UNESCO is launching a new Call for Partnerships to support not-for-profit organizations under the Global Media Defence Fund. The initiative aims to join forces with specialized partners in the undertaking or upscaling of projects that bolster journalists’ legal protection and/or enhance media freedom. The indicative global envelope to be distributed under this Call is estimated at USD $1 million.

In August 2020, UNESCO GCC and Yemen office and RNW Media launched “My Solution” which is a call for proposals inviting young Yemenis to submit their ideas for achieving projects that could contribute to peace building in their country. In its first cycle, 7 proposals were selected to be supported with cash prizes amounting to $2,000 USD pre initiative to achieve their objectives. Among the winners was Sameh initiative, a youth volunteer-based, women-led effort working since 2015 on peace development and conflict resolution projects. In the past years, the initiative undertook several peace building projects targeting different segments of the society among which were children, women, journalists and others.   As part of the “My Solution” project, Sameh initiative was able to train a new youth generation of peace builders and spread awareness among the youth on the importance of supporting peace building efforts. The first activity involved expanding Sameh’s volunteer’s pool by 20 young women and men, aged between 18 and 24 years old, who were trained for 3 days on the basics of peace building and conflict resolution. The hands-on capacity building activity also involved practical components and a transfer of knowledge from the older generation of volunteers to the new one.