This study provides guidance on possible entry points for support to a qualitative and sustainable media sector in support of democratic governance on a regional level in Sub Saharan Africa. 

The report is the result of an extensive consultative process with media and civil society representatives in Southern, Eastern, Central and Western Sub-Saharan Africa. Three roundtable meetings were held during February 2019 with media experts and media representatives from each of the sub-regions. 

The report is written from a media perspective and focuses on regional media initiatives and challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. Seven focus areas that are instrumental for the future of quality journalism have been investigated. 

In the second part of the study, focus is set on what donors should consider when reviewing how regional media initiatives and processes can contribute to democracy and accountability. This second part can be seen as connecting local and national media stakeholders with regional initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as to the ongoing global dialogue on the need for increased media development, manifested at the international meeting organised by CIMA and Sida in Paris in March 2019.