Deadline: 1 July 2017
The Open Technology Fund (OTF) is currently accepting applications for its Internet Freedom Fund, a way to support projects and people working on open and accessible technology-centric projects that promote human rights, internet freedom, open societies, and help advance inclusive and safe access to global communications networks.
The Internet Freedom Fund improves existing internet freedom tools, invests in next-generation tools that move beyond the traditional “cat-and-mouse” techniques, supports projects that emphasize applied research, or address technological and political developments affecting global internet freedom. In addition, a strong interest exists for efforts focused on improving the usability and adoptability of internet freedom technologies.
Objectives
- Research
- Technology Development
- Training
Core Issues
- Access to the Internet, including tools to circumvent website blocks, connection blackouts, and widespread censorship
- Awareness of access, privacy, or security threats and protective measures, including how-to guides, instructional apps, data collection platforms, and other efforts that increase the efficacy of internet freedom tools;
- Privacy enhancement, including the ability to be free from repressive observation and the option to be anonymous when accessing the internet
- Security from danger or threat when accessing the internet, including encryption tools
Award Information
OTF awards are performance-based contracts signed directly with the applicant. Payment is issued on completion of stated objectives, activities, and deliverables per a schedule outlined in the contract. OTF reserves the right to award less or more than the funds requested as deemed in the best interest of OTF’s priorities. Applications that request more than the award ceiling of 900,000 or less than the award floor of $10,000 may be deemed technically ineligible.
Budget Periods
OTF awards are generally 6 to 18 months in duration. From time to time, OTF may consider requests to extend existing contracts beyond previously agreed upon durations. Any such decision will be subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the applicants, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of program priorities.
Eligibility Criteria
Ideal applicants are making use of, support, or develop open and accessible technologies promoting human rights and open societies, and help advance inclusive and safe access to global communications networks. In addition, the following criteria must be met:
- Individuals of all ages irrespective of nationality, residency, creed, gender, or other factors, with the exception that OTF is not able to support applicants within countries that the United States has trade restrictions or export sanctions as determined by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC);
- Non-profit organization/non-government organization, including U.S.-based NGO, PIO, or foreign NGO;
- Non-profit university or research institution in any country;
- For-profit organization or business in any country;
- Consortia of multiple people or organizations with one individual or organization designated as the lead applicant;
- Have demonstrated experience administering successful projects, preferably targeting the requested program area, or similarly challenging program environments where OTF reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations;
- Ideal applicants should not duplicate or simply add to efforts supported by other USG funding programs;
- Ideal applicants must not reflect any type of support for any member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist organization, whether or not elected members of government.
OTF prioritizes projects coming from individuals or organizations who are new to the internet freedom community and are requesting less than $300,000 for efforts with a duration less than 12 months. This allows us to empower a new pool of technology and development talent that may not have been otherwise supported.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via given website.
For more information, please visit Internet Freedom Fund.
