U.S. Embassy in Uganda seeking Applications for 2020 Health-Based Journalism Training

Deadline: 28 May 2020

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Mission in Uganda announces an open competition for media training organizations interested in submitting applications for a grant to implement and manage training of both print and broadcast mid-level journalists on how to effectively and accurately report about health stories with a focus on HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and other key health issues as agreed by the U.S. Mission.

The project aims to support one of the U.S. Mission’s central goals of improving the professional development of the Ugandan media corps.

The one-year project aims to train over 100 journalists and editors from throughout the country in the following areas, with a special emphasis on health issues relating to HIV;
Skills and knowledge to effectively investigate and report on health and HIV issues in a way that informs and empowers the ordinary person to demand and enjoy his or her right to health;
Understanding Uganda’s healthcare policy and system and the individual rights allowed for within the policies and system;
Innovative reporting on HIV/AIDS, shaping public response to HIV/AIDS, and other health issues through reporting;
Covering disease outbreaks and the business/economics of healthcare with a focus on maintaining HIV prevention and treatment during an ongoing disease outbreak like COVID-19;
Evaluating and covering healthcare quality and performance;
Understanding and reporting on health disparities; including those among key populations living with HIV;
Covering issues related to the need of linking key affected populations to HIV/AIDS care services, reporting on consumer and lifestyle health, trends in global health policy’
The importance of effective and accurate headlines in health and HIV reporting;
Understanding and reporting the impact Gender Based Violence (GBV) has on the health of Ugandans and the role that it plays in the HIV epidemic.

The implementer will also be expected to make available small grants for select journalists to carry out in-depth health investigative stories pertaining to HIV and relating issues.

Funding Information

Total Amount Available: Up to USD $50,000

Project Requirements

The project proposal must clearly state the number of journalists who will be trained, the selection process, geographical scope of training, mode of training, topics to be covered, biographies of the trainers, detailed curriculum, and a clear timeline for implementation.

Furthermore, in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the proposal should state how the implementer plans to make use of virtual technology in this training. The preference is for the trainings to take place in person. However, if the COVID-19 pandemic persists for several months in Uganda, this training may not be able to take place in person, and may need to be conducted remotely with available technology.

Criteria

Criteria for the selection of the implementing partner will include but is not limited to the following:

Entities should be duly registered as non-profit organizations in Uganda.
Established track record of training journalists (special emphasis on rural-based journalists);
Ability to network with other media training organizations in these trainings;
Organization must have the ability to promote and defend the right to freedom of expression through research, documentation, analysis, advocacy, strategic collaborations, and capacity building initiatives.

Application Procedures

Proposal (10 pages maximum, excluding attachments): The proposal should clearly explain how the project will be implemented, including enough detail that someone unfamiliar with the proposal would easily understand the goals. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.

Proposal Summary: A short, concisely written narrative that outlines the proposed project, including project objectives, goals, and outcomes.
Introduction to the organization or individual applying: A very brief description of past and present operations that demonstrate the organization/individual’s ability to implement the project. Include information on all previous grants from the U.S. Mission and/or U.S. government agencies, and other donor support.
Problem Statement: Clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed project is needed.
Project Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the project is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.
Project Activities: Describe the project activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.
Program Methods and Design: A description of how the project is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.
Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the project activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.
Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the project. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this project?
Project Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.
Innovation: Please describe why your project is unique, different, innovative, and creative or somehow stands out from all the rest. (Not more than 200 words)
Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?
Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, ability to cost-share, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.