Giving people a voice: Community radios,cross-border exchange and participative media
productions in Kyrgyzstan
Executive Summary | Syria
External Evaluation Report | Executive SummaryKyrgyzstan

01 /2017
10/2017

BackgroundKyrgyzstan is the only country in Central Asia, which is on theway to a relatively stable parliamentary democracy. Around 64
per cent of the approximately 5.7 million inhabitants live inrural areas. However, their issues and problems receive little
attention from the decision makers in the capital. Placed at85th out of 180 countries on the “Reporters without Borders”
press freedom list 2017, Kyrgyzstan occupies the best position
among the Central Asian countries. Compared to other countries in the region, freedom of the press is of greater importance in Kyrgyzstan. Nevertheless, the country’s media is still
divided into those that are loyal to the government and thosein opposition. Since the end of 2016, the situation for both themedia and journalists in Kyrgyzstan has changed. Journalists
and even Internet users are being increasingly penalized when
they freely express their opinions on websites and on socialmedia. In 2016, a committee to protect freedom of expression
was set up to. Additionally, an independent journalist networkon the Kyrgyz-Tajik border has been giving balanced reportson the situation and problems in the border area since 2015,
and is, thus, providing well-researched information and has
contributed to media diversity.

The aim of the DW Akademie project (2015-2017) is to enable disadvantaged sections of the Kyrgyz population toenforce their rights through participatory journalism. In
order to achieve this, sustainable structures are being created so that the public, in particular disadvantaged groups,including women, can be involved in media production. The
project strengthens the cooperation of community media
and public service broadcasting to improve rural reportingand participatory programming. Finally, the work in the
Kyrgyz-Tajik border region promotes the exchange of local
journalists to provide credible information to the populationfrom the border area.
The following project objectives were set in three working
areas, aligning to the following DW Akademie strategic areas: social participation, qualification, and professionalization and economic sustainability of the media sector: 1.
Young women and men from rural areas inform themselves
on issues that are important to them (in particular the labor market, women’s rights, health) through programs bycommunity media and public-service broadcasting, and are

DW Akademie Community radios, cross-border exchange and participative media productions in Kyrgyzstan

actively involved in program production. 2. Central Asian
farmers and small business owners are strengthened in theirfreedom of information through comprehensive information on rural development in their regions. 3. The people
in the Kyrgyz-Tajik border area receive well-balanced andprofessional information on current developments in theregion, based on a permanent information and exchange
process by local media.
The target groups include young women and men in rural
areas aged between 18 and 30, local journalists in the borderarea between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, journalists fromCentral Asia, as well as farmers and small-scale entrepreneursin rural areas of Kyrgyzstan.
Partners in this project are the association of the Kyrgyz
citizens’/community media, OTRK, OSCE Academy Bishkek,
and the Public Association of Journalists of Kyrgyzstan.
The aim of this evaluation, which was carried out by an external consultant, is a constructive assessment of the project
results after completion of the first funding phase (2015-2017).
The evaluation is based on the OECD/DAC evaluation criteria
and uses a method mix, including document and literature
analysis and interviews with project managers, project partners, and target groups on site. The recommendations madeat the end do not necessarily align with the perspective andplanning of the project team. Nevertheless, all suggestions
were discussed in order to allow lessons learned to be incorporated into the development of future strategies.

Conclusions of the project evaluation
Through the strategic work with community media (“participation in society” of DW Akademie’s strategic model), a wide
range of opportunities have arisen for the civilian population(particularly the rural population, women, and youth) to beinvolved in existing information flows of mainstream media,and articulate their interests. The establishment of media
centers and community radio stations has led to increased
access to external information and, in turn, relevant information, topics and problems from rural areas are able to flow
back to the capital and the mainstream media. Qualification
initiatives for both actors from community media as well
as young journalists are relevant for improved reporting,especially in rural areas. The measures in the strategic area
“Professionalization and economic sustainability of themedia sector” are relevant because they enable improvedand conflict-sensitive reporting in the Kyrgyz-Tajik borderarea. The criterion relevance has therefore been evaluatedas “comprehensively fulfilled.”

2In order to evaluate the DAC criterion effectiveness, the project’s logical framework impact logic and its indicators wasexamined based on the present strategy and the impact
matrix. Project objectives 1 and 3 are expected to be achievedby the end of 2017, or at least intermediate results which aretarget-oriented. In the case of project objective 3, however,
the work was greatly delayed for reasons due to external
political influences. Nevertheless, good results have now
been achieved. Target outcome 2 will not be reached within
the current timeframe. Yet, since content-based elements ofthe field of work have been very positively evaluated, there
should possibly be a rewording of the goal setting. The criterion, effectiveness, was therefore evaluated in total as being“generally fulfilled.”
DW Akademie’s project partners have confirmed the funds
which were made available were efficiently used. Measures are conscientiously calculated; funds are used costeffectively and settled transparently. The project achieves
synergies through cooperation with other stakeholders.
The criterion efficiency has been evaluated in total as “comprehensively fulfilled.”
Particularly when analyzing project objective 1, it is clear thatthe project has contributed to the increased social participation of the population (in certain regions) through providing
relevant information and participatory cooperation. In thelong term, the project can contribute to the strengtheningof target groups in their rights of freedom of expression andfreedom of information. The increased professionalism of
local media and the transparency of the reporting are, hence,
showing the initial positive effects on the conflict-laden coexistence in the border regions. The potentials of the positiveinfluence on the media and the constructive exchange ofmedia producers/representatives can contribute in the longterm to an improvement of the relations between the Central
Asian countries (Project objectives 2 and 3). The criterion
impact has been evaluated in total as “generally fulfilled.”
Over the two years of implementation the project partners
have already developed strong and visible ownership of theproject. However, it is difficult to make an overall assessmentof the DAC criterion of sustainability after such a limited
period. Due to the shortness of the intervention period, onecannot fully identify a comprehensive institutionalization ofmeasures and financing concepts in the responsible institutions. There are, nevertheless, approaches on dissemination
strategies that allow for the sustainability of the measures,e.g., through the implementation of the new citizens’/community media law. Furthermore, the ownership of all project
partners has received very positive appraisal after two years ofproject duration. Taking into account the short implementa-

DW Akademie Community radios, cross-border exchange and participative media productions in Kyrgyzstan

tion period and the limited opportunities to deeply embedlong-term impacts the criterion sustainability has still beenassessed in overall as “generally fulfilled.”
The project is very active in the donor harmonization process
and tries to produce synergies. There are numerous potentials
for cooperation and additional financing possibilities andthese are being utilised by the project management. The
criterion of coherence, complementarity, and coordination
has been evaluated in total as “comprehensively fulfilled.”

Key recommendations
1. T he community media and its umbrella organizationshave a high potential to bring the rural areas of Kyrgyzstan
into the information flows of the country; it is thus recommended to continue the intensive support in this field.
The newly established independent journalist networkin the Kyrgyz-Tajik border area should also continue tobenefit from funding so that in future it can contributeeven more to information and media diversity - especiallyin this sensitive region. Conflict sensitivity and security forjournalists should continue to be the focus of attention.
2. T he Summer Academy for Central Asian journalists has
proven to be a successful instrument for a central Asianexchange and information flow beyond borders. The
relatively small number of graduates per year should
be subject to an efficiency check (cost-benefit ratio).
Despite the small numbers, the impact of the participation and former network appear to be relatively high;here a shift in focus should increase efficiency. Conflictsensitive journalism and other current joint central
Asian issues could be focused on. Further possibilities
are the positive influence of the media landscapes in
the respective countries through the graduates, andimproved communication as well as a more intensive
constructive and conflict-sensitive exchange between
the central Asian countries.
3. W ithin the framework of the summer academy (projectobjective 2), the importance of the alumni network was
repeatedly raised locally. This network (and its presence on social media) could perhaps be utilized more
intensively, e.g., for “career tracking” of graduates. This
would certainly provide interesting information andcase studies which could also be processed in the media.
Such stories and examples could serve as role models
for young people (also within the scope of community
media commitment or schools).

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4. T he consultant recommends targeted and selective provision of partner institutions with necessary technicalequipment. Through conceptual embedding and appropriate grants, community media, in particular, can withthis equipment realize their work and are encouraged toachieve their goals. The equipment that has been provided to date has been used effectively.
5. W
 ithin the phase of the project concept development,
parallel to creating the impact matrix a gender-sensitive
Peace and Conflict Assessment should be carried out
which presents both risks at target and output levels(differentiated according to general, institutional, andpersonal risks) as well as analyzes possible unintended
impacts. A brief and concise human rights analysis anda description of the degree of media/freedom of expression can be included in the PCA. The PCA matrix serves
as an orientation for the project and can be modified/adapted during the course of project implementation.
6. T he offer of further education/training in the different
areas could be enriched with modules such as ‘conflictsensitive journalism,’ or ‘freedom of expression and themedia’ so that awareness of restrictive measures andhow to deal with them can be developed. This can apply
to both measures in the area of community media as
well as the work with the different media institutions.
The extent to which direct support to the committee ispossible and appropriate should be checked/assessedby the project.
7. I t is recommended that the project management carryout a more intensive documentation of the developments
and successes. Within the framework of the project implementation, various learning processes have developed,and innovations have been successfully implemented(e.g., the Kyrgyz-Tajik border journalism project). These
processes and innovations should be processed anddocumented in terms of knowledge management.
8. A
 t the same time, monitoring procedures and results
should be better presented and made accessible. It isrecommended that for a subsequent evaluation of theindividual monitoring procedures and results, brief summaries – available in Russian – should be prepared in
English or German.
9. P roject management is further recommended to counterfocusing on one single person (coordinator) regardingknowledge of sequences, relationships, monitoring,etc. The absence of this person can lead to sensitive
knowledge gaps.

10. F or future evaluations it is recommended that the evaluation team have in place a system of double task assignment, i.e., two team members performing the tasks together. The composition, in particular, of internal (mediaand DW expertise, journalism experience) and external(evaluation experience and instrument routine) teammembers has been very positive. The doubled capacitiesallowed for a wide range of different issues to be covered;results/problems were highlighted by different parties,and discussions and results were reflected together.

DW Akademie
DW Akademie is Germany’s leading organization for media development and Deutsche Welle’s center of excellence foreducation and knowledge transfer. As a strategic partner of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment we strengthen the universal human rights of free expression, education, and access to information.

Contact
Dr. Jan Lublinski
Head Research and Evaluation
DW Akademie
jan.lublinski@dw.com

DW Akademie
53110 Bonn, Germany

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