Deadline: 31 January 2018
The East-West Management Institute (EWMI) Advancing CSO Capacities and Engaging Society for Sustainability (ACCESS) project is seeking applications for its Public Policy and Accountability Grants (PPAG) program for Georgian CSOs.
Main topic of the program is supporting Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration through projects exposing and countering hostile anti-western influence and/or disinformation.
Objectives
To this end, the PPAG program calls Georgian CSOs, CSO coalitions or coalitions between CSOs, individuals/groups, journalists, marketing organizations, and/or media outlets to submit project proposals that aim to achieve one or several of the following objectives:
- Highlight the ways in which propagandists attempt to manipulate audiences in Georgia, explore their specific vulnerabilities to propaganda and disinformation (e.g. misbeliefs, perceptions, worries, interests), and address these vulnerabilities to ensure that the target audiences are sensitized and immune to future misinformation attacks;
- Implement innovative and comprehensive strategic communication campaigns (including using humor, alternative media, and/or creative art to effectively attract attention) that target the intended effects of anti-western disinformation, as opposed to disinformation itself;
- Analyze how anti-western disinformation works in Georgia and offer actionable solutions to state and/or non-state actors to tackle it;
- Carry out other innovative activities that build societal resilience to misinformation and propaganda targeting the same audiences that are targeted with the propaganda.
Grant Information
- EWMI ACCESS will award a maximum of three grants of up to $50,000 USD each under this RfA.
- The duration of project activities should not exceed 18 months.
Eligibility Criteria
- Think tanks, watchdog and other types of CSOs, CSO coalitions, and coalitions between CSOs and media organizations registered in Georgia are eligible to submit proposals for the PPAG program. Applicants should meet the following criteria:
- Have at least two years of operational experience. As a rule, EWMI ACCESS will not provide “start-up” funding, although EWMI ACCESS may make an exception if sufficient evidence is presented to show that the organization’s directors and experts have adequate prior experience and the organization is filling a niche that has been underserved in the past.
- Have a governance structure that ensures proper rotation of leadership and delegation of power, including at least a Board of Directors, a Chairperson, and an Executive Director. The same individual should not hold the position of the Board Chairperson and the Executive Director, unless the size of the organization precludes this separation. If the above criteria are not met, the applicant must submit a proposed reform process that will work towards meeting these standards.
- Have a transparent system of bookkeeping that is in compliance with Georgian legislation and International Accounting Standards (IAS). If such a system is not in place, the grantee must work closely with EWMI ACCESS to ensure that accurate expense reports are prepared and a transparent bookkeeping system is put in place.
- Must not be a debtor, must have cancelled any debt to the state, or have arranged for debt collection prior to receiving the first disbursement of EWMI ACCESS grant funds.
- Must operate as an independent, non-politically affiliated organization.
- Must have a DUNS Number.
- Civil servants, political appointees, members of the current parliament, staff of public broadcasting companies, and/or leaders of political parties cannot participate in a grant project as a director. In most cases, these individuals are also excluded from being grant-remunerated participants in projects.
How to Apply
Applicants should submit their proposals and required documents via e-mail at the address given on the website.
Eligible Country: Georgia
For more information, please visit PPAG Program.