Empowering Media in Tanzania


BBC Media Action presenter Melissa Michael
BBC Media Action presenter Melissa Michael © FDFA/Magali Rochat

Citizens and governments rely on media to stay informed, communicate and be held accountable. Quality issues, revenue challenges, a difficult legal environment and security concerns limit the capacity of the Tanzanian media to play this role effectively. The Empowering Media Tanzania Program builds on long standing Swiss experience and works through contributions to six local and international media support partners to improve media quality, journalism security and content provided to young Tanzanian women. 

Pays/région Thème Période Budget
Tanzanie
Governance
nothemedefined
Médias & liberté de l’information
Participation démocratique et société civile
01.01.2021 - 31.12.2024
CHF  6’381’145
Contexte Once a beacon of freedom of expression in East Africa, press freedom has been in decline in Tanzania in recent years. Media is no longer capable to hold those in power to account due to a represseive legal environment. The safety of journalists has suffered. At the same time, Tanzanian media is facing similar structural challenges as media elswhere whereby traditional business models, relying on advertising, are eroding. Media consumption and revenue models are moving online, often to international competitors. As a result, Tanzanians are left with a wide variety of struggling media outlets, many of which produce low quality content produced by poorly qualified and paid journalists who live in fear.
Objectifs To contribute to  free, independent and professional media in Tanzania which provides timely and relevant information to citizens.
Groupes cibles The direct target group is media practitioners which include reporters, editors, managers and owners of media houses. Audiences in general, and women in particular, are the ultimate beneficiaries, totalling approximately three million men and women.
Effets à moyen terme
  1. Media, including community radios and news media, report on matters of public interest while adhering to professional standards and are financially sustainable.
  2. Media practitioners in Tanzania have access to a safety and protection mechanism as they practice their profession, thus upholding press freedom, safeguarding human rights and strengthening democracy in Tanzania.
  3. Audiences, in particular young women and girls, are empowered to make their own decisions regarding their social, economic and political rights.  
Résultats

Principaux résultats attendus:  

  • Technical assistance and training to media houses and journalists on quality content and financial sustainability.
  • Setting up of legal, digital and physical security services and psycho-social support for journalists.
  • Broadcast and posting of media content that focuses on gender issues, rights and facts.


Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

  • 77% of Tanzanian media consumers perceive media as informative.
  • 51% of respondents (both male and female) to SDC perception survey in 2019 believe media influence decision making in allocation of resources in their localities.
  • 88% of Tanzania Media Foundation’s grantees have reported a revenue increase of more than 20%.
  • Young women and men exposed to BBC Niambie programme said they learned that men and women have equal rights to share their opinions and that asking questions of their leaders helps in attaining civic rights.


Direction/office fédéral responsable DDC
Crédit Coopération au développement
Partenaire de projet Partenaire contractuel
ONG internationale ou étrangère
Secteur privé
Institution étatique étrangère
Organisme des Nations Unies (ONU)
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • Sectreur privé étranger Sud/Est
  • Sub-National State SouthEast
  • Commission suisse pour l’UNESCO


Autres partenaires
UNESCO, Tanzania Media Foundation (TMF), University of Dar Es Salam (UDSM), International Media Support (IMS) and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Media Action
Coordination avec d'autres projets et acteurs Governance’s Social Accountability Program (SAP), Health Program System Strengthening (HPSS) and Employment and income’s youth projects.
Budget Phase en cours Budget de la Suisse CHF    6’381’145 Budget suisse déjà attribué CHF    4’202’300
Phases du projet Phase 2 01.01.2021 - 31.12.2024   (Phase en cours) Phase 1 01.08.2014 - 28.02.2021   (Completed)