Governance & human rights

If a country isn't governed effectively, it is difficult to reduce poverty, improve health and uphold human rights. While the media cannot create good governance in isolation, in partnership it can play a vital role in building effective societies. Read more about our governance and human rights projects.

  • BBC WST trainee Lillian Ochoo and BBC African English journalist Damian Zane live on Network Africa

    Southern Sudan referendum

    In the lead up to this week’s crucial referendum in Southern Sudan, six local radio trainees have been working together to give a voice to the people of the region.  Read more
  • Henry Bellingham MP, UK Minister for Africa, being interviewed by Manual Vieira for 100 Dúvidas

    UK’s Minister for Africa meets the team behind 100 Dúvidas

    December saw the UK’s Minister for Africa visit one of the BBC World Service Trust’s programmes in Angola.  Read more
  • Abibatu Koroma presenting alongside BBC World Have Your Say presenter Ros Atkins in Sierra Leone

    BBC World Have Your Say, live from Freetown

    When the discussion programme BBC World Have Your Say came to Sierra Leone, BBC World Service Trust staff got the chance to work on a broadcast for a global audience.  Read more
  • A National Conversation - Bridging the gap between leaders and citizens

    We are working in partnership with radio stations in Angola, Sierra Leone and Tanzania, to strengthen their ability to promote accountability, transparency and participation through public service broadcasting.  Read more
  • A member of the Sanglap audience asks a question.

    Creating political dialogue in Bangladesh

    We are working in partnership with the BBC Bangla Service and television stations in Bangladesh to produce ground-breaking political debate programmes that allow people to question and interact with decision-makers.   Read more
  • Presenter in the Zig Zag radio studio

    Improving journalism standards and providing alternative media in Iran

    The ZigZag project has created an interactive virtual newsroom to enable aspiring Iranian journalists to generate high quality content.  Read more
  • Trainee in the Communicating Justice training programme

    Communicating justice

    We are working in partnership with the International Center for Transitional Justice and Search for Common Ground to train media professionalsin Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Uganda to raise public awareness, understanding and debate about the mechanisms of 'transitional justice'.  Read more
  • Musicians rehearsing in Nepal

    Radio drama and discussion support peace in Nepal

    We are working in partnership with a network of 2,500 community-based organisations, more than 50 Nepali radio stations and the BBC Nepali Service to produce drama and discussion programmes to support the peace process and development of a new constitution in Nepal.  Read more
  • Palestinian journalist at a BBC World Service Trust workshop

    Strengthening the media in the Palestinian Territories

    We are working in partnership with the International Federation of Journalists to strengthen the media in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. We are holding networking and dialogue events for Palestinian journalists and delivering an extensive programme of journalism training.  Read more
  • Poster encouraging Sierra Leonean voters

    Giving voters a voice

    We are working in partnership with Sierra Leonean broadcasters and international and national non-governmental organisation (NGOs) to tackle poor access to information, widespread rumours and misinformation, and the marginalisation of women and young people in the 2007 presidential and legislative elections.   Read more
  • An Al Mirbad reporter with a microphone

    An independent broadcaster for southern Iraq

    Al-Mirbad Radio is our biggest media reconstruction project to date. The station was launched in the summer of 2005 and since then, has become one of the most recognised and listened-to radio stations across the south of the country.   Read more
  • Cartoons reflecting public finance issues in Nigeria

    How public money is spent

    We are working in partnership with Nigerian non-governmental organisation, Integrity, to train journalists to better report on how their government spends public money, and to mobilise public opinion around government accountability.   Read more
  • Girl reading an Afghan Eduction Project magazine

    Afghan Education Projects (AEP)

    The Afghan Education Projects (AEP) is the largest media-for-development initiative in Afghanistan. Run by Afghans for Afghans, it provides a wide range of programming for all ages.  Read more
  • BBC World Service Trust staff working on Voices in Nigeria

    Story Story: talking about rights

    We are working with a wide range of Nigeria partners to produce radio drama and discussion programmes that encourage dialogue and debate about key development issues, including citizens' social and economic rights and the provision of public services in Nigeria.   Read more
  • In the Dark actress Malis Suy

    Feature film warns audiences of the dangers of human trafficking

    We worked in partnership with the International Labour Organisation and Cambodian media professionals to produce a feature film to alert Cambodian audiences to the dangers and realities of human trafficking. The film also provides information about the link between migration and trafficking.  Read more
  • Logo of Priya Ka Passport, an Urdu-language radio drama

    Radio drama stimulates debate about forced marriage in Pakistan

    We worked in partnership with Pakistani broadcasters, a team of Pakistani writers, actors and producers, the British High Commission and the BBC Urdu Service to produce radio drama and discussion programmes that raised awareness and stimulated dialogue around gender issues in Pakistan.  Read more
  • Participating in Afghan Woman's Hour

    A trusted friend for women

    Afghan Woman's Hour was launched to empower Afghan women. It encourages them to know their rights and participate in civil society.   Read more
  • Making Waves, community radio in Georgia

    Making Waves in Georgia

    We worked in partnership with Georgian media professionals and non-governmental organisations to launch two community radio stations to give Georgia's Azeri and Armenian minorities a voice.  Read more
  • Woman selling chickens in market

    Burma: soap opera delivers life-saving health information

    We worked in partnership with a team of Burmese media professionals and the BBC Burmese Service to broadcast a radio soap opera and educational programming that delivered live-saving health information to Burmese radio listeners  Read more
  • Participants in training programme

    Broadcasting centre for the Balkans

    Working in partnership with the Radio Netherlands Training Centre, we established the European Centre for Broadcast Journalism in Belgrade.  Read more
  • Serbian journalists in training

    Supporting media freedom

    Working with the European Centre for Broadcast Journalism, we helped develop B92, Serbia's largest provider of independent media.  Read more
  • Afghan man

    Change at Radio Television Afghanistan

    Building a culture of public service broadcasting at Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA)   Read more