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CFAs: Understanding and Countering Disinformation for African Journalists

Deadline: 15-Jun-2024

The Africa Regional Services, Bureau of African Affairs’ Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (AF/PDPA) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition to submit applications to organize a training on Understanding and Countering Disinformation for African Journalists.

The extensive spread of false information poses a significant obstacle to the stability and prosperity of African nations. Those orchestrating elaborate disinformation schemes targeting African media are leveraging the rapid expansion and accessibility of digital communication channels to overhaul the continent’s information landscape at a pace and scale previously unattainable through traditional means. A clear correlation exists between the extent of disinformation and societal unrest. False narratives have directly incited violent conflicts, supported political turmoil, intimidated members of civil society into silence, and obscured acts of corruption and exploitation. These actions have tangible repercussions, eroding the rights, freedoms, and security of African populations. Furthermore, rapid advancements in technology pave the way for AI-driven content to further sow seeds of distrust and disorder within democratic systems.

Africa Regional Services announces a call for institutional partners and individuals with extensive experience and capacity in training and outreach among African media organizations in the field of countering disinformation to submit proposals for online and in person training of African journalists on disinformation.

Aims
  • The program aims to empower journalists with the skills and knowledge to effectively counter misinformation and disinformation, ensuring accurate and responsible reporting. The series of workshops should include but are not limited to the following topics:
    • Understanding and Identifying Misinformation/Disinformation and its Impact
    • Fact-Checking, Online/Offline Content Verification Methods, Recognizing Red Flags and Manipulative Tactics
    • Ethical Reporting and Considerations in the Age of Misinformation/Disinformation
    • Strategies for Countering Disinformation
    • Combatting Online Abuse Against Journalists and Building Resilience
    • Misinformation and Disinformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
  • The project will be conducted in French and English, virtually over six months. It will consist of online presentations and dialogues between American experts and African audience, discussing theories and case studies, and sharing best practices, strategies, and resources. Budget permitting the project will design an in-person colloquium with selected participants. The project should also provide a strategy for and facilitate peer-to-peer contact and content sharing between program participants following program completion.
  • All subject matter experts must be American citizens.
Objectives
  • Projects should be designed to achieve the following:
    • Objective 1: Increase the professional capacity of African journalists through training workshops on countering misinformation/disinformation.
    • Objective 2: Participants to develop and publish stories showcasing the application of skills acquired in the training sessions.
Funding Information
  • Total available funding: $250,000
  • Number of awards anticipated: 1 award
  • Length of performance period: 12 months
Targeted Regions
  • Sub-Saharan African countries including but not limited to Cote D’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Sierra Leone, Guinea Conakry, Chad, Cameroon, Togo, Benin.
Targeted Audience
  • Male and female African journalists/reporters from print, broadcast, and digital media outlets.
  • Must ensure gender balance among target audience aged 25 to 50.
Eligibility Criteria
  • The following organizations are eligible to apply:
    • Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
    • Public and private educational institutions
    • Individuals
  • In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number.
  • Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.