Deadline: 16 January 2017
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 local independent media in Belarus.
DRL’s goal is to support local independent journalists and media outlets in Belarus to produce fact-based reporting and objective information.
Program Objectives
- Increase citizens’ access to objective information about domestic and global issues of public importance, by enhancing local independent media’s ability to engage a larger print and online readership.
- Improve the quality of local and Russian-language media; increase the public’s access to reliable and unbiased information; and strengthen the sustainability and digital security of targeted independent media outlets.
Funding Information
- DRL anticipates having approximately $520,000 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 the solicitation.
- Applications should not request less than $250,000 and no more than $520,000.
- Applicants should include an anticipated start date between March 2017-May 2017 and the period of performance should be between 18-36 months.
Program Activities
- Training for local independent journalists and editors on news writing, international standards of journalism, investigative journalism, data analysis, and multimedia content production according to international standards of journalism;
- Providing coaching, training, technical and financial assistance to independent journalists;
- Providing national and international exposure to foster local journalists’ professional development;
- Engaging independent journalists on practices and providing skills for dealing with digital and physical security;
- Fellowships for journalists, editors, media marketing and sales staff;
- Providing legal and psychological services to address the needs of independent journalists;
- Small grants and tools to help independent local media engage more effectively with their audiences on topics that are important to the community.
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 Strengthening Local Media.