U.S announces $12m for independent media in South Sudan

October 16, 2022 (JUBA) – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has signed a $12 million agreement to support independent media in South Sudan and Abyei.

The three-year initiative, dubbed Sustainable Independent Media Activity, will improve access to credible, accurate, and reliable information for South Sudanese citizens by promoting sustainability of high quality, independent radio operations.

“The initiative, to be implemented in South Sudan by PACT Inc. and sub-awardee IREX and other partners, will provide citizens with a platform to encourage a more responsive government for South Sudanese citizens by improving access to credible, accurate, and reliable information; promoting financial, institutional, and social sustainability; and investing in high-quality, credible journalism,” partly reads a statement from USAID.

Radio, according to the USAID-funded 2021 South Sudan National Audience Survey, remains the most used and accessible source of information in South Sudan.

The Sustainable Independent Media Activity, USAID noted in the statement, will build on the accomplishments of USAID’s 2013-22 i-STREAM activity implemented by Internews, which built sustainable independent radio in South Sudan, and improved media content and professionalism of community radio stations.

(ST)