Deadline: 15 March 2020
Through this Request for Applications (RFA), Civil Society and Media (CSM-II) is seeking applications for grants from local CSOs and independent local media organizations in Myanmar.
The RFA aims to fulfill many of the needs expressed by CSOs and independent media organizations during one‐on‐one consultations. Organizations that meet or exceed performance targets, accomplish tasks on time, demonstrate impact and manage their awards well during a grant received under this RFA will be eligible to apply for further grants, but follow‐on applications will be scored and evaluated separately, and follow‐on funding is not guaranteed.
Grants provided under this RFA will support activities relating to advocacy, engagement, and awareness building that promote at least one of the following. Priority will be given for the projects or initiatives that address core issues of or intersect among at least two of the following:
Reform or improved implementation of laws and policies:
- Advocacy to advance the passage, or to reform laws, bylaws and policies related to:
- freedom of information, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly
- media development and freedom
- land rights and land management
- equality, human rights and/or inclusion of marginalized groups in politics and society
- women’s rights and empowerment
- governance and representative democracy
- Advocacy to support constitutional reform.
- Advocacy to reform civic education elements of public, ethnic or faith‐based school curricula.
- Monitoring and reporting on implementation of relevant laws, including their consideration by any court or independent tribunal.
- Activities to improve government accountability on legal reform.
Peace and national reconciliation:
- Advocating for a framework to delegate power to the States and Regions.
- Helping entities in the peace process develop negotiating positions.
- Ensuring community voices are represented in negotiations, and reporting back to community stakeholders.
- Advocacy to improve the peace dialogue process.
- Advocacy and research on economic activity in conflict areas.
- Helping key stakeholders understand and increase their support of federalism, constitutionalism and other political issues critical to peace.
- Helping key stakeholders understand the conflict and the peace process, in particular with information specific to their locality.
Intercommunal harmony and religious freedom: recognizing the close interplay between these two topics and that religious freedom issues are at the heart of many intercommunal conflicts.
- Advocacy for equal protection of all communities by authorities at all levels.
- Advocacy to pass laws that counter hate speech while protecting and respecting freedom of speech.
- Advocacy to develop and pass a law or laws designed to combat discrimination, and repeal laws that discriminate.
- Advocacy to ensure that laws in Myanmar protect and respect the right to freely practice one’s religion.
- Gathering and sharing the stories of minorities across the country traditionally underrepresented in the media.
- Spreading positive messages about diverse religious and ethnic groups.
- Improving mutual understanding between and among ethnic or religious communities in conflict.
- Finding, tracking, and responding to rumors and hate speech online or offline, and creating an evidence base for national and international advocacy.
- Identifying and countering the intentional spread of false information.
- Helping key stakeholders understand and challenge the barriers for interethnic and intercommunal harmony.
- Improving critical thinking and integrating diversity and tolerance in public‐school curricula.
- Improving media and digital literacy online, especially through Facebook.
- Working with local communities to develop mechanisms to respond to inter ethnic and religious conflict.
Activities
Applicants are encouraged to propose a range of innovative activities that help the public engage with the Government of Myanmar (GOM) at both national and sub‐national levels, and/or other key stakeholders, or increase the information available to the public on the above topics. Proposals should not focus only on, or mainly on, training. Any training activities proposed should be clearly linked to advocacy or engagement outcomes.
Possible activities may include:
- Advocacy
- Meeting with decision‐makers, including parliamentary committees, individual members of parliament, ministry officials, local government or other strategically chosen allies and champions
- Working in coalitions or networks
- Events to gather stakeholder input on key topics
- Using media to promote advocacy messages
- Research
- Documentation of actions of government and non‐government groups on implementation of laws and policies
- In‐depth research studies, qualitative or quantitative to help decision‐makers base action on evidence
- Analyzing power dynamics and interests of institutions to engage them effectively
- Civic education initiatives to promote values of democracy, equality and tolerance
- Public awareness information campaigns using online or digital media approaches
- Developing civic education modules or online materials that can be broadly used
- Targeted education to people in workplaces
- Use of edutainment including theater, film, art, radio and television to communicate civic values
- The innovative use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) approaches to gather or share information.
- Organizing community projects on areas of shared interests with outcomes that improve intercommunal stability and tolerance, with participation from diverse communities.
Cross‐Cutting Themes
CSM II encourages partners to promote participation of diverse religious, ethnic, and marginalized communities within their organizations and project activities. While addressing the issues above, applicants are strongly encouraged to integrate the following cross‐cutting themes into their projects, as appropriate. Explain how the proposed project would promote:
- Innovative uses of technology
- Strengthening and leveraging networks and coalitions
- Engaging youth and strengthening their leadership
- Gender equality and women’s empowerment
- LGBTQI equality and empowerment
- Disability rights and inclusiveness
Funding Information
Applications may be for projects up to 12 months in duration. Applicants may propose budgets between MMK 30,000,000 and MMK 130,000,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- This RFA is intended for local organizations. This opportunity is open to applicants from anywhere in Myanmar, and its border areas for compelling work inside Myanmar.
- It is open to CSOs; community‐based organizations (CBOs); local civil society networks, consortiums and coalitions; non‐governmental media organizations and associations; and non‐governmental research and policy institutions working on issues inside Myanmar. They may be either unregistered or registered in Myanmar.
- Consortiums and networks of organizations are encouraged to apply, so as to achieve the broadest possible coverage and sharing of experiences, perspectives and resources.
- The following are not eligible to receive grant support:
- individuals;
- political parties;
- military or other armed groups;
- government or semi‐governmental institutions or media organizations (semi‐ governmental institutions and organizations being those that are 50 percent or more government financed or owned);
- international organizations; and
- faith‐based organizations that exclude beneficiaries based on faith, or any other protected characteristics (such as sex, gender or sexual orientation).
How to Apply
Please submit the application electronically (by email) at the address given on the website.
For more information, visit https://www.themimu.info/calls-for-proposals