The United States of America has been a crucial partner with the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) ever since the creation of the Program in 1980. It was in fact a U.S. proposal that prompted the General Conference of UNESCO in 1978 to focus resources on the increasingly important area of communication development that led to the adoption of Resolution 4/21 establishing the IPDC two years later. The United States is a member of the Intergovernmental Council of the IPDC (since 2003) and of its Bureau (since March 2008).

Since the inception of the program, the United States has made a total contribution of $1,961,876 to the IPDC, out of which $620,000 was Funds-in-Trust and $1,341,876 went to IPDC Special Account in support of projects implemented by the IPDC.

The IPDC purpose is to promote media development projects within IPDC, and it is the only multilateral forum in the UN system designed to mobilize the international community to discuss and promote media development in developing countries. The Program not only provides support for media projects, but also seeks to secure a healthy environment for the growth of free and pluralistic media in developing countries.

For political and ethical reasons, multilateral cooperation is the most appropriate way of promoting media development. International assistance provided through IPDC does not interfere with the integrity and independence of media institutions.