"The evaluations point to several dimensions of the strategic significance of joint work. Programmatically, joint programmes enable a more multidimensional and holistic approach to addressing gender inequality. They enhance the catalytic role of the UN by increasing the visibility of and advocacy on
...
gender issues in national and global agendas. Normatively, they forge new partnerships for gender equality and combine the comparative advantages of multiple agencies in technical expertise and stakeholder networks. Operationally, they can enhance the effectiveness of intervention implementation by reducing duplication of efforts and ensuring a more efficient use of resources across UN agencies, although typically with a sizable increase in transaction costs in terms of human labour for coordination and communication for technical coherence and governance structures such as steering committees. The results of programming were typically measured in outputs rather than outcomes or impact, though inter-agency programmes for SDG 5 reported considerable accomplishments in multisectoral reach to beneficiaries and knowledge production." (Page 1)
more
"Commitment problems and information asymmetries represent key impediments to peacekeeping. We posit that mass media—more specifically, United Nations (UN) peacekeeping radio broadcasts—is a cost-effective, easily implemented method of addressing common roadblocks to conflict resolution. We anal
...
yze monthly battle-related deaths across 51 UN peacekeeping missions during the years 1992–2014. Using negative binomial models with two-way fixed effects, we find that peaceful UN radio broadcasts are associated with decreased conflict intensity. We argue that radio-based, mass communication is particularly effective owing to the socio-economic conditions within conflict zones; these properties include severe under-development and lack of access to modern technology." (Abstract)
more
"Since August 2021, almost 50% of media outlets have ceased their operations in Afghanistan. An estimated 90% of women journalists have lost their jobs, with many more media workers having fled the country or been forced into hiding. Replying to a call from over hundred anonymous journalists for con
...
tinued assistance inside the country, UNESCO’s response focused on the provision of lifeline resources to support the Afghan media sectors while restoring longer term media viability. It is in this context that the EU-funded project “Support to Afghan Media Resilience to Foster Peace and Security”, implemented from November 2022 to April 2024, has played a key role in addressing and mitigating Afghan media challenges, while fostering continued access to information of the Afghan population, especially conflict sensitive reporting, humanitarian information and educational broadcasting, with a specific focus on women journalists, youth and minority groups." (Back cover)
more
"This meta-synthesis collates evaluation insights and evidence on the advocacy and communications efforts related to the key results areas of UN Women’s Strategic Plan: Governance and Participation in Public Life; Women’s Economic Empowerment; Ending Violence Against Women; and Women, Peace and
...
Security, Humanitarian Action and Disaster Risk Reduction. Based on available
evaluation evidence, the report outlines key results, trends,
enabling factors, impediments and lessons learned with a
geographic and thematic focus." (Page vi)
more
"This book examines the way in which SDG initiatives have been disseminated by mainstream media, in government discourse and by NGO’s, charitable organisations, and campaign groups. It questions to what extent sustainability narratives are being supported and how they are represented; how saving t
...
he environment can be made pertinent to someone who has no access to clean food or running water; and why local initiatives (in which indigenous populations are making a real difference) are overshadowed by multinationals whose attempts to rectify the damage their goods have done gains more credible reportage." (Publisher description)
more
"The 2023 Synthesis of UNESCO evaluations draws on information contained in 36 evaluations – five corporate and 31 decentralized evaluations. The analysis shows that the Organization is making good progress in a range of areas including demonstrating a sharper focus on SDGs, developing fast as an
...
agile, flexible, learning Organization, reimagining its convening power and influence, and deepening and diversifying partnerships. Good progress was also noted with sixty-one percent of the evaluations considered covering programmes and projects that respond to Global Priority Africa, focused entirely or in some part on the continent, and spread across all areas of UNESCO’s mandate. The 2023 Synthesis also identifies areas of improvement particularly with respect to quality and use of monitoring data, continued attention to Global Priority Gender Equality, focus on priority groups and inclusion and improving internal coherence. The Management Response to these issues can be found in Appendix 4 of this report and demonstrates UNESCO’s commitment to accountability and learning. The Synthesis also assessed the quality of evaluations, and the findings show improvement in this regard particularly with respect to decentralized evaluation reports. Targeted capacity building and ongoing backstopping support including webinars and on-site capacity building in field offices continue to make an important contribution to lifting the quality of evaluation practice. The Synthesis also notes the emergence of innovative practices to inspire evaluation commissioners and practitioners when thinking about design and implementation of evaluations." (Abstract)
more
"The IPDC Bureau at its 64th meeting (June 2020) requested the Secretariat to develop a targeted fundraising strategy in accordance with UNESCO’s overall fundraising strategy. It was first presented to the 32nd session of the Intergovernmental Council of the IPDC in November 2020. The Council then
...
instructed the Secretariat to implement resource mobilization aimed at the private sector and civil society. The Secretariat presented a revised fundraising strategy, which also included elements on visibility to the 65th Bureau meeting in June 2021, and reported on its implementation at the 66th Bureau meeting in June 2022 and at the 33rd Council session of the Intergovernmental Council of the IPDC in November 2022. This document reports to the Bureau on the implementation actions thus far and includes a draft decision by the Bureau." (Page 1)
more
"The present report offers a summary of IPDC’s activities during the current biennium (2022-2023). It provides an overview of important decisions and initiatives of the Council, IPDC projects and the financial situation of the Programme. More detailed information is available in the latest report
...
submitted to the IPDC Bureau." (Page 1)
more
"Since its founding in 1980, the IPDC has worked to foster and secure a healthy environment for free, pluralistic, and independent media in developing countries, countries in transition, and countries in conflict and post-conflict situations. Through this mandate, the Programme has since dedicated o
...
ver $115 million to media development through more than 2,200 projects, carried out in at least 140 countries. In 2021, the IPDC Bureau approved a total of 86 project proposals and 9 Special Allocation initiatives. Nine of those projects, approved through the Rapid Response mechanism, reported to the Bureau in 2022. This report therefore covers 77 projects and the 9 Special Allocation initiatives approved in 2021, implemented in at least 90 countries over the course of 2021 and 2022." (Executive summary)
more
"Forcibly displaced people often face restrictive migration policies and stereotypical discourses. Therefore, this study analyzes UNHCR's public communication strategies towards the Syrian and Central African crises. Through a comparative-synchronic multimodal critical discourse analysis (MCDA) of U
...
NHCR's (international) press releases (N = 28), news stories (N = 233), photos (N = 462) and videos (N = 50) of 2015, we examined its main representation and argumentation strategies. First, we found that UNHCR primarily represents forcibly displaced people in its press releases and news as victimized and/or voiceless masses, reproducing humanitarian savior and deservingness logics. However, stories, photos, and videos frequently portray them also as empowered individuals. This can be partially explained by media logics and political and private sector discourses and agenda-building opportunities. Moreover, UNHCR mainly voices pity-based and post-humanitarian Self-oriented solidarity discourses, and links protection to states’ (perceived) interests. Finally, these discursive strategies respond to dominant migration management paradigms and the increasingly neoliberalized, political realist international refugee regime (IRR)." (Abstract)
more
"Human rights, the rule of law and democracy are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. Within the framework of international human rights law, the right to freedom of expression particularly stands out, as it constitutes a pre-requisite for the fulfilment of other fundamental rights. In this regard,
...
as ‘guardian of the rule of law’, the judiciary plays a particularly important role in guaranteeing the respect for the fundamental right to freedom of expression and its corollaries, access to information and the safety of journalists. To do so, however, judicial actors need to be well versed on freedom of expression challenges (both online and offline), and knowledgeable about the related international standards and regional jurisprudence. To share best practices and lessons learnt in this regard, this essay will be structured in two parts: first, it will discuss the crucial role of an independent judiciary in protecting the rights to freedom of expression and access to information, while falling under the obligation to act in full transparency itself. Second, it will present an in-depth analysis of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Judges’ Initiative, presenting the concrete experience of a United Nations’ body engaging with its constituents. At the heart of this endeavor is the goal of enhancing the international human rights legal framework, by raising, in full cooperation with them, the knowledge an capacities of judicial actors from around the world on the need to protect and promote freedom of expression, access to information, and the safety of journalists to guarantee the respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law." (Abstract)
more
"This study discusses how and to what extent peace operations are affected by digital disinformation and how international organisations (UN, EU, OSCE and NATO) as mandating bodies for peace operations have responded to limit the effect of disinformation or even prevent it. Based on this assessment
...
of the current situation, the study identifies areas in need of action and suggests options for peace operations. These focus on four areas [Situational awareness; Response; Resilience; Cooperation] and include both short- and long-term measures." (Introduction)
more