FY2018 Q1 Quarterly Report: Strengthening Free and Independent Media in South Sudan

The five-year, $75 million program seeks to strengthen a free and independent media in South Sudan, with an emphasis on the independent radio sector. The program focuses on improving the professional preparation of journalists, the economic self-sustainability of media houses, the enabling environment for a free media, and the support institutions for a freer media. Key achievements in the first quarter of the fifth and final year of i-STREAM include capacity building in the form of daily mentoring to Internews journalists and formal training opportunities for both Internews-supported partners and other local media actors. Eye Radio delivered quality news and programming via its award-winning 24-hour FM station in Juba, transmitted across its repeater network to major population centers, on shortwave across the country, and online. Internews provided 85 journalists with mentoring, including 33 female journalists, and 309 days of remote and onsite mentoring. Additionally, 125 journalists were formally trained, including 32 female journalists. The Radio Community (TRC) received their first sub-grant from Internews, along with organizational development mentorship in the areas of leadership, operations, and finance. TRC continued their mission to engage rural communities across South Sudan, producing and broadcasting content in 5 languages. TRC's Mingkaman FM transitioned to solar power in November, reducing costs and increasing broadcasting hours. Eye Media continued to press forward with organizational development, holding an annual board meeting and collaborating with Internews' senior leadership to strategize on sustainability and future plans for the organization. Under the small grants program, i-STREAM partners achieved many successes. AMDISS Media Development Institute (MDI) enrolled their second cohort of journalism certificate students, 25 in total, who began the nine-month curriculum this quarter. Internews/USAID finalized a sub-grant agreement with Catholic Radio Network (CRN) Voice of Hope (VoH) station in Wau. The station will be supported by Internews' Humanitarian Information Service (HIS) department. Throughout the quarter, nine radio stations supported across i-STREAM (through TRC, HIS, and partners) along with the Boda Boda Talk Talk project at UN House in Juba continued to produce and broadcast crucial and lifesaving news and information to the people of South Sudan. Internews and their risk management department remain committed to strong and informed security protocols and continue to monitor the situation to ensure the safety and security of their staff and partners. The i-STREAM program views media development as a holistic process that encompasses a number of key interlinking factors that together enable a healthy media system: the production and distribution of quality content, the financial sustainability of media outlets, a fair and predictable legal environment that encourages their development, and the existence of strong support institutions that can advocate on their behalf. The program has made significant progress in its fifth and final year, with a focus on capacity building, advocacy, and sustainability. The achievements of the first quarter of the year demonstrate the program's commitment to strengthening the independent media sector in South Sudan and promoting a free and independent media.