The storm is here, and all the alarm bells are sounding. Governments—even Western overnments—are challenging the independence of the media; international aid is being drastically cut; and freedom of expression is brandished without any of the accountability that comes with it. In 2024, these alarm bells became increasingly strident, and the situation now appears worse than forecast. Unpredictability and unyielding positions are calling existing plans and strategies into question, making it necessary to undertake new analyses in order to maintain relevance and remain in activity, especially in the public interest media sector.
Caroline Vuillemin - General Director
Credible and independent information is currently under threat worldwide. Millions of people confine themselves to personal information bubbles, paying no heed to public interest media. In the fragile areas where Fondation Hirondelle operates, reliable media is essential to the survival of populations facing multiple crises. How are our media able to win the trust of audiences in terms of their reliability, independence, and credibility?
Tony Burgener - Chairman of the Fondation Hirondelle Board
Highlights 2024
JTI certification of Studio Tamani, Studio Yafa, Radio Ndeke Luka, and re-certification of Studio Kalangou
292 staff members worldwide
Production of a study on the role of media in social cohesion in Ukraine
Creation of the 2025–2028 strategy
Implementation of the Fondation Hirondelle directive on the use of artificial intelligence
Over 7 million listeners in the Sahel via our studios in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger
Key numbers
11
11
media operations in 10 countries on 3 continents11
11
million regular listeners in Africa12211
12211
hours of audio programming288
288
hours of video programming1329500
1329500
website users1100106
1100106
subscribers on social networks411
411
media supported1134
1134
people trainedFondation Hirondelle operations in 2024
Our impact
We like Radio Ndeke Luka very much because it changes our way of seeing things. It opens our eyes on misinformation and how we have to verify information before we act. Awareness must continue.
Testimony gathered in the Central African Republic during a focus group organized in the village of Voudambala, near the town of Mbaiki, with a group of 12 young women aged between 15 and 29 years old.
When you arrive in a place, you are disoriented. On the radio, very important information is given. It is thanks to Studio Yafa that I learned there was a camp in such and such a place and that I could go there. Otherwise I would have just wandered around the town.
Abdoul Ouedraogo (not his real name), displaced Burkinabe.
Project expenditure
| Projects 2024 | in CHF |
|---|---|
| CAR | 2 411 001 |
| Burkina Faso | 1 994 814 |
| Mali | 1 930 230 |
| DRC | 1 863 159 |
| Niger | 1 763 735 |
| Ukraine | 1 734 018 |
| Headquarters | 759 410 |
| Transitional Justice | 484 751 |
| Myanmar | 333 800 |
| Madagascar | 280 840 |
| Tunisia | 233 437 |
| New projects | 167 520 |
| Research | 148 605 |
| Editorial innovation | 108 008 |
| Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning | 83 557 |
| Benin | 55 393 |
| Miscellaneous projects | 35 985 |
| TOTAL | 14 388 262 |
Our 2024 Accounts
Operating account of Fondation Hirondelle (in Swiss francs)
| INCOME | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Public funds | ||
| Contributions from restricted Swiss public funds | 6 128 019 | 6 065 784 |
| Contributions from restricted foreign public funds | 5 944 127 | 6 654 186 |
| Total public funds | 12 072 146 | 12 719 970 |
| Private funds | ||
| Contributions from restricted Swiss private funds | 837 316 | 1 578 424 |
| Contributions from unrestricted Swiss private funds | 222 835 | 113 055 |
| Contributions from restricted foreign private funds | 231 650 | 273 755 |
| Contributions from unrestricted foreign private funds | - | |
| Total private funds | 1 291 800 | 1 965 234 |
| Change in fund capital | ||
| Change in fund capital (excluding currency variation) | - | (791 670) |
| - | (791 670) | |
| Other income | ||
| Communication parnertship and expertise contracts | 524 806 | 350 859 |
| 524 806 | 350 859 | |
| TOTAL INCOME | 13 888 752 | 14 244 393 |
| EXPENDITURES | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Expenditure for projects | ||
| Staff | (7 359 177) | (6 816 042) |
| Operations | (5 244 677) | (5 826 406) |
| Depreciation | (218 933) | (649 069) |
| Indirect costs allocated to projects | (806 065) | (1 042 212) |
| (13 628 852) | (14 333 729) | |
| Expenditure for administration | ||
| Staff | (801 306) | (770 797) |
| Operations | (476 059) | (506 437) |
| Depreciation | (30 948) | (48 726) |
| Indirect costs allocated to projects | 806 065 | 1 042 212 |
| (502 248) | (283 749) | |
| Expenditure for fundraising and communication | ||
| Staff | (206 012) | (166 328) |
| Operations | (49 623) | (46 784) |
| Depreciation | (1 527) | (1 666) |
| (257 162) | (214 778) | |
| TOTAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES | (14 388 262) | (14 832 256) |
| Operating result | (499 510) | (587 864) |
| Financial income | 26 616 | 1 210 |
| Gain/(loss) on foreign exchange | (7 934) | (134 957) |
| Financial result | 18 682 | (133 748) |
| Exceptional (expenditures) and income | (78 889) | 15 346 |
| Exceptional result | (78 889) | 15 346 |
| Result before change in fund capital | (559 717) | (706 266) |
| Change in fund capital (excluding currency variation) | 888 777 | 791 670 |
| Annual result before allocation to organisation capital | 329 060 | 85 404 |
| Allocation to unrestricted capital | 345 793 | 301 872 |
| Appropriation from solidarity fund | (16 733) | (216 468) |
| TOTAL ALLOCATIONS ANNUAL RESULT | - | - |