Kick-Off for Toolkit on Effective Media Support

Author: Vivien Schoenberger, TED WG3 Facilitator

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During the #WorldPressFreedomDay in Brussels, the TED WG3 consultation process for the Toolkit on the Implementation of the OECD Development Co-operation Principles for Relevant and Effective Support to Media and the Information Environment kicked-off. Over 20 participants from the TED Network and other partners have taken part in focus group discussions, led by Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), sharing their knowledge, insights and case studies on the six principles.

In March 2024, the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) endorsed a landmark set of Development Cooperation Principles on Relevant and Effective Support to Media and the Information Environment. These six principles establish a shared foundation for donor action:

1.  Ensure that assistance does no harm to public interest media.

2.  Increase financial and other forms of support.

3.  Take a whole of system perspective.

4.  Strengthen local leadership and ownership.

5.  Improve coordination of support.

6.  Invest in knowledge, research, and learning.

The TED WG3 Toolkit will provide concrete guidance to support independent media and media pluralism, combat information disorder and further integrate information integrity into EU and Member State policy and programming. It is a practical, user-focused resource to help EU institutions, EU Delegations, Member States as well as other like-minded states and partners to operationalise the Principles across a range of policy and programming contexts. It will contribute to bridging the gap between high-level commitments and the realities of implementation in the field - especially for non-specialist staff.

The toolkit aims to:

• Enable more strategic, coordinated, and sustained support to independent media and information ecosystems, including through EU Delegations, embassies, and cooperation agencies.
• Embed media and information integrity concerns across sectors - from digital development to peacebuilding, human rights, environmental policy, and crisis response.
• Offer flexible tools to adapt support to different political contexts, including fragile, authoritarian, and transitional environments.
• Improve donor coordination through shared language, principles, and programming models, aligning with both the OECD Principles and the evolving Team Europe Democracy strategy.

We are looking forward to further focus group discussions and contributions to the process. If you are interested in taking part, kindly reach out to secretariat@teamdemocracy.eu.