The International Fund is announcing a call for expressions of interest to serve on its inaugural Council. This call is open to organizations that are working as part of information ecosystems within the International Fund’s Focus Regions: Africa & the Middle East, Asia & the Pacific, Latin America & the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. 

More information is available below. Expressions of Interest can be submitted using an online form. The submission deadline has been revised August 6, 2025.

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About the International Fund for Public Interest Media 

The International Fund for Public Interest Media is a new, independent, multilateral initiative that responds to the existential threats facing public interest media in low- and middle-income countries. It is designed to urgently ramp up financial support to independent media organizations and accelerate long-term, systemic solutions to resource independent journalism and help media markets work for democracy. 

The International Fund defines Public Interest Media as that which: 

1. Exists to inform the public on matters that concern them or helps to ensure that power is held to account; 
2. Provides fact-based information in a trustworthy manner;
3. Commits to the demonstrable pursuit of truth, for example through sourcing practices and the representation of the audiences it hopes to serve;
4. Is editorially independent; and
5. Is transparent about processes, finances and policies used to produce it.

 

The International Fund, headquartered in and hosted by France, is an International Organization with privileges and immunities. Its innovative legal and governance structure is designed to help it deliver against its ambitious mission. It includes two governance bodies: a Board and a Council, each with unique responsibilities and areas of oversight.

The International Fund’s Board is composed of independent global and regional experts, each serving in their individual capacity. It is co-chaired by Maria Ressa, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO, and Sir Mark Thompson, CEO and Chairman of CNN, and is charged with setting the International Fund’s strategy and allocating resources.  

 

The Council

The Council brings together states, donors, and organizations from around the world to oversee and support the work of the International Fund, and to collectively demonstrate the importance of strengthening healthy, resilient, and inclusive information ecosystems. 

The Council is composed of up to 17 voting representatives of the International Fund’s membership: Funder Members (6) including States, international / regional organizations, philanthropies, and private sector actors; the Host State Member (France); Focus Region State Members (4), Focus Region Information Ecosystem Organizations (5), and an International Press Freedom Organization (1). The definition of and criteria for each category of Membership are set out in the Statutes and Bylaws of the International Fund.

Several organizations also have a standing invitation to attend meetings of the Council as consultative, non-voting observers (UNESCO, Autorité publique française de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique, on behalf of Réseau Francophone de la régulation des médias, and the Global Forum for Media Development).

The Council ensures the International Fund operates within its mandate and that financial resources are safeguarded. The responsibilities of the Council include approving or rejecting the annual accounts and annual report, evaluating the International Fund’s progress against strategic goals and outcomes outlined by the Board, appointing the external auditor, and appointing Board candidates. All organizations represented on the Council are Members of the International Fund for the duration of their term on the Council and must respect the International Fund’s Statutes and Bylaws.  

The Council will meet once a year (or more, if deemed necessary by the Council Chair). Member organizations invited to be represented on the Council following the review of their Expression of Interest will serve for a term of two (2) years, renewable once. Each organization represented on the Council shall designate an individual with sufficient seniority to perform their duties to attend and participate in meetings of the Council.

 

Call for Expressions of Interest

Five (5) Council seats are available for Information Ecosystem Organizations in the International Fund’s Focus Regions. Organizations that have a proven commitment to and track record of serving the public; promoting pluralistic, free, and resilient media ecosystems; and that are independent and transparent about their governance arrangements and funding sources are invited to express their interest in one of these Council seats. 

The International Fund seeks to appoint organizations collectively representing a diversity of perspectives and methods of engagement with information ecosystems as well as a mix of organizations that work either nationally or regionally. Information Ecosystem Members can include media development organizations; freedom of expression organizations; associations or unions representing media, journalists, or publishers; organizations working at the intersection of technology and information; civil society or human rights organizations; research organizations focusing in part on information ecosystems. 

 

Eligibility and Selection

In order to be eligible to take up a seat, organizations must:

• be active in the information ecosystems of one or more countries in a Focus Region (regardless of whether those countr(ies) are actively part of International Fund’s area of strategic focus); and
• be able to demonstrate support for the mission of the International Fund.

 

Organizations are additionally assessed against the following primary criteria:

• Proven commitment to and track record of serving the public and promoting pluralistic, free, and resilient information ecosystems;
• Independence from government and those involved in governing;
• Transparent and diverse governance structure and set of ethical standards; and
• Transparency about diverse funding sources

 

The International Fund’s Focus Regions are Africa and the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. 

Please note that, in accordance with the International Fund’s Statutes and Bylaws:

• Expressions of Interest from individuals will not be considered;
• Public Interest Media organizations cannot be considered as a Focus Region Information Ecosystem Member; 
• A Member organization serving on the Council is ineligible to receive direct financial support from the International Fund during the period of their Council membership.
• The International Fund values linguistic diversity and encourages organizations from all regions to submit Expressions of Interest. 

 

Organizations can submit Expressions of Interest using an online form.

 

Process and Timeline 

• May 14: Announcement of call for Expressions of Interest
• June 11: Deadline to submit an Expression of Interest 
• June (TBC): Expressions of Interest are reviewed by the International Fund Secretariat.

 

If further information is required from your organization, you may receive an email from the Secretariat during the review process. The Secretariat will follow up in due course with organizations that have submitted an Expression of Interest. The International Fund’s inaugural Council meeting is expected to take place in October (to be confirmed).