Deadline: 7-Jun-23
The Office of American Spaces of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), U.S. Department of State, announces an open competition to administer a new award in the field of digital and media literacy and countering disinformation, the FY 2023 American Spaces Digital Literacy and Training Program.
The American Spaces Digital Literacy and Training Program is designed to support the work of American Spaces in the field through training of overseas Spaces target audiences and staff/coordinators; the curation, compilation and (as needed) creation of training materials and content; the organization and implementation of training activities and exchanges, locally, regionally and to the United States; and outreach and other activities. The program will provide training for overseas staff of American Spaces and for American Spaces audiences of media professionals, information specialists, librarians, educators, and other relevant professionals and citizens, aimed at increasing digital, information and media literacy, building trust, and strengthening understanding abroad of the role of a free and independent media as a pillar of democracy.
The American Spaces Digital Literacy and Training Program is envisioned in two parts: the first and major element of the program is a regionally-focused component that includes curriculum development and content delivery to counter Russian and other disinformation efforts in Europe and Central Asia through American Spaces in designated countries; and the second, support for other activities to bolster American Spaces programming and outreach across all world regions to bolster American Spaces networks worldwide, to include a training and cultural visit for select participants to the United States and social media messaging development.
Purpose
- The American Spaces Digital Literacy and Training Program is a new opportunity funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and administered through the Office of American Spaces.
- American Spaces networks are strategically located across the globe and serve as key public diplomacy platforms for U.S. missions to connect with local audiences and promote U.S. foreign policy objectives. They currently serve as community hubs for countering disinformation; this program will build on their existing efforts by standardizing curricula and program delivery, reaching thousands of citizens in parts of Europe and Central Asia, where malign influence from Russia and other foreign entities reflects the intent to cause disruption, with the objective of sowing distrust and discrediting international organizations and Western democracies, including their ideals and systems of government.
- The American Spaces Digital Literacy and Training Program is envisioned to feature curriculum development, training, and content delivery to foster digital literacy and counter such disinformation efforts through American Spaces in the designated countries in these two regions, which may be adjusted by ECA to reflect evolving priorities. The program also includes support for other activities to bolster American Spaces programming and outreach globally, from which American Spaces networks worldwide may benefit, to include a training and cultural visit for select participants to the United States and social media messaging development for broader use.
Funding Information
- Approximate Total Funding: $1,900,000
- Approximate Number of Awards: One
- Approximate Average Award: $1,900,000
- Minimum “Floor” of Award: None
- Maximum “Ceiling” of Award: $1,900,000
- Anticipated Award Date: August 31, 2023
- Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2028
Activities
- The Office of American Spaces’ activities and responsibilities for the American Spaces Digital Literacy and Training Program include but are not limited to:
- Approve, based on input from U.S. diplomatic missions, Regional Public Engagement Specialists (REPS), and the State Department’s Regional Bureaus, the countries and American Spaces selected for training and curriculum delivery implementation.
- Collaborate with the recipient on the development of program materials, including curricula, lesson plans, surveys, etc. Provide final approval for all materials after consultation with and based on input from U.S. diplomatic missions and REPS, to include the final curriculum and training modules for planned courses or activities to be implemented in American Spaces.
- Approve, after consultation with and based on input from U.S. diplomatic missions and REPS, all promotional materials to be used to promote the American Spaces Digital Literacy and Training Program in American Spaces.
- Advise on planning and development for the regional workshops for American Spaces coordinators, and approve agenda, curricula, and trainers selected. Approve, with input from U.S. diplomatic missions and REPS, locations for regional coordinator workshops. Select all participants to attend the American Spaces coordinator regional workshops.
- Advise on planning and development for the U.S. training visit for American Spaces coordinators. Approve locations of U.S. site visits and program agenda. Select all participants to participate in the U.S. training visit.
- Serve, in coordination with REPS, as the primary point of contact and intermediary with the U.S. diplomatic missions.
- In this cooperative agreement, U.S. diplomatic missions are also substantially involved in the program activities, above and beyond routine monitoring. U.S. diplomatic missions’ activities and responsibilities for the American Spaces Digital Literacy and Training Program include but are not limited to:
- Review and provide approval of participation of American Spaces within their country network, as well as course/activity delivery schedule.
- Serve as the primary point of contact between American Spaces partner institutions and staff and the implementing partner in program planning and delivery, unless explicit permission is provided otherwise.
- Work with the Office of American Spaces and REPS to nominate participants for the regional workshops and U.S. training visit(s).
- Inform the REPS, Office of American Spaces, and recipient of any deficiencies or recommended corrective actions.
Eligible Countries
- Europe (EUR): Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Türkiye, and Ukraine
- South and Central Asia (SCA): Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
Eligibility Criteria
- U.S. public and private academic and cultural institutions, exchange-of-persons, and other not for-profit organizations 501(c)(3) may submit applications for this competition. Applicants must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application.
- The following additional eligibility requirements apply to this NOFO announcement:
- ECA’s grant guidelines require that organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchanges be limited to $130,000 in ECA funding. ECA anticipates making cooperative agreement, in an amount of $1,900,000 to support all costs required to implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition.
- All proposals must comply with the requirements stated in the NOFO and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI); non-compliance will result in your proposal being declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review process.
- Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization.
For more information, visit Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).