Deadline: 21-Mar-25
Canal France International (CFI) is launching a call for projects to support media outlets and civil society organizations in the Western Balkans in their efforts to combat disinformation and promote critical thinking, especially among young audiences.
This Call for Projects is launched within the framework of two complementary initiatives: Shared Horizons (Component 3: Combating disinformation and nationalist discourses in the western Balkans) and Balkan Voices 2.
The Western Balkans face persistent challenges related to disinformation and nationalist rhetoric, exacerbated by historical conflicts and political instability. These dynamics are further fuelled by foreign influence, particularly from Russian state actors, leading to increased ethnic divisions and weakening social cohesion. Young people aged 15-30 are especially vulnerable to misinformation circulating on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
The Balkan Voices 2 project is a regional initiative designed to empower youth in the Western Balkans by strengthening their media literacy and critical thinking skills. It focuses on two main objectives: enhancing media and information literacy among young audiences and building the capacities of journalism students and young media professionals to produce accurate, responsible content that counters disinformation and fosters regional dialogue. The Shared Horizons project complements this approach by further engaging youth in the fight against disinformation and reinforcing the professional skills of journalism students across the region.
The purpose of this Call for Projects is to define the contractual terms of the future grant agreement, hereinafter referred to as the “agreement”, to be concluded between CFI and the selected beneficiary(ies).
The proposed projects should address the themes of combating disinformation and reducing the impact of nationalist rhetoric in the Western Balkans. It should focus on fostering critical thinking and promoting informed engagement among young people, particularly in their interaction with digital media and online content.
Objectives and Priorities
- The general objective of this Call for Projects is to combat disinformation and nationalist rhetoric in the Western Balkans by supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) and independent media in the creation and dissemination of engaging, educational digital content targeting young audiences.
- The specific objectives of this Call for Project are:
- Strengthen local media and CSO capacities: provide financial support to CSOs and independent media with proven experience in producing educational content, enabling them to scale their impact and sustainably counter disinformation.
- Support the production of diverse and innovative digital formats (videos, podcasts, articles) that explain disinformation mechanisms and promote critical thinking among youth.
- Reach and engage young audiences, amplify the visibility of produced content through popular social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) to maximize engagement with young people aged 15–30.
- The priorities of this Call for projects is/are:
- Encouraging the development of innovative, original and engaging digital content that effectively addresses disinformation and resonates with young audiences.
- Addressing region-specific disinformation narratives, by supporting projects that tackle disinformation related to ethnic tensions, nationalist rhetoric, and historical distortions specific to the Western Balkans.
Funding Information
- The indicative total amount made available under this Call for Projects is fifty-heigh thousand five hundred euros (58 500 €). This amount is indicative, CFI is not obliged to allocate the amount indicated and may unilaterally allocate a lower amount.
- Estimated amount of grants:
- Any grant requested under this Call for Projects must be between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
- Minimum amount: five thousand euros (5000 €) including indirect costs
- Maximum amount: ten thousand euros (10000 €) including indirect costs
- Any grant requested under this Call for Projects must be between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
Duration
- The selected projects must start no earlier than May 1, 2025, and end no later than April 31, 2026.
- The initial planned duration of the proposed projects may not be less than five (5) months or exceed twelve (12) months.
Eligible Activities
- The activities likely to benefit from a grant under this Call for Projects include:
- The production of social media content designed to counter disinformation and promote critical thinking among young audiences in the Western Balkans. This includes formats such as videos, podcasts, and posts adapted to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube;
- The creation of fact-checking articles addressing regional and international issues, which will be also published on the Balkan Voices platform;
- The collaboration with regional partners, (for example ALDA, the Museum of the 90s or any other organisations working on a related subject), to develop content related to collective memory, reconciliation, and combating nationalist narratives and disinformation
Geographic Coverage
- The proposed projects must be implemented in at least one of the following countries:
Eligibility Criteria
- The criteria are cumulative; if the applicant does not meet one or more of the criteria set out below, its application shall be rejected by CFI:
- Be a legally registered legal entity;
- This call is opened only for media and CSOs;
- Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project proposed under this Call for Projects;
- Have been legally and physically established in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia or Serbia for at least three (3) years;
- Have at least two (2) years of experience in the fight against misinformation;
- Experience in producing digital content is an asset;
- To not be a member of the Main Project consortium; – To not be bankrupt and have no criminal conviction.
For more information, visit CFI.