The continuous improvement of systems, visibility and capacities of staff and partner organisations, coupled with the strategic direction and oversight of the Board, have contributed to:

• Positioning the MFWA as the biggest, most influential and credible freedom of expression and media development organisation in West Africa;
• Improving the MFWA’s ability to deliver successfully on its projects under both the Freedom of Expression (FOE) and Media and Good Governance (MGG) programmes;
• Enhancing MFWA’s recognition and presence in continental and global FOE spaces

More specifically, the governance structure, systems and policies that have been instituted have given the MFWA a solid and an intransigent foundation on which it operates. As a result, issues of conflict of interest, abuse of power or funds, infringements of rights and other such misconducts are completely out of the working environment of the Foundation. These have contributed to creating a more conducive environment for work.

The visibility of the organisation also continues to grow across the region, the continent and the globe. Through its work with national partner organisations and the implementation of specific activities in some countries in the region, the MFWA brand is increasingly becoming well known within the media fraternity and beyond. The organisation’s presence on social media is also rising with increased number of followers and reach.

The organisation has also been exploring other ways of improving the working conditions and environment for staff to enable them work effectively. The organisation has, therefore, moved from its location since it was set up (30 Duade Street, Kokomlemle) to its current office (32 Otele Avenue, East Legon) to provide more convenient and spacious working environment for staff. Also, by way of capacity building, motivation and networking, the organisation continues to give opportunities to its staff, irrespective of level, to attend and participate in national, regional, continental and global conferences and other events. The organisation is also developing a compensation policy that will make remuneration and conditions of service for staff competitive.

While exploring ways of improving the working conditions of staff, the MFWA is also supporting its partner organisations to build resilient and sustainable organisations, one partner at a time.  So far, the organisation has supported its partner organisations in Benin (Observatoire de la Déontologie et de l’Ethique dans les Medias – ODEM) and Niger (Observatoire Nigérien Indépendant des Médias pour l’Ethique et la Déontologie – ONIMED) to develop strategic plans and financial sustainability guides to inform their programming and operations, and resource mobilisation respectively.

The organisation has also successfully implemented project activities with its partner organisations in Burkina Faso, Benin, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo on promoting participatory governance, peaceful elections and internet freedom. The organisation has also worked with its partner organisation in The Gambia, the Gambia Press Union (GPU), to develop a Comprehensive Strategic Framework for a long-term Media Sector Reform and Development in The Gambia. The Framework was developed to guide the entire media sector reform process in the Gambia after Yahya Jammeh’s 22 years of FOE repression and to ensure that development interventions in the media sector is comprehensive and sustainable.