Media Strengthening Program for Mozambique

The USAID/Mozambique Media Strengthening Program (MSP) seeks to support the professionalization of journalists and empowerment of independent media in Mozambique, working both with individual journalists and media organizations in the capital, Maputo, as well as with local media outlets and community radio stations located throughout the country. While the needs of Maputo-based media and community radio stations differ greatly, the two play essential roles in the ecosystem of news and information in the country. The goals of the MSP are to improve the quality of information provided to citizens by state and non-state media and to enhance the capacities and financial viability of non-state, or �independent,� media organizations in Mozambique. To engage the full spectrum of the Mozambican media, this program will focus on skills improvement for journalists, including investigative and topical specialization skills (such as HIV prevention and health promotion), foster debates and forums, develop local institutions, and foster linkages within the media sector and other development programs. Furthermore, the program will build the capacity of media organizations to become more financially viable and stable, to analyze and advocate for policy reforms to protect and broaden media freedoms, and to provide oversight of government actions. Ultimately, a more professional and effective media will work at the local, regional, and national levels to inform citizens, encourage citizens to hold their government more accountable, and contribute to better governance in Mozambique.