GFMD Code of practice (2025)
The GFMD Code of Practice was adopted by the GFMD General Assembly in July 2025.
For background about the process to adopt the new Code of Practice see:
Introduction
The Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) is an international network of journalism support, media freedom, and media development organisations set up to promote, support, and highlight the importance of free, independent, pluralistic, and viable media and (public interest) journalism in the pursuit of democracy, human rights, and sustainable development.
Building upon GFMD’s 2016 Code of Practice, the 2025 Code of Practice has been shaped by the consultation processes (2022-2024) around the OECD Development Cooperation Principles for Relevant and Effective Support to Media and the Information Environment and further informed by the feedback of members regarding the needs of an evolving sector.
This Code of Practice serves as guidance for the activities and operations of GFMD members, as well as an internal guideline for the reflection of GFMD values and mission.
The Code of Practice comprises two parts:
Part I commits the GFMD Secretariat and GFMD General and Affiliate members to maintain common minimum standards of behaviour.
Part II provides recommendations of a more aspirational nature, aiming to serve as a model for both our own network as well as the wider sector.
Wherever the GFMD Code of Practice is referred to in the GFMD Constitution, it refers only to Part I and not to Part II of this document.
PART I:
Part I of the GFMD Code of Practice serves as a statement that GFMD’s Secretariat and GFMD’s General and Affiliate members are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, governance, financial transparency, and accountability while furthering their respective missions.
In doing so, we commit to the following:
We serve the greater good of freedom of expression and respect for human rights as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
We practice zero tolerance for all forms of hate, discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), and/or other forms of maltreatment, including those on the basis of gender, gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, physical characteristics or abilities, or other potentially defining features.
We demonstrate accountability, transparency, and honesty towards the partners, communities, and donors with whom we work.
We maintain strong financial management systems and conduct regular financial and legal oversight of our work.
We are vigilant in combating corruption, bribery, financial misuse or mismanagement, and any other form of impropriety and take prompt corrective action where these forms of wrongdoing are discovered among staff, contractors, or partners.
We avoid conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest, and are transparent about them and address them effectively where they occur.
We respect the privacy rights of individuals with whom we engage, including in the collection, sharing, and storage of personal data, and provide appropriate protection for any information which may otherwise harm any of our staff or partners or their work.
We ensure effective internal governance, including adherence to organisational mission, core values, statutes and by-laws and board accountability.
We engage in fair market practices, including in the recruitment, contracts, salaries, advancement, and benefits of our staff and contractors.
We remain independent from government, from any political party, and from any vested political, economic, or religious interest.
Accountability mechanism
In line with Article 4.7.1 (c) of the GFMD Constitution, failing in serious ways to respect Part I of the GFMD Code of Practice may be grounds for suspension or expulsion.
Should any member of our community be of the view that the practices of another member represent a serious breach of Part I of the Code of Practice, the first party may submit a letter of concern to GFMD’s Executive Director ([email protected]) or by contacting a member of the GFMD Steering Committee.
The GFMD Steering Committee manages and oversees the affairs of GFMD, dealing with major strategic and policy matters facing GFMD and its membership and will decide on whether a GFMD member has failed to respect Part I of the GFMD Code of Practice and if so, what sanction, if any, should be imposed.
If a complaint is made about a sitting Steering Committee member, the member in question will not be allowed to play a role in the decision-making process relating to that complaint. Instead, the complaint will be dealt with by the other Steering Committee members.
PART II:
Part II of the GFMD Code of Practice serves to provide forward-looking guidance rather than to serve as a set of minimum standards. Elements of its commitments may not be applicable to all members or to all members in the same ways. It provides aspirational guidance which members, where appropriate and feasible, are encouraged, but are not bound to follow, in line with the GFMD Constitution.
Part II aims to support and complement implementation of the Development Cooperation Principles for Relevant and Effective Support to Media and the Information Environment, including the principles of doing no harm, taking a whole-of-system perspective to assistance, strengthening local leadership and ownership, improving coordination of support, and investing in knowledge, research, and learning.
Part II also reflects the honest acknowledgement that our community can, at times, be characterised by complicated dynamics, including those between smaller and larger organisations; between organisations based in higher-, middle-, and lower-income countries; between urban-based and community organisations; between organisations with wide mandates and those with niche and policy specialities; and between media development and media for development and media freedom organisations.
Part II of the GFMD Code of Practice represents our aspiration to mitigate the potential harms which may arise from such dynamics and to maximise communication, cooperation, and collaboration towards the common good.
In doing so, we aim to:
Work to transform the power imbalances echoed in the language of our community (such as development, assistance, aid, support, local, beneficiary, and recipient) and work towards reciprocal relationships in which the contributions of all actors are equally valued.
Transcend and enable dialogue notwithstanding the challenges which may arise from diversity, including through creating spaces for less represented voices both within our own communities and among the communities in and with which we work.
Embrace the mutual exchange of knowledge, experience, and expertise, recognising the continuing importance of intermediary organisations in sharing international best practices, fostering experimentation, and pursuing innovation.
Ensure that our engagement reinforces democratic norms, human rights standards and principles, media freedom, media sustainability, journalist ethics, journalist safety, information integrity, editorial independence, and gender equality.
In designing programming, we aim to:
Pursue a holistic and systemic approach towards the media and information environment, adopt a long-term approach to assistance, and facilitate the availability and accessibility of direct, flexible, and reliable support, including core funding and longer-term, multi-year funding, where appropriate and feasible.
Facilitate the equitable participation of actors in decisions that affect them, including through their authentic and meaningful engagement in strategy development, programme design, budget formation, project implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
Significantly increase the percentage of funding that is invested on the ground and in regional, national, and grassroots actors, including as a result of their equitable participation in budget allocation and programme implementation.
Contextualise risks and opportunities for public interest media and information integrity, tailoring assistance to each particular context, giving particular attention to underrepresented and marginalised groups.
Develop solid and up-to-date diagnostics and thorough analysis of the media and information environment in target countries based on reliable evidence, including through an assessment of the potential and specific needs of the people, particular audiences, and public interest media organisations.
In implementing programming, we aim to:
Strengthen opportunities for regional, national, and grassroots actors to serve as leaders, including building their financial and managerial systems and fundraising skills so as to facilitate the potential for direct funding.
Support a diverse range of media, journalism, and information stakeholders as well as the broader enabling environment for public interest media and information integrity.
Incorporate innovation and experimentation into our work, demonstrating adaptability as regards policy, planning, and implementation; ensuring that projects and programmes are appropriately flexible; and embracing and actively sharing lessons learned.
Endeavour to ensure that any use of media to achieve other development goals (“media for development)” upholds journalistic standards of quality, professionalism, and independence, and supports core media resilience.
In our policy, advocacy, and facilitation efforts, we aim to:
Consult and coordinate with others before taking action on issues of shared concern.
Avoid unilateral action. Work collaboratively, recognising that this increases the likelihood of sustained, representative impact on policymakers and donors.
Amplify voices so as to advocate effectively for donor policies which are more inclusive, including so that they reflect the following:
Non-exclusive partnerships in proposal processes
Higher levels of funding are spent on the ground
Separation between foreign policy and overseas development assistance
Accountability in implementation.
Take active measures to promote equitable access to opportunities for meaningful participation in meetings and events, including endeavouring for panels, speakers, and attendees to authentically represent the diversity of the community.
In our environmental impact, we aim to:
Reduce our footprint in terms of our travel schedules, energy use (by our properties and through online data processing and storage), printing and recycling practices, and equipment purchases and disposal.
Transform our production and distribution systems so that they become environmentally sustainable, striving for zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2045.
In operationalising these practices, we aim to:
Proactively incorporate these commitments into new and/or existing organisational policies and practices.
Share relevant information on a regular basis, for example:
Percentage of funding from international partners allocated to regional and national partners, and regional and national partners to local partners.
Ratio within consortia between international, regional, and local partners.
Statistics on the diversity of speakers, panellists, and attendees in conferences and other public events.
Measures taken to increase and broaden the participation of regional and local actors in regional and international events beyond organisational staff and common partners.
Accountability mechanism
Any member of our community can report serious breaches of Part II of the Code of Practice either by contacting GFMD’s Executive Director ([email protected]) or by contacting a member of the GFMD Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee will discuss the matter and come up with an appropriate course of action, which may include:
Talking to the member in question to see if they can improve
Adopting clearer guidelines on the matter
Fostering a wider debate in our community
If necessary, and accepted by the involved parties, the GFMD Steering Committee will facilitate mediation between parties towards a satisfactory resolution.
If the member in question is a member of the Steering Committee, then they will not play any leadership or decision-making role in the matter.
Last updated
Was this helpful?