International Training Programmes (ITP) –
Improved self-regulation on a global scale

A need to reform and regulate the media sector

Around the world, political, technological and economic changes have placed new strains on media freedom. As a result, there is a need to find new ways to reform media policies and regulate the media sector. Media has the ability to facilitate greater participation in public life, to serve as a platform for dialogue and protect the rights of individuals. If media is to fulfil its potential role, updated regulatory frameworks need to be in place and adapted to the new media landscape.

The Sida-financed International Training Programme (ITP), Media Regulation in a Democratic Framework, is a full-scale capacity building programme aimed at actual change towards a more efficient and sustainable planning and implementation of media self-regulation.

Fojo is one of four partners in this programme, the other three being IMS, NIRAS and Global Reporting.

Global reach

Each project in this global programme lasts for about 15 months targeting different geographical areas:

Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Vietnam.

Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Latin America: Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras.

Eastern Europe: Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine.

Long-term capacity building

This programme aims to empower participants and their supporting organisations to contribute to promotion and protection of institutional frameworks that govern self-regulation of the media sector. When the training programme is completed, participating individuals and organisations will have obtained:

• Increased knowledge about media and freedom of expression in relation to media policy, journalism and self-regulation of the media sector
• Extended professional national, regional, and international networks
• Increased awareness about human rights, gender equality and security for journalists and other media actors
• Increased knowledge and capacity to initiate a structured long-term transformation work within and outside the respective organisations.

The programme targets individuals who in different ways can promote standards and self-regulation of the media sector in their respective countries. They may represent different sectors such as media councils, judicial institutions, independent freedom of speech organisations, policy institutions, relevant ministries, parliamentary committees and independent media outlets. Despite the focus on individuals, the programme is primarily targeting organisations who have the interest and capacity to participate in the programme over several years, to drive change processes over long periods of time and to cooperate with other organisations in the programme even though they may have different opinions on regulatory frameworks.

The ITP is a long-term engagement in which Sida-funding is available for 26 programmes in total.