The overall goal of the project is to promote the development of pluralistic media as a key information and accountability mechanism for democratic development in Africa.

The right to receive information and to freedom of expression is set out in the African Charter of Human and Peoples' Rights and is a fundamental component of the African Union's policies to develop democracy and pluralism.

The Windhoek Declaration, which encourages an independent and pluralistic media within African states and provides constitutional guarantees to ensure the freedom of that media, sets out further principles to benchmark standards for the media.

The project aimed to generate a common understanding of and agreement on specific steps to:

1) Provide support for the development of more effective and responsive public service models of broadcasting

2) Stimulate a better investment climate and operating environment for the private media

3) Improve the range and scale of professional media training (to include journalism and media management) and a system of accreditation

4) Improve advocacy with African and multilateral bodies to develop policy in favour of a strengthened and more pluralistic media throughout Africa.