Call for Financial support for MIL4Peace Boot Camps in Lebanon

The DW Akademie MIL4Peace Project, funded by the European Union, is inviting applications from youth-led civil society organizations (CSOs) in Lebanon to organize Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Boot Camps that empower young people to promote peacebuilding, counter disinformation, and participate in inclusive digital civic engagement.

Selected organizations can receive up to €16,000 to design and deliver a one-week boot camp for 30 young participants. The programme emphasizes media literacy, digital resilience, youth leadership, and community knowledge-sharing while ensuring inclusive participation, including at least 50% female representation.

About the MIL4Peace Project

The MIL4Peace Project aims to strengthen the capacity of youth-led civil society organizations in Lebanon to equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to critically evaluate information, combat misinformation and hate speech, and contribute to peaceful and inclusive societies.

Through Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Boot Camps, the project supports youth engagement in peacebuilding by combining practical training, peer learning, digital education tools, and community outreach strategies.

Organizations will collaborate closely with DW Akademie’s MIL4Peace trainers to co-design and implement high-quality learning programmes aligned with international media literacy standards.

Focus Areas

The programme supports activities related to:

• Media and Information Literacy (MIL).
• Youth participation in peacebuilding.
• Youth empowerment and leadership.
• Critical media engagement.
• Countering disinformation and misinformation.
• Promoting responsible digital citizenship.
• Creating peaceful and inclusive online spaces.
• Supporting marginalized and underserved communities.
• Peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange.
• Digital literacy education.
• Community-based multiplier strategies.
• Hate speech awareness and reporting.
• Gender-inclusive participation.

Programme Objectives

The initiative aims to:

• Strengthen youth-led civil society organizations.
• Increase young people’s media literacy skills.
• Promote inclusive youth participation in peacebuilding.
• Build resilience against misinformation and hate speech.
• Encourage responsible use of digital platforms.
• Expand access to media literacy education through Arabic learning resources.
• Support long-term community knowledge transfer.

Funding Information

Selected organizations may receive:

• Up to €16,000 in financial support.

Eligible Costs

Funding may be used for:

• Human resource costs.
• Venue rental and logistics.
• Training materials.
• Participant travel expenses.
• Participant accommodation.
• Communication and visibility materials following EU and DW Akademie guidelines.
• Administrative and coordination costs directly related to the boot camp.

Administrative and coordination costs must not exceed 10% of the total project budget.

Ineligible Costs

Funding generally cannot be used for:

• Large-scale equipment purchases.
• Infrastructure investments.

Exceptions may be considered if the selection committee determines that such expenses are essential for project implementation and long-term sustainability.

Boot Camp Requirements

Selected organizations will organize a:

• One-week MIL4Peace Boot Camp.
• Expected implementation period: October–November 2026.
• Alternative implementation periods may be considered if justified.

Each boot camp should:

• Engage 30 youth participants.
• Ensure at least 50% female participation.
• Prioritize participants from marginalized and rural communities.
• Promote inclusive and participatory learning.

Training Components

Organizations are expected to include:

• Media and Information Literacy training.
• Critical media analysis.
• Peacebuilding through digital engagement.
• Integration of the project’s Arabic learning platform.
• A dedicated session on the use of Hate Speech Hotlines.
• Interactive and participatory learning methods.
• Peer-to-peer exchange activities.
• Community knowledge-sharing strategies.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Registered youth-led civil society organizations (CSOs) based in Lebanon.

Applicants should also:

• Have experience or interest in Media and Information Literacy.
• Work in youth empowerment or peacebuilding.
• Be capable of reaching disadvantaged or marginalized communities.
• Have experience designing participatory training programmes.
• Be eligible to receive public funding from an international organization.

Responsibilities of Selected Organizations

Successful organizations will:

• Co-design the boot camp with DW Akademie trainers.
• Deliver the training programme.
• Integrate international MIL standards.
• Use the Arabic learning platform.
• Demonstrate the Hate Speech Hotline tools.
• Encourage participants to share knowledge within their communities.
• Ensure inclusive participation throughout the programme.

Why This Programme Matters

Young people play a critical role in promoting peaceful societies and countering misinformation. However, many communities continue to face challenges related to disinformation, hate speech, and unequal access to reliable information.

The MIL4Peace Project strengthens local youth organizations by providing financial support and technical expertise to develop future leaders capable of promoting media literacy, critical thinking, digital resilience, and peaceful civic engagement throughout Lebanon.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

1. Review the official MIL4Peace Call for Applications.
2. Confirm organizational eligibility.
3. Develop a participatory boot camp concept aligned with Media and Information Literacy and peacebuilding objectives.
4. Prepare a detailed budget and implementation plan.
5. Demonstrate organizational capacity to reach marginalized communities.
6. Submit the complete application according to the programme guidelines before the deadline.

Application Tips

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

• Demonstrating previous experience in youth engagement.
• Presenting interactive and participatory learning approaches.
• Showing strong outreach to marginalized communities.
• Including practical multiplier strategies for community knowledge transfer.
• Ensuring gender-balanced participation.
• Providing a realistic implementation timeline and budget.
• Clearly explaining how the Arabic learning platform will be integrated into training.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the MIL4Peace grant?

Registered youth-led civil society organizations (CSOs) based in Lebanon that work in youth empowerment, media literacy, or peacebuilding may apply.

How much funding is available?

Selected organizations may receive up to €16,000.

How many participants should each boot camp include?

Each boot camp should engage 30 young participants, with at least 50% female participation.

When will the boot camps take place?

The programme is expected to be implemented during October–November 2026, although alternative timelines may be considered.

Can the funding be used to purchase equipment?

Generally, no. Significant equipment purchases and infrastructure investments are not eligible unless specifically approved as essential for project implementation.

Is collaboration with DW Akademie required?

Yes. Selected organizations will work closely with DW Akademie’s MIL4Peace trainers to co-design and deliver the boot camp.

What topics must be included in the training?

Training should cover Media and Information Literacy, peacebuilding, critical media engagement, the Arabic learning platform, Hate Speech Hotlines, and strategies that encourage participants to share their knowledge within their communities.

Conclusion

The DW Akademie MIL4Peace Project offers youth-led organizations in Lebanon an opportunity to strengthen media literacy, empower young leaders, and promote peacebuilding through innovative community-based training. With grants of up to €16,000, technical support from DW Akademie, and a focus on inclusion, digital resilience, and community impact, the programme helps equip the next generation with the skills needed to build more informed, inclusive, and peaceful societies.