Finland has reaffirmed its dedication to media development and press freedom by signing an agreement to allocate 400,000 Euros to UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) for the next two years.
The signing ceremony, held at UNESCO headquarters Friday, 21 July, was attended by the Finnish Ambassador to UNESCO, Pasi-Heikki Vaaranmaa and UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Tawfik Jelassi, underscoring the importance of this commitment.
This new multi-year agreement further solidifies Finland’s invaluable support for UNESCO and the IPDC, as a key financial contributor to the Programme. Since 2019, Finland has been an active member of the IPDC Intergovernmental Council, contributing valuable insights to enhance the IPDC’s programmatic and normative impact in promoting free, independent and pluralistic media.
The finalisation of the agreement comes just one month after the 67th meeting of the IPDC Bureau, which allocated a total of $1.6 million to 43 projects around the world.
The Nordic Countries contribute $1 million
Finland stands with UNESCO’s other Nordic partners as among the top donors to the IPDC. In 2022 alone, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden collectively contributed over $1,000,000 to support the Programme’s initiatives.
The IPDC plays a crucial role in promoting media development in developing countries, countries in transition, and those facing conflict or post-disaster situations. As the only multilateral forum in the UN system dedicated to mobilising the international community for media development, the Programme provides support for grassroots media projects and seeks international cooperation to secure a healthy environment for the growth of free and pluralistic press.
Finland’s multi-year and non-earmarked funding commitments exemplifies the IPDC’s ability to foster collaboration among donors and enables the Programme’s flexibility in addressing urgent needs on the ground.
To learn more about the IPDC’s work and impact over the last two years, visit here.
