Deadline: 29-May-23
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that strengthen the resilience and capacity of independent media and citizen journalists in Burma to securely disseminate information to Burmese audiences and stakeholders that allows decision-makers and citizens to have informed debates on the country’s future.
Proposal packages must include a contingency fund line item of at least two (2) percent of the proposed program budget for ad-hoc, needs-based, emergency assistance to provide support to program beneficiaries, to help them adapt to the changing operational environment to continue to meet program objectives. Support under this line item may include, but is not limited to, support for partners to physically relocate during a crisis, telecommunications equipment or technical assistance to allow partners to continue their work in case of continued digital threats and restrictions on internet access, and legal support.
Objective
The program should be designed to achieve the following objective:
- Burmese citizens have increased access to timely, quality information on conflict and political developments in Burma that supports informed analysis and debates on the country’s future.
Funding Information
- Total Funding Floor: $1,234,567
- Total Funding Ceiling: $1,234,567
- Anticipated Number of Awards: 1
- Type of Award: Grant or Cooperative Agreement
- Period of Performance: 24 – 36 months
- Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 4 – 7 months.
Activities
Illustrative project activities may include:
- Support citizen journalists with technical and financial assistance to produce timely, ethical, fact-based and non-biased local reporting, including trainings on basic journalism skills and understanding of journalism ethics;
- Establish secure connections between established independent media outlets and networks of citizen journalists that can inform their reporting;
- Establish mentorship relationships between veteran journalists and citizen journalists or early career journalists, to cultivate a future generation of Burmese journalists;
- Provide digital and physical security training and resources, as well as psychosocial support to citizen and professional journalists;
- Provide trainings for citizen and professional journalists to more readily identify regime disinformation narratives;
- Support reporting that identifies and analyzes trends of regime disinformation in engaging formats, to spark informed and constructive debate on the architecture of disinformation, as well as core divisions within Burmese society
- Support trainings and/or small group discussions between citizen journalists and professional journalists, to contextualize rapid citizen journalist reporting within broader conflict analysis and debates on Burma’s political future
- Integration of principles of gender, religious, and ethnic diversity and inclusion into all program activities
- Provide support to existing efforts and tools or support the development of new and creative opportunities for journalists to share credible information;
All programs should aim to have impact that leads to reforms and should have the potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources. DRL’s preference is to avoid duplicating past efforts by supporting new and creative approaches. This does not exclude from consideration projects that improve upon or expand existing successful projects in a new and complementary way.
Competitive proposals may also include a summary budget and budget narrative for eight (8) to ten (10) additional months following the proposed period of performance. This information should indicate what objective(s) and/or activities could be accomplished with additional time and/or funds beyond the proposed period of performance.
Where appropriate, competitive proposals may include:
- Opportunities for beneficiaries to apply their new knowledge and skills in practical efforts;
- Solicitation of feedback and suggestions from beneficiaries when developing activities in order to strengthen the sustainability of programs and participant ownership of project outcomes;
- Input from participants on sustainability plans and systematic review of the plans throughout the life of the project, with adjustments made as necessary;
- Inclusion of vulnerable populations;
- Joint identification and definition of key concepts with relevant stakeholders and stakeholder input into project activities;
- Systematic follow up with beneficiaries at specific intervals after the completion of activities to track how beneficiaries are retaining new knowledge as well as applying their new skills.
Eligibility Criteria
DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/ nongovernmental 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. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures.
For more information, visit DRL.