"FPU’s implementation approach emphasizes the value of forming true partnerships with local implementers to co-develop project plans and build capacity. This approach led to FPU being perceived by its partners as a refreshingly different type of partner that takes a novel approach in its project implementation. By helping its partners to better understand their audiences and to identify common niches that outlets could fill, FPU motivated its local partners to embrace innovation and change even in such a short time frame. The Media Incubator’s focus on increasing media outlets interaction with their audiences and encouraging citizen engagement is unique and fills an important gap not addressed by the interventions of other donors and international and local NGOs in Serbia and Kosovo. As such, FPU should attempt to build on this pilot with a larger-scale project.
The project was highly relevant from the needs’ perspective, even though each of the partners had different capacity levels, profiles and potential target audience sizes. Local partners also used a variety of platforms to communicate to their target groups, thus comprising a good testing sample for the MIWB pilot project through which a variety of lessons learned could be drawn. Once a framework was agreed and put into place with each partner, FPU encouraged partners to innovate and experiment as much as they deemed necessary throughout project implementation in order to best attain their intended project goals. However, there proved to be both strengths and weaknesses in employing this “flexible” project implementation approach, because not all partners perceived it in the same way. Some partners perceived this flexibility as freedom to significantly change project activities and target audiences which, ultimately, reduced the level of effectiveness and impact.
There were clearly different levels of progress made by the different partners, with Local Press Association having made the most progress; Kosovo 2.0 having made more limited progress and Novi Sad School of Journalism making the least visible overall progress. There was also a significant difference in quality of performance and results delivered by partners which had external consultant throughout the project implementation process and the partners which did not. There were no negative project results registered, but some risks and unforeseen challenges (COVID-19 pandemic) negatively affected the overall anticipated achievements of MIWB project results. The partnerships formed with a media association and individual media outlets had larger target audiences and attained more visible and tangible results than the partnership that was made with an educational institution. The transformative impact on individual and organisational capacity became apparent through anecdotal evidence and information gathered through interviews for this evaluation." (Executive summary, pages 4-5)