# V. PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

## **5.1 Partners**

### **5.1.1 Criteria for Partners**

The status of Partner of GFMD is open to entities which are freedom of expression, digital rights or press freedom organisations, media development/media business consultancies or advertisers. 

GFMD Partners must respect human rights, adhere to principles of transparency and accountability and respect the independence of GFMD and our members. 

### **5.1.2 Approval process** 

Partners must sign a memorandum of understanding or partnership agreement with the [GFMD Secretariat](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/constitution/gfmd-secretariat). 

### **5.1.3 Rights** 

Partners shall have access to the [GFMD-wide mailing list](#5.1.1-criteria-for-partners), visibility on the website, and access to GFMD learning activities and knowledge sharing platforms. 

Partners do not have the right to vote in any [GFMD election](https://files.gitbook.com/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MR5bhYBAByNiK9AJSoj%2Fuploads%2F6Tdo9lt6FirzSO7UOBSO%2FGFMD%20Statutes%20English%20version.pdf?alt=media\&token=b238562c-4ceb-4fc3-b7a4-492dadb2bbd4) or to stand for election to any of its elected positions. 

### **5.1.4 Fees** 

Partners are not required to pay a fee but the memorandum of understanding or contract with them may provide for gifts in kind and/or some sort of fee. 

## **5.2 Institutional Supporters**

### **5.2.1 Criteria for institutional supporters** 

The status of an institutional supporter or partner of GFMD is open to donors and government and private development agencies which work on and/or provide support for the work of the journalism and media support sector. 

GFMD institutional supporters must respect human rights, adhere to principles of transparency and accountability and respect the independence of GFMD and its members. 

### **5.2.2 Approval of institutional supporters**

An entity becomes an institutional supporter following the signing of a memorandum of understanding or contract with the [GFMD Secretaria](https://strategy.gfmd.info/documents/constitution/gfmd-secretariat)t. 

### **5.2.3 Rights**

Institutional supporters shall have access to the [GFMD-wide mailing list](https://groups.io/g/gfmd-members), as well as GFMD learning activities and knowledge sharing platforms. 

Institutional supporters do not have the right to vote in any GFMD election or to stand for election to any of its elected positions. 

### **5.2.4 Fees** 

Institutional supporters are not required to pay a [fee ](#5.1.4-fees)but the memorandum of understanding or contract with them may provide for project or core instituttional funding support, gifts in kind and/or some sort of fee. 

## **5.3 Approval, resignation, suspension and expulsion** 

The processes for resignation, suspension and expulsion of [partners ](#5.1-partners)and [supporters](#5.2-institutional-supporters) are done in line with a relevant contract or memorandum of understanding signed with a partner or a supporter.

Although partners and supporters are not formally bound by the [Code of Practice](https://strategy.gfmd.info/docs/code-of-practice), they may also be subject to the process of suspension and expulsion for serious breaches of the values set out in that Code.