Since its inception in 2003, the Danish Arab Partnership Programme (DAPP) has been a unique instrument for building trustful relations. DAPP has proven able to adapt to dramatic changes and remain a key pillar in Denmark's policy towards the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Through partnerships between reform agents in Denmark and the Arab world, DAPP promotes reform, human rights, gender equality, religious dialogue as well as economic opportunities. From the outset, DAPP has been characterized by reciprocity, mutual respect and partnerships with a long-term perspective and a flexible framework capable of responding to a frequently changing and volatile context in the region.

This procurement procedure is one out of 5 procurement procedures with the purpose of entering into contract with a service provider with experience and competences matching the assignment. This particular contract entail development engagement of Free Media. The other 4 contracts entails: Development Engagement for Youth Participation & Employment, Development Engagement for Labour Market and Social Dialogue, Development Engagement for Human Rights and Development Engagement for Gender Equality. MENA envisages non-profit organizations with knowledge and experience of Denmark and the Middle East and North of Africa as applicants for this particular assignment.

In order to meet engagement requirements, as outlined by the TOR, applicants may decide to apply as sole partners or they may decide to team up with other organisations or institutions and apply as strategic partners on behalf of a consortium. In any event, only one strategic partner holds the contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and is responsible for coordinating overall implementation and reporting of the full engagement results framework. DAPP is based on partnerships with mutual dialogue and learning between individuals and organisations. DAPP operates in a highly political and volatile environment, in turn requiring a degree of flexibility and calculated risk-preparedness at all stages of programme management.

The development engagement for Free Media brings together four targeted intervention areas with potential synergy effects more specifically in the promotion of:

— Environments conducive to media independence and safe working conditions for male and female journalists improved through partnerships;

— Institutional capacity of reform-oriented media outlets strengthened to report freely and hold duty bearers to account;

— Diverse media content strengthened to meet professional and ethical standards and guided by public interest;

— Local media initiatives strengthened through national and regional professional exchange.