The 'SMS Facility – Small Media Support in Western Balkans' project supports independent media in the Western Balkans and helps strengthen media freedom, diversity, and democracy across the region. It builds journalists' and media outlets' skills and encourages them to work together through the Journalift platform, while making sure efforts are aligned and not duplicated.

Local media often struggle with limited resources, political pressure, and financial uncertainty — this project helps tackle those issues. It promotes innovation, good management, and public-private partnerships to create a stronger, more sustainable media environment.

Using the MOVAT tool, the project tracks media growth and provides tailored support. Gender equality is a core part of all activities.

The main beneficiaries are small local outlets, journalists (especially women and young people), media groups, and public institutions — all working toward better-informed communities and stronger democratic practices.

A special part of the project, the SMS Facility, offers funding, training, and advocacy for around 120 media outlets. It includes two types of grants: one to support high-quality content production and another to help improve technical and organisational capacity.

The overall objective is:

This project is all about creating appropriate support for local and small media in the Western Balkans to fit their size, needs, and potential. It should help journalists and media outlets do their work professionally and freely, while promoting access to information and a diverse media landscape.

The specific objectives are.

• Support at least 120 small and medium media outlets in the region with flexible, locally rooted assistance.
• Help local media grow stronger and more resilient by building their skills and capacity.
• Encourage collaboration and networking so media professionals can learn from and support each other.
• Promote quality journalism that serves the public, with a focus on inclusion and gender equality.
• Boost the long-term sustainability of local outlets through innovation, funding, and partnerships that make sense for their context.

• Launch of a central online platform in multiple languages to serve as the main place for support and resources.
• Sixty media outlets to receive small grants to help them create quality content.
• Ten outlets to get extra support to upgrade their equipment and/or improve how they work.
• With help from the project, SMS members to publish over 600 media pieces.
• More than 250 journalists to develop their skills to report more professionally and effectively.