In order for our organisation to become more sustainable, the need to spend resources more wisely and efficiently becomes paramount. MISA will further broaden its funding base to include private sector stakeholders and seek increased support from its members. MISA is an organised group of activists advocating a social agenda of media freedom and freedom of expression: in this regard, MISA is a social movement. It remains our hope that this movement will increase in both its capacity and reach. We thank our funders for their continued support of media freedom and freedom of expression in the region. Their support has strengthened the media to become one of the key pillars of our ever-evolving democracy. We also thank the chapters of our organisation: they have been our lifeblood by carrying out the programmes that have sustained us for yet another year under the guidance of their national governing bodies, the Regional Governing Council, the Executive Council as well as the Regional Secretariat. I would also like to thank the Southern African Media Development Fund (Samdef) and the Southern Africa Institute for Media Entrepreneurship Development (SAIMED), which have survived under very trying circumstances, as well as their boards for guidance and support to the leadership of those bodies. Mandla Seleoane Chairperson MISA Trust Fund Board Annual Report 2009 5