Deadline: 15-Aug-23
The U.S. Embassy Lomé, of the U.S. Department of State, announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to provide media literacy awareness for the public as bridges of understanding between individuals of different religious and cultural backgrounds for peacebuilding.
Program Objectives
- Togo, despite its proximity to countries affected by violent extremism, is one West African country that has experienced relative peace and security, until recently.
- The escalation in violence in Burkina Faso has spread to neighboring countries, with Togo and Benin recording their worst Global Terrorist Index (GTI) scores on record. According to country officials, as of today, violent extremist attacks have led to over 40 military casualties and more than 100 civilians were killed and 2000 Togolese have taken refuge outside the country.
- As recognized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), media literacy is an educational and cultural area that needed to be addressed, particularly when aiming at building bridges of better understanding between individuals of different religious and cultural backgrounds. Togo’s National Strategy to Prevent and Combat Violent Extremism (SNAPLEV) references the need for media literacy and for additional collaboration with journalists as a key method of preventing violent extremism.
- The main objective of this NOFO is to leverage and highlight U.S. expertise and the growing U.S.-Togo relationship to use media literacy as an educational and cultural as mechanism to build bridges of better understanding between individuals of different religious and cultural backgrounds, with the end goal of preventing violent extremism.
Funding Information
- Total available funding: $250,000
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $250,000
- Length of performance period: 12 months.
Expected Outcomes
- Specific outcomes should include one or more of the following:
- Information vacuums are filled with credible and coherent knowledge.
- Media disseminate accurate and comprehensive information on terrorism-related threats.
- More people have access to accurate and well verified information and sources and a more discerning and critical approach to media consumption.
- Participants/population are equipped with knowledge of
- the importance of the rights of victims in receiving accurate information,
- the interest and coverage of mainstream media and social media networks following terrorist attacks,
- standard practices for media in regard to identities of victims and their families and possible secondary victimization, and
- promoting and implementing a more victim-sensitive approach by the media.
- The Project Implementer should demonstrate how the desired outcomes overlap with audience’s motivation and interest and mention which tools and resources will resonate with the audiences to lead them to the desired outcomes. Most importantly, clearly explain how they will assess or measure project success.
Performance Indicators
- The Project Implementer should monitor and report on performance indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. Establish, where possible, performance baseline data and expected performance targets for each expected result and include details on what sources of data will be used to document performance, how the indicators will be measured, frequency of measurement, and units of measure. Where possible, indicators should also allow for sex disaggregation. Indicators should reflect key project outputs or outcomes that reflect on the primary goals or objectives of the project and that the implementer can collect with high quality data.
Priority Region: All the 5 regions of Togo.
Participants and Audiences: Communication Institutions, State and Independent Media Professionals, and the General Public.
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/nongovernmental organizations
- Public and private educational institutions
- For-profit organizations
- Individuals
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
- Note: U.S. NGOs should demonstrate in country local expertise and have local experts to assist in project implementation.
- Applicants are responsible for negotiating prior agreements with Togolese state institutions for the implementation of the program. The Public Affairs Section reserves the right to request evidence of such agreements.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.