPDC’s normative function and grassroots projects are well aligned. Grassroots projects frequently incorporate and localise UNESCO’s global normative instruments, ensuring that standards and tools are applied in contextually relevant ways. This dynamic is most evident in the area of journalist safety, where the Journalist Safety Indicators have been adapted and applied across multiple national settings. STRONG PERFORMANCE OF THE IPDC’S GRASSROOTS PROJECTS. The projects reviewed primarily contributed to improvements in knowledge, skills and improved practices across a variety of thematics. An important factor is that the IPDC effectively reaches project implementers with access to a diversity of beneficiaries – community, online and traditional media outlets, students, and marginalised groups such as some Indigenous communities in Central America or South-East Asia. Moreover, the IPDC contributes positively to UNESCO Global Priorities, including gender equality and Africa. Projects frequently address women journalists’ safety and participation, and Africa remains a major focus region. IMPROVED PROCESSES THAT ENABLED EFFICIENCY. Field Offices play a critical role in identifying proposals and implementation monitoring, while the Secretariat is widely perceived to be responsive, manage annual calls transparently and consistently, as well as provide effective backstop support to Field Offices. The latter has implemented several reforms recently to improve the efficiency of processes, including an online portal for proposals, and an IPDC/ Global Media Defence Fund (GMDF) project database. FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IS A MAJOR RISK TO THE IPDC AND ITS PROJECT IMPLEMENTERS. As the only intergovernmental media development mechanism in the UN system, stakeholders interviewed underlined the importance of its continuity. However, much like other media development initiatives, funding levels have declined since 2020. This has put a strain on resources. In 2024, the Bureau received 117 project proposals but approved 39 (with additional initiatives placed on a reserve list). By comparison, the Bureau approved 86 grassroots projects in 2021. Evaluation participants also pointed to limited funding available to further enhance the IPDC’s contributions to media viability policy and uptake of journalism education curricula. While the Secretariat has the broadest donor base in comparison to UNESCO’s Multi-Donor Partnership on Freedom of Expression and Journalist Safety (MDP) and the GMDF, just four donors provided USD 1 million or more between 2018 and 2025. There is also a perceived ‘competition’ in funding between these three mechanisms. Stakeholders reported that donors often favour vehicles perceived as more flexible and faster to deploy, while the IPDC’s intergovernmental cycle can slow decisions, and politicise normative discussions. At the grassroots project level, partners described post-grant finances as vulnerable, including dependence on short-term and small-scale projects and/or projects downsizing once grants ended. The evaluation found that sustainability planning was often absent or operationally vague among grassroots (despite it being part of IPDC requirements), with plans that assumed follow-on donor funding rather than specifying how activities would be embedded in routine systems and resourced. IMPACT IN CONTEXT: The Challenges of Short-Term Projects in a Worsening Global Climate for Media Freedom While the evaluation found that IPDC interventions did contribute to gains for its beneficiaries, long-term and systematic changes are harder to demonstrate. While IPDC grassroots projects are typically short-term and small-scale and often operate in contexts that are increasingly hostile to independent media, policy and institutional change require sustained engagement over time, and the involvement of stakeholders across civil society and authorities. This points to an area that merits further exploration. The IPDC’s unique position of supporting grassroots projects globally and international media development actors creates an opportunity for the Programme to facilitate connections between stakeholders. LIMITED ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE RESULTS AND IMPACT. The IPDC Secretariat has made notable progress in developing a Results Assessment Framework, aimed at capturing the breadth of IPDC supported activities and consistent with its demand-driven approach. As a result, Performance Indicators are largely activity or output level, such as counting the number of projects implemented broken down by thematic area. The IPDC Secretariat introduced an M&E Framework in 2025 and delivered training for Field Offices and grassroots partners to support its implementation. This includes requirements for projects to include performance indicators and guidance on how to collect more outcome level changes. However, the evaluation found a number of gaps to address. Current grassroots project reporting was typically output focused rather than analytical and providing contributions to outcomes; which is a partially understandable limitation given the short implementation timelines of most projects and limited M&E capacity of some partners. The evaluation also found that Field Offices and grassroots projects likely will not have sufficient resources to implement the new M&E Framework. For example, interviews highlighted that they did not have the knowledge or time to conduct Outcome Harvesting workshops, a suggested tool to collect outcome level changes. The RAF also lacks indicators that capture outcome or impact level changes." (Key findings, pages 2-4) more

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Quadrennial Report 2022-2025: Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists

Antonia Eser-Ruperti, Ka Kio Mok, Xu Jing, Olivier Van Bockstael (eds.)

Paris: UNESCO (2026), 63 pp.

"[...] the Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists (MDP) has proven critical in providing long- and short-term responses to the threats against information integrity. It strengthens the rule of law through empowering judges, prosecutors, and parliamentarians in prote ... more

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AI Tools Radar
Key Guides

UNESCO; International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) (2025)

"AI tools Radar is designed to map and showcase innovative and impactful AI tools from around the world, with a particular focus on applications in the public sector, media, and judiciary. This platform is a global initiative born out of a collaboration between UNESCO and the International Research ... more

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Data Governance Toolkit: Navigating Data in the Digital Age
Key Guides

Working Group Report on Data Governance in the Digital Age

Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development; UNESCO; ITU (2025), 90 pp.

"This toolkit advocates taking a Human Rights-based approach to data governance. This means ensuring that data practices—across the full data lifecycle from collection to (re()use— should respect, protect, and fulfill the rights and freedoms of individuals and communities. This also entails trea ... more

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Companion Document: The Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms and Generative Artificial Intelligence

Paris: UNESCO (2025), 34 pp.

"The Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms outline a set of responsibilities, duties, and recommendations relevant to the governance of generative AI. These include fostering an enabling environment for freedom of expression and access to information; establishing independent governance ... more

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Model Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan for Media Institutions
Key Guides

Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ed.)

Paris: UNESCO (2025), 17 pp.

"This tool is about transforming vulnerability into strength. It empowers the media to navigate the entire disaster management cycle with precision, from early warnings that pierce the noise to investigative stories that hold those who wield power accountable. It establishes minimum policies and sta ... more

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World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development: Global Report 2022/2025. Journalism: Shaping a World at Peace
Deep Insights

Randy Covington et al.

Paris: UNESCO (2025), 216 pp.

"Free, independent, pluralistic, and professional journalism is key for defending human dignity, advancing justice, and sustaining peace. Yet today, freedom of expression is under assault as seldom before. The 2022/2025 World Trends Report, Journalism: Shaping a World at Peace, underscores the profo ... more

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Covering Hate Speech: A Guide for Journalists

Cherian George

UNESCO (2025), 16 pp.

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Support for Ukrainian Refugees Through Media: Summary of Project Achievements

Paris: UNESCO (2025), 10 pp.

"Through this project, UNESCO strengthened fact-based information exchange between refugees and host citizens as media audience. In doing so, it fostered social cohesion. The project assisted the media in their portrayal of the diversity of viewpoints, and governments in their response to the refuge ... more

National safety mechanisms for journalists: Combatting impunity and strengthening national structures for the prevention, protection and prosecution of crimes committed against journalists, media workers and social media producers

Daniel Brini

Paris: UNESCO (2025), 18 pp.

"Twenty-nine (29) countries are implementing fifty-six (56) national mechanisms for the safety of journalists, media workers and social media producers. Over two thirds of operational national mechanisms implement measures in at least two of the safety areas – prevention, protection or prosecutio ... more

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Two Decades of Progress Towards Legal Recognition of Community Media Worldwide

Paris: UNESCO (2025), 6 pp.

"Nearly half of all countries now recognize community media, underscoring its importance in amplifying local voices and fostering pluralism and diversity in the media ecosystem. UNESCO's latest global mapping reveals encouraging progress over the past two decades, with more countries adopting suppor ... more

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The African Book Industry: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities for Growth
Deep Insights

Paris: UNESCO (2025), 249 pp.

"Thanks to its outstanding literary talent and growing number of success stories, Africa’s book industry holds immense potential. Although the continent as a whole still relies heavily on imports and foreign publishing houses, it accounted for 5.4% of the global publishing market in 2023, generati ... more

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LAO P.D.R. Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report

Paris: UNESCO (2025), 72 pp.

"• In the legal context, Lao PDR’s regulatory framework for AI is still nascent. While the government is drafting a National AI Strategy, there are currently no laws addressing core AI issues such as transparency, accountability, or algorithmic redress. Existing frameworks like the Cybercrime La ... w, Data Protection Law and the Digital Government Decree cover general data and computing use but lack AI-specific provisions. AI is referenced in recent constitutional amendments and draft digital transformation policies, but there’s room for improvement in transforming those acknowledgements to clear legal mechanisms to protect citizens and bolster innovation. • For the sociocultural domain, despite progress in gender inclusivity, rural communities in Laos still face limited access to digital technologies due to infrastructure gaps, affordability, and low digital literacy. Successful collaborations with international organizations highlight what’s possible but also stress the need for ongoing investment in local capacity, outreach, and trust-building. Digital initiatives in health and efforts addressing concerns about technology’s environmental impact are evident, but they have not been specifically focused on AI. Digital transformation must also prioritize cultural preservation, including the development of culturally-aware datasets and NLP tools. Currently, most Lao language datasets and NLP tools are lagging participation from native Lao researchers, risking linguistic sovereignty and underrepresenting local dialects, norms, and values. • AI talent and innovation development in Laos needs strong support from its education and research ecosystems. University departments like Computer Science and Software Engineering are small and often siloed, with little crossdisciplinary collaboration. Research output needs some improvement. Promising developments in AI/ICT curricula in K-12 level are welcome, although their effectiveness must be closely monitored. • Laos’s digital economy remains small, constrained by a large informal sector, limited digital infrastructure, and low ICT investment, factors that hinder AI adoption and innovation. While some private companies in sectors such as telecom, banking, logistics, and manufacturing are beginning to use AI tools, and urban populations are gradually adopting app-based lifestyles, broader progress is limited by lagging human capital pipelines, minimal domestic investment, and an underdeveloped startup ecosystem. Foreign-developed platforms still continue to dominate the market, which if continued can limit local developers from developing capabilities and use cases. Aside from that, most Foreign Development Investment (FDI) remains concentrated in resource extraction, and budget shortfalls undermine the sustainability of e-government initiatives. • There is a critical need for a strong commitment to funding both the hard and soft infrastructure that supports AI. This includes enhancing cybersecurity capacity, reliable networks, and data centers and ensuring affordable access to computing infrastructure for AI practitioners and stakeholders." (Executive summary) more

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Country Summaries: Annual Report 2024. Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists

UNESCO (2025), 38 pp.

Disability Representation in Bangladeshi Media: A Study on Inclusion in Content and Organizational Practices

SoMaSHTe

UNESCO (2025), 26 pp.

"The study emphasizes the vital role of Bangladeshi media in promoting inclusion and equality for persons with disabilities (PWDs). While progress has been made, gaps in representation, accessibility, and workplace inclusion remain. Key priorities include adopting inclusive formats like sign languag ... more

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AI and the future of journalism: An issue brief for stakeholders

Anya Schiffrin

Paris: UNESCO (2024), 18 pp.

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User empowerment through Media and Information Literacy responses to the evolution of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI)

Divina Frau-Meigs

Paris: UNESCO (2024), 16 pp.

"The goal of this policy brief is to demonstrate how stakeholders can apply the lens of Media and Information Literacy for all to Artificial Intelligence/Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI/GAI) to address its risks and opportunities in the information and digital ecologies. A special focus is on ... more

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Global citizenship education in a digital age: Teacher guidelines

Paris: UNESCO (2024), 60 pp.

"In 2023, 79% of world’s youth between the age of 15-24 were using the internet. In this unfolding digital age, the role of education in general, and global citizenship education in particular, is crucial. It enables to equip all learners, especially the youngest ones, with the skills and competen ... more

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Mapping of Media and Information Literacy Initiatives in Ibero-America - 2023

Montevideo: UNESCO (2024), 34 pp.

AI Tools Radar Key Guides

Data Governance Toolkit: Navigating Data in the Digital Age Key Guides

Model Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan for Media Institutions Key Guides

World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development: Global Report 2022/2025. Journalism: Shaping a World at Peace Deep Insights

The African Book Industry: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities for Growth Deep Insights

AI Tools Radar
Key Guides

Data Governance Toolkit: Navigating Data in the Digital Age
Key Guides

Model Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan for Media Institutions
Key Guides

World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development: Global Report 2022/2025. Journalism: Shaping a World at Peace
Deep Insights

The African Book Industry: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities for Growth
Deep Insights