Samdef
is a non-governmental organisation based in Gaborone, Botswana that
provides financial support to independent media within the southern
Africa region. With the experience amassed over the years in supporting
over twenty five investments since opening its doors in 1998, you
can be rest assured that the team of Samdef professionals will help
you help you all the way. Samdef has extensive experience in funding
a wide variety of start ups – emerging and expansionary media
outfits.
Historic Background
Samdef was established
in 1998, as a media development arm of the Media Institute of Southern
Africa (MISA), the southern Africa regional lobby body. Its initial mandate
was to provide finance, training, and development support to emerging
media enterprises in the region. In an endeavour to realign the operations
of the institution, a major restructuring exercise was undertaken in 2001.
The restructuring exercise saw the creation of a new institution SAIMED
(Southern Africa Institution for Media Entrepreneurship Development) which
focuses on entrepreneurial development, research and training. Samdef
retained the core business for the provision of media finance.
From the initial amount of US$1 million in 1998, Samdef’s
portfolio had grown steadily to over US$5m . Over the period Samdef has
invested in over 25 projects throughout the region.
Funding
Samdef raises funds from donors who bought into the concept
of supporting media for the promotion of democracy. The major donors are
Open Society institute of Southern Africa (OSISA) and Free Voice from
the Netherlands. Samdef has in the past received support from institutions
such as USAID, Netherlands Institute of Southern Africa (NIZA), Inter
Fund and IBIS.
Strategic and Cooperating Partners
Over the period Samdef has created strategic partners
in the media sector:
