Small Grants to Produce Localized Internet Shutdown Resources

• Network Measurement;
• Legal Resources;
• Multistakeholder Engagement;
• Circumvention Tools, Guides, and Resources.

Proposed Projects

Proposed projects could take a number of forms, including (but not limited to):

• Case study research to provide best practices and recommendations on how to respond to a shutdown.
• Resources to improve advocacy approaches and outreach to relevant stakeholders such as government bodies, ISPs, and other important actors.
• Guides on using circumvention tools during shutdowns, fighting shutdowns in courts, or measuring and documenting shutdowns.
• Translations of existing resources and guides for specific contexts, audiences, or languages.
• Training curricula relevant to predicting, preventing, or responding to an internet shutdown.

Requirements

• These funds are available solely to individuals or organizations interested in developing targeted, localized, and issue-specific resources to contribute to a growing community capable of responding to Internet shutdowns in Africa.
• Applicants must be based in Sub-Saharan Africa, or propose projects specifically targeting the region.
• Applicants can apply to supplement their existing project or to translate/update/localize an existing resource that they did not create (if it is under Creative Commons or with permission from the creator).

Countries of Focus

• Resources must be applicable for use in Sub-Saharan Africa. Resources that are created for use in specific countries (including localization or translation of resources into relevant languages) will be given precedent: Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritania, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Process

• Submissions will be accepted between November 20 and December 21, 2020.
• Projects should be no longer than 3 months in duration, with the possibility of a 2-month extension after that time.
• Grants will be reviewed by Internews, in conjunction with members of OPTIMA’s Advisory Committee. Projects may begin as early as January 1 and run through March 31, 2021.