Europe Foundation awarding Grant of GEL 85,000 per project in Georgia

Deadline: 23-Feb-23

Europe Foundation is seeking to identify journalists and media outlets, who are interested and able to engage in holistic investigation of a single topic of interest, such as corruption or corporate wrongdoing, and who are able to involve more partners that can support their watchdog and advocacy efforts, such as civil society organizations, civic activists, etc.

In addition to grant support, Europe Foundation offers an unprecedented mentorship opportunity from experienced US-based investigative journalists and professors, who will work directly with the grantees to flash out ideas for investigations, to teach them new techniques, and to support them in developing feasible action plans for carrying out the work.

Goal and Objectives

The goal of the grant competition is to support the watchdog function of the Georgian media and to promote civic monitoring and advocacy efforts in various spheres of life, through fostering cooperation between media outlets and CSOs, so that together they contribute to more transparent and accountable governance in Georgia.
The primary objectives of the call are as follows:
- To support Georgian journalists and media outlets in their watchdog reporting efforts that will shine light on systemic corruption or expose uncomfortable truths about various aspects of governance in Georgia.
- To support partnerships between investigative reporters and CSOs that will ensure follow up on the conducted investigations, in order to arm Georgian citizens with information and to effect real changes for families and communities across Georgia.

Potential Focus Areas

Political:
- Government dealings/engagements, issues of political or judicial corruption, channeling of public funds, misuse of power, etc.
Economic:
- Corporate activities, business links, labor rights violations, consumer rights violations, etc.
Social:
- Healthcare sector, provision of public services or social assistance, etc.
Environmental/ecological:
- Looking at the linkages between environmental problems, economic development, and governance failures.

Funding Information

Maximum grant award for each proposal is GEL 85,000. 2 The minimum duration of the project is 12 month and maximum duration 18 months.

Grant funds may be used for the following:

Grant funds may be used only for the activities directly related to implementation of a grant project. Grant funds cannot be used for covering organization’s on-going expenses, construction expenses, purchase of real estate, or covering the applicant organization’s debt. Grant funds may be used for the following:

Expenses related to collection of data and evidence.
Direct costs for project-related events.
Communication (phone, fax, e-mail).
Pro-rated portion of salaries for key participants and reasonable honoraria for the invited experts (if any). A clear justification must be provided for project staff salary levels and percentage of hours dedicated to project activities.
Transportation.
Purchase of stationery and a limited amount of equipment (e.g. computer, software).
Other expenses directly related to project implementation.

Eligibility Criteria

Proposals must come from media outlets or civil society organizations legally registered in Georgia. It is mandatory to show real partnership between a civil society organization and a media outlet or a group of journalists. Civil servants, members of the current parliament, staff of the public broadcaster, and/or leaders and members of political parties cannot participate in a grant project as a grant remunerated participant. Interested applicant can submit one proposal within a call.

For more information, visit Europe Foundation.