Deadline: 6-Apr-22
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) has announced an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects to defend the online freedom of expression of anticorruption activists, whistleblowers, and investigative journalists (“anticorruption actors”) in Ukraine and Moldova by improving the security, reliability, and/or usability of relevant secure and anonymous communications tools to promote transparency and expose fraud.
DRL seeks to support efforts that create improvements to existing and proven technologies useful to anticorruption actors in Moldova and Ukraine and increase the adoption of these tools by anticorruption actors in these countries. Expected outcomes should include improving the effectiveness, reliability, security, and/or usability of existing and proven tools that permit communications and file-sharing when reporting and investigating corruption in these country contexts; and supporting the safe and sustainable deployment of these technologies among anticorruption actors.
Activities
Proposed activities could include, but are not limited to:
- Conducting user-centered design processes and risk assessments to identify the secure communication needs of anticorruption actors focused on Moldova and Ukraine and the specific threats they face.
- Conducting a landscape study of existing/available technologies that need upgrades or improvements to meet the needs of anticorruption actors focused on these country contexts.
- Improving the privacy and security of identified tool(s), such as through security audits or integrating encryption protocols or mechanisms.
- Enhancing the usability of identified tool(s), such as through usability assessments that include concrete recommendations for U/X improvement.
- Addressing feedback received directly from anticorruption actors focused on these country contexts, such as through feature additions or modifications that improve functionality while upholding users’ security and privacy.
- Supporting the safe and sustainable deployment and use of tool(s) with specific beneficiary anticorruption organizations focused on these country contexts.
- The creation of public-facing guidance and awareness campaigns to educate anticorruption actors about the effective use of tool(s) to confidentially/anonymously report, investigate, and/or expose corruption.
- Provide ongoing support, guidance, and/or mentoring to beneficiaries as they utilize these tools in practical local and/or transnational anticorruption efforts involving local anticorruption actors.
- The creation of public-facing guidance and awareness campaigns to educate anticorruption actors about the effective use of tool(s) to confidentially/anonymously report, investigate, and/or expose corruption.
- Provide ongoing support, guidance, and/or mentoring to beneficiaries as they utilize these tools in practical local and/or transnational anticorruption efforts involving local anticorruption actors.
Competitive programs must:
- Focus on supporting anticorruption actors focused on efforts in both Ukraine and Moldova.
- Be led by or have strong support from and/or active participation by anticorruption actors focused on these country contexts.
- Substantively involve anticorruption actors focused on these country contexts, focus on activities at the local level, and make grants or sub-grants to anticorruption actors focused on these country contexts where possible.
- Demonstrate a strong understanding of the context of broader anticorruption efforts in these country contexts, such as the legal protections for whistleblowers, the severity of physical and digital threats, and the existing structure and capacity of existing networks of anticorruption actors.
- Demonstrate a strong understanding of the unique needs and challenges of anticorruption actors focused on these country contexts, including the barriers to their participation in project activities, and how to safely mitigate these risks and challenges.
- Be focused on existing, proven technologies that are used to support either:
- confidentially/anonymously disclose corruption to the media and civil society organizations, and/or
- local or transnational collaboration and information sharing efforts to expose corruption.
- Ensure there is appropriate multi-lingual support for tools and resources developed under this project.
Funding Information
- Total Funding Floor: $900,000
- Ukraine AEECA Floor: $500,000
- Moldova AEECA Floor: $400,000
- Total Funding Ceiling: $900,000
- Ukraine AEECA Ceiling: $500,000
- Moldova AEECA Ceiling: $400,000
- Period of Performance: 2-3 years
- Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 9 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.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=337698