Counter Disinformation and Media Development Programme

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UK government counter-disinformation and media development programme (2016–2023)


Counter Disinformation and Media Development Programme
Type Government programme
Logo
Founded
Founder(s)
Dissolved 2023
Registration ID
Status
Headquarters
Location United Kingdom
Area served
Services
Registration
Key people
Website
Remarks


Counter Disinformation and Media Development (CDMD) programme in existence allegedly between 2016 and 2023 at least was based in the HMG Russia Unit of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate of the FCDO. It 'supports HMG's Russia Strategy's objective to protect UK national security by reducing the harm to democracy and the rules-based international order caused by Russia's information operations.'[1] It is funded by the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund a fund used to support hundred of covert propaganda projects by MI6, and other intelligence agencies. The whole programme is under the authority of the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office.

The programme was formerly called the Russian Language Programme[2]

The CSSF Summary states:

The UK does not seek to fight propaganda with propaganda. Instead, the UK promotes circulation and access to accurate information and positive engagement with those impacted by Russian disinformation. CSSF is best placed to deliver on this, as it brings together skills and resources from across the UK Government, along with external expertise.
The Russian Government invests heavily in propaganda, and information operations are integral to their foreign and defence strategies and have been utilised regularly e.g. as part of illegal actions in Georgia and Ukraine and in relation to high profile intelligence agency operations exposed in Russia and abroad.[1]


The Counter Disinformation and Media Development Programme (CDMD) was a United Kingdom government initiative launched in April 2016 by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).[3] It amalgamated the former Russian Language Programme (RLP) and operated as part of the HMG Russia Unit within the FCDO's Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate.[4]

The programme sought to protect UK national security by reducing the harm to democracy and the rules-based international order caused by Russia's information operations through support for independent media, journalism networks and counter-disinformation activities across Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.[4]

It was funded by the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and overseen by the National Security Secretariat (NSS) in the Cabinet Office.[3] The CDMD ran until at least 2023.[5]

History

The CDMD was reportedly established in April 2016 when the Russian Language Programme was allegedly formally amalgamated into this new four-year strategic communications initiative authorised by the National Security Council.[3]

Leadership

Andy Pryce, reportedly a career diplomat and Head of Counter Disinformation at the FCDO, set up and ran the CDMD for four years from its launch until around 2019–2020.[6]

His successor as head of the CDMD was Darren Paul Boyling, who led the programme as Head of Strategic Communications in the HMG Russia Unit.[5]

Givi Chanukvadze served as Counter Disinformation and Media Development Programme Manager for the Eastern Neighbourhood from June 2021 to June 2023, managing a £3.5 million FCDO portfolio across the South Caucasus.[7]

Objectives and activities

The programme promoted the free circulation of accurate information and positive engagement with communities impacted by Russian disinformation. Activities included mentoring independent media outlets, funding co-productions, building journalism networks and providing emergency support to media in conflict zones such as Ukraine.[4][8]

Funding recipients

Funding

The CDMD was funded through the CSSF. It spent £60.4 million over the four years to 2021.[4] It provided £12.75 million to the Open Information Partnership between 2018 and 2021.[5]


Known CDMD funding (selected periods)
Period Amount Notes
2018–2021 £12.75 million To Open Information Partnership[5]
2018-2019 ODA: £1m Non-ODA: £19.1m = £ 20.1m Budget allocation.[10]
2019-2020 FY 19-20 BUDGET ALLOCATION: ODA: £4.9m Non-ODA: £ 18.485m = £23.385m 19-20 Budget allocation[11]
2020-2021 ODA: £7.55m Non-ODA: £19.76m = £27.31m 20-21 Budget allocation.[12]
2021–2022 Not separately itemised Part of overall CSSF Ukraine support via media hubs[8]
2022–2023 Significant ongoing Programme summary published; exact figure not itemised in public reports

People

  • - Givi Chanukvadze - Counter Disinformation and Media Development Programme Manager for Eastern Neighbourhood Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office · Full-time Jun 2021 - Jun 2023 · 2 yrs 1 mo Tbilisi, Georgia
Led regional counter-disinformation and media development efforts across the Eastern Partnership countries, managing a £3.5M FCDO portfolio and shaping UK foreign policy on information security and governance. Established a formal donor coordination platform, driving strategic partnerships with FCDO, USAID, and other key donors.
Skills: Project Management · Leadership · Media Development · Counter-disinformation · Strategic Communications · Public Policy · Management · Program Management · MERL · Political Analysis[13]

Resources

See also

GCHQ

DCMS

Cabinet Office

MoD

FCO/FCDO


See also

Russian Language Programme Conflict, Stability and Security Fund Integrity Initiative

External links

Declassified UK report on CDMD spending

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 CSSF PROGRAMME SUMMARY: PROGRAMME TITLE: Counter Disinformation and Media Development Programme Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 24 May 2022.
  2. ↑ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/630285/Russian_Language_EECAD_2017.pdf
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sir Alan Duncan, Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Integrity Initiative UK Parliament, 10 December 2018.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Declassified UK, UK spends over £80m on media in 20 countries around Russia Declassified UK, 8 February 2022.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Leo Docherty, Counter Disinformation and Media Development Programme UK Parliament, 27 February 2023.
  6. ↑ Aspen UK, Countering the Kremlin's disinformation Aspen UK, 2022.
  7. ↑ Givi Chanukvadze, Curriculum Vitae Ilia State University, accessed April 2026.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Conflict, Stability and Security Fund: annual report 2021 to 2022 UK Government, 22 May 2023.
  9. ↑ Cardiff University Research Portal Title: Understand services for the FCO Counter - Disinformation and media development programme. Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 24 may 2022.
  10. ↑ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c927e2d40f0b633f9b10fec/Counter_Disinformation_and_Media_Development_2018-2019.odt
  11. ↑ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5db6d129ed915d1d034dacf8/Counter_Disinformation_and_Media_Development_Programme.odt
  12. ↑ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1003218/Counter_Disinformation_and_Media_Development_programme_summary_2020_to_2021.odt
  13. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/in/givichanukvadze/details/experience/
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