Deadline: 31 May 2020
The Public Affairs Office of the US Embassy in Tirana, Albania, pending on availability of funds, announces a notification of funding opportunity (NOFO) to support the implementation of the project “Investigative Stories Platform.”
They are seeking proposals from Albanian or U.S. organizations that will establish an editorial board and a platform for the publication of investigative stories that increase transparency and accountability and expose corruption. The board would receive, review, and approve proposals of stories to receive funding for a stipend for the journalist and an approved budget for expenses to be able to conduct the investigation. Proposals would be reviewed on a monthly basis. Proposals to the board could be from individual journalists or groups of journalists as well as media organizations for the production of multi-media stories. Productions should include infographics, audio and/or video elements, and should not be limited to the capital Tirana. Journalists would be able to publish on the platform with or without a byline.
Funding Information
- Public Affairs Office of the US Embassy in Tirana intends to award one grant for up to $350,000.
- The period of performance is eighteen months, with an anticipated start date of October 2020.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants who are eligible to apply are U.S. and Albanian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), who are able to respond to the NOFO and be able to mobilize in a short period of time.
Evaluation Criteria
The Selection Committee will assess the following when evaluating grant proposals:
- The project proposal demonstrates that the organization has sufficient expertise, skills, and human resources to implement the project.
- The organization demonstrates that it has a clear understanding of the underlying issue that the project is aiming to address and is able to articulate it with specificity and clarity.
- The organization has consulted relevant resources, experts, and potential partner organizations during the project’s design phase.
- The project’s budget is well-organized, detailed, and reasonable. There are no budget lines labeled “miscellaneous expenses.” Entertainment and alcoholic beverage expenses are not included in the budget. The budget demonstrates that the organization has devoted time to plan for and assess actual expenses associated with the project instead of providing rough estimates.
- The organization has clearly articulated how it will assess and measure its own performance throughout the project implementation phase.
- Past performance, including U.S. government funded grants, indicates reliability, responsible use of resources, and an ability to follow through with project aims.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=326617