Source description last updated: 25 July 2023

In brief: The Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR) is an international NGO network which, through reporting and capacity building, aims at promoting journalism to secure human rights, raise awareness and strengthen civil society.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

Programme reports and news articles for countries of priorities A-C.

Daily coverage on ecoi.net.

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

“IWPR was founded [in 1991 under the name Yugofax] by journalists and many of our staff have been journalists or media professionals who have reported from conflict zones. We specialise in conflict-sensitive journalism, which reports on and explores issues driving the conflict […]. We enhance basic reporting skills and also train journalists in investigative reporting […].” (IWPR: Strategic Plan; 2017-2022, 2017, p.12)

“IWPR empowers local voices to drive change in countries in conflict, crisis and transition. Where hate speech and propaganda proliferate, and journalists and civic activists are under attack, IWPR promotes reliable information and public debate that makes a difference. [...] By helping local voices to be heard, IWPR builds peace, improves governance and advances human rights. [...] IWPR maintains extensive local networks and expert program teams, making us uniquely positioned to mobilise the power of information to create more stable, just and inclusive societies.” (IWPR Website, What We Do, undated)

Funding:

In 2016, the budget of IWPR was made up of grants & project funding (97 per cent) as well as donations (3 per cent) from the United Kingdom, the United States and the Netherlands. The total income was over $13.5 million. (IWPR: Annual Report 2016, 2016, p. 44)

Scope of reporting:

Geographic focus: IWPR works in numerous countries in Africa (https://iwpr.net/projects/africa), Asia (https://iwpr.net/projects/asia), Europe (https://iwpr.net/projects/europe-eurasia), Latin America and the Caribbean (https://iwpr.net/projects/latin-america-caribbean) as well as the Middle East and North Africa (https://iwpr.net/projects/middle-east-north-africa).

Thematic focus: transparency, accountability, hate speech, violent ideologies, peace, reconciliation, freedom of expression, media excellence, marginalised voices (Institute for War & Peace Reporting: Strategic Plan 2017-2022, 2017, p. 6-7)

Methodology:

“IWPR supports local reporters, citizen journalists and civil society activists in three dozen countries in conflict, crisis and transition around the world. We contribute to peace and good governance by strengthening the ability of media and civil society to speak out. We do this by training, mentoring and providing platforms for professional and citizen reporters; building up the institutional capacity of media and civic groups; and working with independent and official partners to remove barriers to free expression, robust public debate and citizen engagement.” (Annual report 2022 of Stichting Institute for War & Peace Reporting / NL Amsterdam, 28 June 2023, p. 3)

“The NL, UK and US management and staff members are together responsible for implementing strategic plans, projects, programmes and fundraising. They provide management, oversight, guidance and administrative support to the field offices. Field offices around the world oversee and manage projects in more than 30 countries where IWPR is active. In 2022 IWPR had a staff of around 200, the majority based in the field.” (Annual report 2022 of Stichting Institute for War & Peace Reporting / NL Amsterdam, 28 June 2023, p. 3)

“The Institute for War & Peace Reporting is governed by senior journalists, specialists and business professionals. Board committees focus expertise on finance, development and other areas. [...] IWPR Ambassadors, drawn from the fields of diplomacy, media and business, contribute expertise and extend IWPR’s partnerships and networks of support. All Members serve on the IWPR International Board, to provide strategic guidance, expertise, and outreach assistance. [...] IWPR employs a range of staff to support our activities, with skills in programme, finance, development, journalism and editorial, new media and other functions essential to our success. [...] Small central teams in London and Washington, D.C., support the large majority of our personnel who are national hires based in our countries of programme operation.” (IWPR Website, About, undated)

“Projects and initiatives are developed in partnership with local organisations and are designed to meet the needs of the communities they serve. All programmes and projects are measured and evaluated to ensure that participants and future initiatives benefit from lessons learned.” (IWPR Website, Projects, undated)

“IWPR’s network of journalists in areas of crisis and transition around the world produce reporting with unique insight from a local perspective [...] The majority of this work is produced in local languages and, where possible, disseminated via local online and traditional media platforms to impact the communities, countries and regions where they live. [...] Global Voices presents a selection of this rich global content, which is produced with extensive training and mentoring from IWPR expert teams. Story production itself is a critical component of IWPR’s methodology, combining on-the-job mentoring with opportunities to report and be heard by an international audience.” (IWPR Website, Global Voices, undated)

Language of publications:

English

Further reading / links:

Institute for War & Peace Reporting: Strategic Plan 2017-2022, 2017
https://iwpr.net/sites/default/files/download/document/IWPR-Strategic-Plan-2017-2022-web.pdf

Guardian: We are not instruments of US power, 28 May 2005
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/may/28/foreignpolicy.usa

In 2002, IPWR launched Pajhwok, Afghanistan's first independent news agency.

Methodological note:

ecoi.net's source descriptions contain background information on an organisation’s mission & objective, funding and reporting methodology, as well as on how we cover the source. The descriptions were prepared after researching publicly accessible information within time constraints. Most information contained in a source description was taken from the source itself. The aim is to provide a brief introduction to the sources covered regularly, offering information on relevant aspects in one place in a systematic manner. 

All links accessed 25 July 2023.