Deadline: 13 March 2020
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 advance democratic culture in Armenia.
DRL’s goal is to advance democratic culture by supporting Armenia’s civil society’s efforts to strengthen the population’s resilience to malign influences. This project seeks to develop Armenian civil society capacity to identify disinformation, stop its proliferation, and mitigate its impact.
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.
Programs should seek to include groups that can bring perspectives based on their religion, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation and gender identity. Programs should be demand-driven and locally led to the extent possible. DRL requires all programs to be non-discriminatory and expects implementers to include strategies for integration of individuals/organizations regardless of religion, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation and gender identity.
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.
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $641,975
- Award Floor: $641,975
Program Activities
Program activities may include:
- Assessment of Armenians’ vulnerabilities to disinformation and capacity of local actors to use counter-measures;
- Media monitoring to track disinformation, including its sources and how it is spread;
- Basic digital safety education for civil society organizations and their representatives to protect themselves from online harassment and attacks; and
- Raising awareness among the Armenian public of disinformation and available tools to combat it. Proposals drawing on international best practices and/or lessons learned will be considered particularly competitive.
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.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply via given website.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=323958