Projects that contribute to media development in rural areas are eligible for a US$20,000 award. October 1 is the deadline to apply for the Prize for Rural Communication, organized by UNESCO and the International Program for the Development of Communication (IPDC).
The goal is to honor efforts to improve communication in every way, particularly through local newspapers, radio and TV programs. Participants should be individuals or groups in countries that are members of UNESCO.
The IPDC-UNESCO Prize for Rural Communication was established in 1985 by the UNESCO Executive Board at its 120th session, in pursuance of a decision of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Council of the IPDC.
It is intended to recognize a meritorious and innovative activity in improving communication in rural communities, mainly in the developing countries. The IPDC-UNESCO Prize, consisting of a sum of US $20,000 is awarded every two years.
The prize-winners shall be nationals of UNESCO Member States, or they shall be institutions or organizations which have their headquarters in those States. They shall have adopted one or more particularly outstanding measures to promote rural communication in the spirit of UNESCO’s ideals by such means as:
- furthering the use of local newspapers, films, radio, television and / or multi-media programmes;
- furthering the use of traditional forms of communication;
- implementing new plans with a view to the full use or improvement of communication and its techniques and methods in ways adapted to the rural environment.
The activity shall have been exercised within a period of two years preceding the submission of nominations.
Works must be sent to the IPDC-UNESCO Secretariat, 1 rue Miollis, 75732 París Cedex 15, France, along with a description of the project and accomplished goals.
For more information, contact Wijayananda Jayaweera, director of UNESCO’s Communication Development Division, at w.jayaweera@unesco.org, or visit http://tinyurl.com/8mlxh.
