Competitive tenders are tough, requiring a very intense period of work and drawing down considerable resources. Leading agencies will commit teams of 6-8 people to large tenders as well as drawing in expertise from the outside. There is a high degree of sensitivity about conflicts of interest and insider dealing, meaning that challenges are relatively common and EU agencies take them very seriously. 

Have you considered applying to be a consortium member on a competitive tender?

Learn more about the ins and outs of consortia, terms of reference, and technical offers in Module 5 and the lexicon of the MediaDev Fundraising Guide.

Over recent years, donors have been eager to pass on the administrative overheads associated with grant management to implementing organisations. This involves including a sub-granting component in a wider grant or service contract. 

Learn more about the advantages, drawbacks, and risks related to the subgranting in our chapter on Types of Applications.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is Switzerland’s international cooperation agency within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. SDC works in partnership with other Swiss federal entities for development coordination, cooperation with Eastern Europe, and humanitarian aid.

In addition to its engagement in food security and HIV reduction, Switzerland also focuses on topics such as adaptation to climate change, gender equality and good governance.

SDC aims to strengthen different aspects of a healthy media sector in order to promote the media’s multiple roles in fostering inclusive, just and peaceful societies. This ultimate vision encompasses the following overarching goals:

1. to provide access to information for building informed public opinion – providing a truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of events in a context that gives them meaning;

2. to ensure freedom of expression for citizens’ voices and participation – giving voice to different groups within society, projecting the opinions and attitudes of groups to one another, and facilitating civic engagement among all sectors of society;

3. to offer public space for open and non-violent debate;

4. to provide mechanisms for controlling public and private powers – increasing transparency among public and private powerholders and holding them to account for their actions.

(From SDC’s Governance Guidelines)

The SDC supports training courses for media professionals, for example, and encourages fair and balanced reporting that is properly researched. It also supports efforts to create a legislative framework to protect media freedom and raise public awareness on dealing with the media.

You can see GFMD’s full profile on the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation here.

Disclosure: Funding from SDC supports GFMD IMPACT – our International Media Policy and Advisory Centre.  

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. The organisation helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Their work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aim to significantly reduce all forms of violence, and work with governments and communities to end conflict and insecurity. Promoting the rule of law and human rights are key to this process, as is reducing the flow of illicit arms and strengthening the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance.

The Fund's program for journalists relies entirely on financial support from U.N. Missions, foundations, organisations and individuals.

You can see GFMD’s full profile on the UNDP here.

• Local Foundations Need Solid Local Journalism if They Hope to Advance Their Missions - Chronicle of Philanthropy
   
• Introducing the GNI News Equity Fund - Google News Initiative
   

• A study of digital media entrepreneurs in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa - Findings and recommendations on the impact, innovation, threats, business models, and teams of digital native media. - Sembra Media
   
• For a summary of the report above, read Have digital native outlets become too dependent on grants? A new report has recommendations. International Journalists Network (IJNet)
   
• Known to work: Designing the paywall and journalistic focus - Thomas Baekdal (for non-subscribers there is a one-week free trial available)