MDIF Media Guarantee Facility - Grant Part 2015-2025

MDIF continues to make progress in improving the financial viability and audience reach of independent media businesses receiving loans under MMF so that they can continue creating impact in their communities in the areas that the SDGs represent. MDIF report the following results from the MMF: • MMF clients grow their revenues while working with MDIF: 15% is the median increase of revenues recorded from the baseline figure at first investment. • MMF clients grow their reach while working with MDIF: 29% is the median increase of reach recorded by MMF clients from the baseline figure at first investment. • MMF clients impact their communities with their journalism and information-sharing: 100% of surveyed MMF clients reported having contributed to a real-world change last year. Further, MDIFs Media Advisory Service (MAS) continued to address the various challenges faced by today's media by providing tailored support services and interventions in response to specific issues, including those triggered by rapidly changing media landscapes, audience information and consumption habits as well as increases in political adversities and an increase in content manipulation. Throughout its operations, MAS has provided capacity building and workshops to a total of 101 media companies, which included 47 investment portfolio clients of MDIF (of those, 18 recipients of MMF loans), as well as media participating in MDIF special programs, candidates for financing and other media companies/ partners around the world. Mentorship - For capacity-building activities, media companies received help in the form of long-term remote mentorship programs, targeted consultations by both in-house and external experts, and ongoing remote support and advice. The support and advice focused on media management and revenue challenges, ranging from the granular to the strategic, to empower media companies with the necessary information to make critical decisions about the future direction of their business. The program was designed to cater to each media partner's specific needs, capacity, operational and organizational stage. One-on-one consulting was provided to 18 MMF companies, while 4 MMF clients underwent long-term mentoring Technical assistance grants-MAS continues to provide TA grants to its clients to help them with their projects and strengthen their businesses. These grants are carefully designed and evaluated in collaboration with the clients, with milestones, metrics and key deliverables included. They are aimed at helping independent media, which are often resource-constrained, to work on short-term projects that focus on innovation, experimentation and transformation, in 2023 it also included travel grants to participate in teh media forum. In 2023, a total of 16 MMF clients received Sida-funded TA grants. Media Forum - Every second to third year MDIF gathers its media partners to this forum for being able to dicuss the issues that media is facing. The principle is simple MDIF provide working sessions and a confidential space where independent media can share strategies for solving some of the most challenging business issues they face. In 2023, 98 media compaines attended the forum, which had 70 speakers. Amplify Asia -is a business capacity building program that strengthens independent media across the region through an innovative coaching programme. The initiative involves intensive business-focused technical assistance, long-term coaching and small grant funding to complement this work. MDIF engages experienced media executives with relevant skills and expertise, primarily from Southeast Asia, to act as coaches for the management of each of the media partners. MDIF expanded the reach of this program from 10 to 15 organisations.

Outcome 1: Improve the financial viability and audience reach of independent media businesses receiving loans under MMF so that they are able to continue creating impact in their communities. Under this proposal, MDIF is seeking 1,61 MUSD for the continuation of Sidas contribution to a portion of costs associated with MMF, including pipeline development, processing and monitoring of MMF loans, their monitoring and reporting, as well as fundraising for MMF.  Outcome 2: Improve capacity of media outlets participating in MAS activities to manage their businesses and support their sustainability. MDIF seeks  2,04 MUSD for the continuation and broadening of the Technical assistance by the MDIF Media Advisory Services. Receipients of Sida-supported funds would still be prioritied, but the services would be open to all MDIF clients.  Outcome 3: Improve the financial viability and audience reach of independent media businesses receiving support under SEATAI so that they are able to continue creating impact in their communities. MDIF seeks 500 000 USD for the continuation and extension of the South and Southeast Asia Technical Assistance Initiative (SEATAI).