D-Jil: supporting online media outlets with a view to boosting the citizen engagement of young people in the Arab world

D-Jil was launched in 2018 with the aim of supporting online media outlets and CSOs in nine Arab countries. The scheme allowed for the preselection of 60 projects from among the 500 or so applications. The 18 projects finally selected covered a range of topics, such as media training, education and guidance, gender equality, health, sport, the popularisation of science and satirical media content. These projects were proposed by private and traditional media outlets (which are now embarking on a digital transition), online media outlets, CSOs and other establishments spread across nine countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine).

The 18 winners were awarded financial support and a capacity building programme that included incubation sessions, conferences, personalised coaching sessions, training and workshops. These activities focused on the editorial line of the media outlets, content creation and online media management, digital communication and marketing, digital and physical security, partnerships and networking, the viability of online media outlets and, last but not least, financing and fundraising.

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The experts also produced two manuals on the economic viability of online media outlets and digital and physical security. The results were very pleasing, in spite of the challenges posed by the political and security situations in some countries, the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis in Lebanon, as could be seen from the indicators presented by the project leaders during the D-Jil closing ceremony. The project partners also presented the results of their activities, in particular in the form of a study into their digital presence and the results of the media and information training workshops.

Following the closing conference, the D-Jil beneficiaries were tasked with launching a network for the media outlets supported by the project to ensure the sustainability of the results. The collaboration with France Médias Monde (FMM) also contributed to the success of D-Jil.

Co-financed by the European Union and supported by CFI, in partnership with the Samir Kassir Foundation, FMAS and ERIM (formerly IREX Europe), the D-Jil project aims to foster active citizenship and autonomy in young people in nine countries of the Arab world through online media.