IWPR inviting Applications to counter Disinformation in Latin America

Deadline: 30-Nov-20

Through the Consortium to Support Independent Journalism in Latin America (Consorcio para Apoyar el Periodismo Independiente Regional (CAPIR)) IWPR is seeking a partner to support the region’s journalism and media sector develop and pilot new, innovative, and evidence-based solutions to confront the problems of mis and disinformation, which threaten their societies.

Recent years have seen a continuous deterioration of media freedoms in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC). Media owners and journalists face fundamental threats including attacks, repression and disinformation campaigns by increasingly authoritarian governments; violence and murders by private actors; and a dependency on government advertising and a scarcity of resources to conduct their work independently.

IWPR is pleased to announce the release of a request for applications (RFA) for funding provided to support the CAPIR consortium implement this project, by providing thought-leadership and evidence based proposals that will help independent media and journalists confront the challenges of mis and disinformation across the region.

The selected partner will:

Conduct context analyses surrounding disinformation and existing work in the project’s priority countries;
Develop evidence based, innovative proposals for initiatives to counter the problem, in coordination with CAPIR partners;
Coordinate and oversee coalitions of local partners in each of the countries to pilot these initiatives and ensure the correct implementation, and
Conduct rigorous M&E to test results and provide recommendations to build on the program.

Funding Information

The award is expected to be between $30,000 to $90,000 USD and to last between 18 to 21 months.

Geographic Area

Proposed initiatives, if successful, should be scalable and relevant to the entire Latin America region. However for the 18 to 21 months of implementation they will be piloted in four priority countries, which will be selected to include a variety of challenges that are representative of the region, including:

Ethnically, socially and geographically diverse populations, with varying internet access.
Countries with repressive regimes and limited or declining freedom of expression and high levels of official propaganda
Countries with fragile democracies
Countries where journalists are at risk for investigating corruption and organized crime
Countries where journalists are at risk for criticizing those in power.
Countries with existing professional fact-checking websites/media, and countries without

Example countries include: Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador.

Eligibility Criteria

This competition is open to any non-governmental organization that is either a non-profit, not for-profit, or for-profit entity. These can include but are not limited, universities, think tanks, academic institutions, civil society organizations, media outlets, specialized consultancy firms etc. To be minimally eligible for funding, applicants must provide full, accurate, and complete information and comply with the following conditions. Organizations must:

Be legally registered or otherwise authorized to conduct business in their country or countries of operation (please explain in your technical application if that is not possibly in your specific country context for security reasons).
Be able to complete implementation within the stated timeframe of January 15, 2020 to July 30, 2022.
Have previous experience of not less than 2 years working on subject/technical area.
Have a clear knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by journalists and media outlets in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
Have expertise regarding the issues of mis and disinformation, propaganda and fake news, how they have played out in the Latin America region, and also in regards to existing initiatives to combat this problem.
Have technological capabilities to analyze and understand the dissemination of fake news in social media platforms.
Have current geographic coverage where program activities will take place or prior experience in that area with the ability to quickly start up implementation.
Have the ability to operate in both Spanish and English, written and spoken.
Preference will be given to organizations based in the Latin America and Caribbean region.