Deadline: 19 December 2016
The United States Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) has announced an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that strengthen independent media in Bangladesh.
DRL requests proposals for programs that foster media independence, strengthen the capacity of independent media in the area of investigative journalism, and increase safety and support for journalists in Bangladesh.
Funding Information
- DRL anticipates having approximately $700,000 available to support approximately one successful application submitted in response to this NOFO, subject to the availability of funding.
- Applicants can submit one application in response to this solicitation.
- Applications should not request less than $500,000 and no more than $700,000.
- Applicants should include an anticipated start date between March 2017 – May 2017 and the period of performance should be between 18-36 months.
Proposal Priorities
- The bureau seeks proposals that will:
- increase the capacity of independent media to effectively investigate and report unbiased and objective stories in a complex political environment;
- Facilitate linkages and collaboration between individual journalists, media organizations, and NGOs within Bangladesh to address self-censorship and the lack of media freedom in the current environment;
- Provide digital and physical security training to journalists, bloggers and other media professionals, including those who cover issues such as accountability within a rule of law framework, democratic governance, religion, and/or secularism.
- Competitive proposals will focus on journalists working in English as well as Bangla media outlets and will ensure that a majority of program activities are directed towards journalists outside Dhaka.
- Projects should have the potential to have an immediate impact leading to long-term sustainable reforms, and should have potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources.
- DRL’s preference is to not duplicate past efforts, but instead support new and creative approaches. This does not exclude from consideration projects that improve upon or expand existing successful projects in a new and complementary way.
- DRL also strives to ensure its projects advance the rights and uphold the dignity of the most vulnerable or at-risk populations.
Eligibility Criteria
- DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses.
- DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.
- Applicants must have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with thematic or in-country partners, entities and relevant stakeholders, including private sector partners and NGOs, and have demonstrable experience in administering successful and preferably similar projects.
- DRL encourages applications from foreign-based NGOs headquartered in the geographic regions/countries relevant to this NOFO. Applicants may form consortia and submit a combined application. However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant with the other members as sub-award partners.
- DRL reserves the right to request additional background information on applicants that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards, and these applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.
- DRL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its projects and activities.
- DRL welcomes applications irrespective of an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status. DRL encourages applications from organizations working with the most at risk and vulnerable communities, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, members of ethnic or religious minority groups, and LGBTI persons.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can download the application packages via given website.
For more information, please visit grants.gov.