ABOUT NAFPIM

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NAFPIM

The National Fund for Public Interest Media Sierra Leone (NaFPIM) is established to support media houses in Sierra Leone to practise public-interest journalism. NaFPIM will provide this support by awarding, through a highly competitive process, grants to media outlets that demonstrate public-interest media through a proven track record of delivering independent and impartial contents that matter to the people of Sierra Leone.
The concept of a National Fund for Public Interest Media in Sierra Leone stems from the National Action Plan for Media Viability which was agreed with key stakeholders in the wake of the Sierra Leone National Media Viability and Investment Conference held in April 2022. Recommendations generated by the conference included the following: “Government and development partners should commit to a national fund for public interest media” (Recommendation 6).
In April 2022, the Ministry of Information and Communications and its partners including the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and other national media organizations, such as the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), with support from the BBC Media Action under the PRIMED project, organized the first ever National Media Viability and Investment Conference. The conference explored ways in which all stakeholders can work together to create a healthier information ecosystem where a steady flow of trusted public interest media contents are more freely and widely available to the people of Sierra Leone. The conference was preceded by regional consultations led by a national consultant with support from an experienced international media-viability professional. The national conference brought together industry actors, local and central government, the private sector, donor and international development partners.

VISION AND PURPOSE OF NAFPIM

The vision of the National Fund for Public Interest Media is as follows:

A Sierra Leone where citizens enjoy unfettered and sustained access to media content that serves the public interest, is free from political or commercial pressures and acts as a catalyst for civic participation

The Fund will support media outlets that include public interest journalism among their institutional goals and have a proven track record in delivering independent, impartial content to the citizens of Sierra Leone. It will help these outlets to:

1. Continue producing high-quality content that empowers citizens to make informed decisions and stimulates an inclusive discussion of the issues affecting their lives;

• Promote innovation and excellence in the media sector by giving grantees the space to road-test new approaches and align their editorial outputs to audience needs;

• Foster media viability and sustainability by enabling media outlets to strengthen or streamline their internal systems and diversify their revenue streams.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The Fund’s Guiding Principles are defined as follows:

• Impartiality: The Fund is independent from political or commercial interests, any other influences and ideologies. The choices and decisions it makes are shaped entirely by audience needs and priorities.

• Universality: The Fund serves all segments of society, leaving no one behind. It is committed to ensuring accessibility for all and is, therefore, platform-agnostic.

• Accountability: The Fund is accountable to the citizens of Sierra Leone. Its operating framework, policies, budgets and decisions will be published on publicly accessible platforms.

• Transparency: The Fund welcomes public scrutiny and has the mechanisms in place to ensure good governance, responsible financial management and cost efficiencies. The framework includes provisions for avoiding conflicts of interest and for dealing with appeals and complaints.

• Diversity: The Fund is aimed at unlocking a plurality of views and ideas expressed by diverse interest groups, thereby helping to foster a more inclusive society.
• Innovation: The Fund seeks to enrich Sierra Leone’s media landscape by driving innovation and creativity, fostering talent and supporting new ways of connecting with audiences