The UK government’s grant will support The BBC World Service to provide accurate, impartial and independent news and analysis to developing, fragile and closed societies across the globe, including where free speech is limited. The new language services will be distinctive and tailored to the audiences needs in these hard-to-reach, ODA eligible countries. The services will support a positive environment for economic development and stable, lawful, and more democratic societies. Impartial and independent media has been noted by the UN as an ‘essential foundation’ for prosperous and peaceful societies.