Signed at a meeting of the International Fund’s Governing Board, the grant will inject much-needed support to independent news organizations in six Eastern European countries, over the coming four years.

The International Fund’s grant support to independent news organizations is designed to give rapid, flexible funding to news outlets struggling to avoid financial collapse or capture by vested interests. IFPIM’s unique model of flexible grant support allows media organizations leeway and resources to adapt to audience needs, grow their audience reach, and adapt business models to strengthen their long-term financial resilience.

“We are proud to launch this innovative collaboration to provide support to independent media in Eastern Europe, » said Lisa Fredriksson, Sida Head of Department for Europe. “Sida is initiating this cooperation with IFPIM because independent media play a fundamentally important role in both societal development, and security policy in Eastern Europe. The survival of independent media and its resistance to repression is extremely important for the democratic development of the region, both now and in the future,” she said.

The Swedish grant will significantly strengthen the regional funding that the Fund is providing in eastern Europe. The funding will go to news organizations in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and exiled media from Azerbaijan and Belarus. Combined with other resources, the new support allows the International Fund to make grants to 50 – 60 media outlets in the region over the coming four years, a significant scale-up of support to media organizations in the region. Since it began making grants to public interest media organizations in late 2022, the International Fund has funded 11 grantees in the region, representing about 20% of its overall grant portfolio to date.

The new grant is rooted in Sida’s Strategy for Sweden’s reform cooperation with Eastern Europe 2021 – 2027, which has as its objectives to strengthen democratic governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law. In addition, the strategy aims to promote accountability, transparency and reduced corruption around the world.

“This grant is a welcome vote of confidence in the International Fund,” said Nishant Lalwani, CEO of the Fund. “The Fund was created to ensure the survival of independent journalism that works in the public interest in low- and middle-income countries, including these six countries in Eastern Europe. By pooling funding by many partners, the Fund will make a significant contribution to sustaining public interest media in 50 countries around the world. The Swedish grant is a promising start for our effort to secure US$150 million for the 2026-28 period.”

Stefan Löfven, Board Member of the International Fund and former Swedish Prime Minister also applauded the contribution to the Fund by Sweden: “The new contribution by Sida of SEK 120 million is very welcome news and demonstrates once again the Swedish government’s strong commitment to democracy, and the critical role that public interest media plays in healthy democracies, in the rule of law and in safeguarding human rights. I’m pleased and proud that Sweden continues to be a leader in this area, and hope other governments will follow Sweden’s lead,” he said.