Deadline: 10 April 2020
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that support projects that support investigative journalism, especially as it relates to corruption and mitigates the effects of mis- and dis-information.
The objective of this program is to support investigative media organizations in sub-Saharan Africa. The successful program will strengthen current and train new investigative journalists able to recognize and report on corruption, and sustain the cadre of experienced editors capable of guiding and informing them.
All programs should aim to have impact that leads to reforms and should have the potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources. DRL’s preference is to avoid duplicating past efforts by supporting 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.
Programs should seek to include groups that can bring perspectives based on their religion, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation and gender identity. Programs should be demand-driven and locally led to the extent possible. DRL requires all programs to be non-discriminatory and expects implementers to include strategies for integration of individuals/organizations regardless of religion, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation and gender identity.
Program activities may include: providing a combination of direct financial assistance, mentorship and training to investigative journalists to support production of in-depth stories on effects of malign influence (including, but not limited to, the spread of disinformation to undermine public confidence, cyber-hacking, illicit finance, support for radical movements and parties, and the use of economic warfare, e.g. through energy exports), rule of law, governance, and corruption-related issues; subgrants to Africa-based media and investigative journalism organizations and collectives, including, where appropriate, to support collaboration across organizations; establishment and/or utilization of international media partnerships and dissemination agreements to maximize local, national, regional, and global reach of stories produced; competitive small grants to individuals or teams of journalists to work alongside experienced editors; creative media literacy campaigns on how to recognize products of mis- and dis-information in target countries; trainings on fact-checking for civil society professionals; and skills-building partnerships with journalism programs at universities in target countries.
Activities that are not typically allowed include, but are not limited to:
- The provision of humanitarian assistance;
- English language instruction;
- Development of high-tech computer or communications software and/or hardware;
- Purely academic exchanges or fellowships;
- External exchanges or fellowships lasting longer than six months;
- Off-shore activities that are not clearly linked to in-country initiatives and impact or are not necessary per security concerns;
- Theoretical explorations of human rights or democracy issues, including projects aimed primarily at research and evaluation that do not incorporate training or capacity-building for local civil society;
- Micro-loans or similar small business development initiatives;
- Initiatives directed towards a diaspora community rather than current residents of targeted countries.
Funding Information
- Funding Floor: $800,000
- Funding Ceiling: $800,000
- Period of Performance: 12-18 months
- Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 6 months
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.
- Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process.
- Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs.
How to Apply
For all application documents, please ensure:
- All documents are in English and all costs are in U.S. dollars. If an original document within the application is in another language, an English translation must be provided (please note the Department of State, as indicated in 2 CFR 200.111, requires that English is the official language of all award documents. If any document is provided in both English and a foreign language, the English language version is the controlling version);
- All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments;
- All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper; and,
- All documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins. Captions and footnotes may be 10-point Times New Roman font. Font sizes in charts and tables, including the budget, can be reformatted to fit within 1 page width.
Applicants can find application forms, kits, or other materials needed to apply on the given website.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=324811