1. Introduction

The Finnish Foundation for Media and Development (VIKES) has supported journalists and media workers in Nicaragua since 2007. The current project, under the evaluation, to support independent media in Central America, started in 2017 with 2-year funding from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Phase two is implemented in 2019-2020, also with the ministry’s financial support. The total funding for the two periods in 2017-2020 is about 550 000 EUR.

The project has focused on three areas: 1) Providing support for competence and skills development to independent media and CSOs in Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador to improve financial sustainability and reduce dependency on external funding. To achieve greater selfsustainability, organizations need training in business development, marketing and sales, as well as in strategic planning and effective management. 2) Supporting networking and cooperation between independent media, journalists and CSOs to encourage collaboration in defending the operating environment for media and civil society and provide training in different topics. 3) Providing training and support to media, CSOs and independent journalists to produce high-quality information and investigative stories that provide divergent information and viewpoints compared to mainstream media and attract broad audiences.

During the second project phase, the role of networking has increased. Independent media, journalists and CSOs have been brought together to enhance mutual learning, but also to support cooperation to defend the freedom of expression, access to information as well the operating environment for both media and civil society.

Programme beneficiaries The immediate beneficiaries are independent media houses and journalist cooperatives, local and national radio stations, independent journalists, editors, producers, journalism experts and civil society communication staff in three Central American countries (Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras).