Swift and responsive media support in crises
The year 2022 was marked by the Ukraine war – a conflict that played out not only on the ground but also on social media, where disinformation and misleading images were rampant. In conflict zones, disinformation is a powerful weapon, and Fondation Hirondelle has always worked to fight it. In Ukraine, Fondation Hirondelle acted swiftly, providing financial and material support to independent media, and training journalists in the coverage of international justice within weeks of the war’s outbreak. This ability to be rapid and responsive has been the hallmark of the organisation’s work for more than 25 years.
Fondation Hirondelle maintains its presence in Africa and Asia, with media programmes in 10 countries. The vital role of journalism is most evident in major crises. Reliable, comprehensive, independent and pluralistic information can not only rekindle dialogue and facilitate conflict resolution, it can serve as a lifeline to the victims of disasters or human rights violations and give them a voice. Sincere thanks to all our staff and contributors for their unwavering commitment
Tony Burgener
Chairman of the Fondation Hirondelle Board
Reinventing our approach: meeting the challenges of global “polycrises”
In 2022, we faced an unprecedented degradation of the security environment in several countries where we work. This had an impact on our field activities and on the way we operate at headquarters. We have had to reinvent ourselves and our activities in order to be able to carry out our mission, namely to provide information to populations so they can take action in their daily lives and as citizens. It has become essential to be able to cope with repeated shocks. In the New York Times, political scientist Thomas Homer-Dixon and climate scientist Johan Rockström describe the current environment as «permanently dangerous». The chain of crises – humanitarian, climate, health, political and financial – creates a complex set of global emergencies, whose overall impact is greater than the sum of their parts. This requires us to adapt our media responses and approaches. Basic support to the media is no longer sufficient. We need to enhance their expertise to address urgent concerns such as climate change, international justice, and misinformation in a way that is rigorous and relevant to audiences.
Caroline Vuillemin
Executive Director of the Fondation Hirondelle