The aim of this study and evaluation is
for the first time to assess implementation qualities, weaknesses and development
impact of nine years of support to a journalism training project in Palestine:
1996-2004 Fully-funded by Sida, the implementation has been delegated
to the Institute for further education of journalists - Fojo, who has
in turn worked in close partnership with the Birzeit University Media Institute,
BZUMI in Palestine. The project has two main components: (i) the creation
and institutional capacitation of a media training institute and (ii) the
organisation of training for journalists and media workers there. This
is the first evaluation ever covering 9 years.
Sweden has for many years contributed
with humanitarian assistance to improve the living conditions of the Palestinian
people. In 1992/93, Swedish support was transformed into a bilateral development
programme and since 1995, the support to culture and media is part of the
general country programme and budget, where Sida's policy is, within its
media support "to support the development of journalism and to make
it possible for free media to contribute to ensuring that the general public
has access to information and the social debate".