DG INTPA

International Partnerships - European Commission

DG INTPA plays a central role in implementing EU external action and in delivering sustainable, inclusive development through support to governance, democracy, and media systems.

Staff should ensure that support to media and journalism is designed and delivered in line with OECD DAC principles, while leveraging DG INTPA’s comparative advantage in development programming, sectoral coordination, and long-term institution-building.

Do No Harm

Ensure that interventions strengthen, rather than weaken, the resilience and credibility of local media systems. Guard against donor-driven perceptions by prioritising demand-driven approaches and embedding safeguards to mitigate political or reputational risks to partners. (Do no harm)

Support Local Ownership

Prioritise inclusive consultations with local media actors, journalists’ associations, civil society groups, and regulators to identify needs. Work with national governments (when appropriate) and regional actors in ways that respect the agency of local actors and support sector-wide strategies for media development. (Strengthen local ownership)

Promote Diversity and Pluralism

Direct resources to initiatives that broaden access to information, especially for marginalised groups and under-represented voices. Encourage programming that supports linguistic, regional, and gender diversity in media ecosystems. (Strengthen local ownership)

Strengthen Sustainability

Build long-term capacity by integrating media development into broader governance and democracy programming. Emphasise diversified funding models, legal and regulatory reforms, and institutional support for public service media and independent journalism. (Whole of system approach)

Foster Coordination and Coherence

Align programming with other EU services (EEAS, DG ENEST, DG MENA, DG CNECT) and with Member States, international organisations, and local partners. Contribute to joint donor platforms and ensure coherence between EU global priorities and country-level programming. (Whole of system approach)

Ensure Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

Apply robust MEL frameworks that combine quantitative and qualitative indicators tailored to the complexity of media ecosystems. Support research, evidence-gathering, and peer-learning platforms to inform future EU and global programming. (Invest in knowledge)