Meeting summary and next steps

1. Role of media in FFD4 implementation

Insights from the Sevilla conference were shared by Clare Cook (IMS):

• Although media was not a central focus, the outcome document now includes a reference to the media’s role in monitoring illicit financial flows — a key entry point for advocacy.

• Journalism entities could be positioned as micro and small enterprises, giving them access to new streams of viability support and local funding.

• Media can be framed as a tool for social cohesion and post-crisis rebuilding, with Syria cited as an example.

Non-traditional financing mechanisms (e.g., blended capital, de-risking, debt-for-development swaps) could be explored in relation to information integrity and public interest media.

The Forum on Information and Democracy presented a high-level statement urging governments to recognise the economic value of investing in public interest media.

2. Media impact on exposing illicit financial flows

The Panama Papers investigation demonstrated the economic value of investigative journalism, leading to

The Scam Empire project (OCCRP) exposed global scam operations through shell companies, directly informing law enforcement and triggering policy discussions.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation shared its long-term Sub-Saharan Africa programme, which trained and supported journalists investigating illicit financial flows, producing more than 700 impactful stories. Examples include:

• Investigations into smuggled medical equipment in Egypt, which led to procurement reforms.

• Exposés of misuse of public funds in Burkina Faso, prompting government oversight.

Key lessons: cross-border collaboration is critical but resource-intensive; while financial impact is difficult to measure, qualitative evidence demonstrates accountability gains, policy reforms, and increased public awareness.

More examples of coruption cases detected by media are avalable here.

3. Advocacy and resource mobilisation

• Participants emphasised the need for stronger engagement with financial institutions and formal processes linked to FFD4.

• The Forum on Information and Democracy highlighted the importance of connecting advocacy statements with concrete policy commitments and funding reforms.

• Advocacy efforts should be tailored to philanthropies, development banks, and financial institutions, presenting journalism as both a democratic necessity and an economic investment.

• There was also a call for sustainable long-term funding models and greater support for journalism that covers gender and minority issues.

4. Next steps and collaboration opportunities

• Meeting conclusions will feed into the GFMD–DW Akademie side event at the Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Kuala Lumpur on November 21.

• There was broad agreement on the importance of continued collaboration across networks, sharing resources and advocacy statements widely, and identifying promising institutional processes to advance the Sevilla Commitment.

• Participants also agreed to focus on identifying formal processes and institutions for Sevilla implementation and to promote investigative journalism stories in upcoming campaigns.