Central Asia Design Hub

This is an existing project that began in 2018 with the establishment a hub in Bishkek that serves as a center for training and production assistance for media organizations from the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The existing Hub offers a space for training and production, hosts participants from within the region working on production, and provides production support. The project has also secured licensing for 10 TV broadcasters across Central Asia to broadcast American educational entertainment content, such as “Dora the Explorer” and “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”, along with dubbing and subtitling the content. This effort has markedly increased the diversity of content available on televisions throughout Central Asia, and has provided a flexible mechanism in which the Design Hub can adjust to regional demands for English and local language content. This funding opportunity seeks to improve professionalism in both traditional and “new” media, increase local language media content, improve production of local content throughout Central Asia, support efforts to combat disinformation, and train civil society organizations to effectively use both traditional and social media in support of their goals. In addition, the grantee would work with regional media professionals, such as bloggers and influencers, to create and promote locally produced content that highlights shared values between the United States and Central Asia, and positive narratives regarding U.S. partnership in the region. Project Goal: Support a diverse and high-quality Central Asian media environment that amplifies local voices and is connected to global media Project Audience(s): Journalists, Media professionals, Civic-minded Central Asian youth, Civil Society Organizations Project Objectives: · Objective 1: Increase the technical capacity of local content creators to utilize licensed American content and to produce quality and locally resonant media content · Objective 2: Facilitate increased networking and collaboration of media professionals across Central Asia, including promotion of the GoViral regional network · Objective 3: Increase the availability of licensed American and local-language content that provides positive and engaging information about the United States · Objective 4: Develop media production skills and messaging strategy abilities of CSOs, and facilitate regional networking for CSOs working in similar fields