Deadline: 10 June 2020
The United States Embassy in Montenegro, acting through the Public Affairs Section, is pleased to announce an open competition for assistance awards, subject to the availability of funds, through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Media Professionalization Assistance Program.
Activities
This program aims to support the following types of activities:
- Projects that raise the professional standards of journalism in Montenegro. Their goal is to support independent and fact-based journalism, including current journalists and students aspiring to a career in media.
- Media literacy and critical thinking projects aimed at helping citizens, ranging from youth to elderly, recognize, analyze, and ultimately reject disinformation.
- Investigative journalism projects that support reforms necessary for Montenegro’s continued Euro-Atlantic integration. Ares of focus include (but are not limited to) the following topics:
- The rule of law
- The strengthening of democratic institutions
- Human and minority rights
- Sustainable development
- Entrepreneurship
Projects to support reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic, including debunking disinformation and conspiracy theories related to the crisis.
Grant Information
- The Embassy plans to support specific projects and initiatives that facilitate the development of media freedom and journalistic professional standards in Montenegro through grant awards ranging from $30,000 – $70,000.
- Length of performance period: 12 months
The following projects or costs are ineligible for funding:
- More than one proposal submitted by an organization.
- Projects relating to partisan political activity.
- Conferences and individual trips abroad.
- Charitable activity and humanitarian aid.
- Fundraising campaigns.
- Commercial projects.
- Scientific research.
- Individuals not affiliated with an organization that can provide long-term sustainability to the project.
- Duplications of existing projects.
- Miscellaneous costs.
- Entertainment and alcoholic beverage costs.
Criteria
Embassy will use the following general criteria to evaluate all submitted 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.
- The organization has identified appropriate beneficiaries or target groups.
- The project has a clear focus and manageable scope.
- The project is innovative yet the proposed project activities are concrete and detailed and supported by a reasonable work plan.
- The project’s budget is well organized, detailed, and reasonable.
- The organization has clearly articulated how it will assess and measure project performance using both quantitative and qualitative assessment tools.
- The proposal describes the approach that will be used to ensure maximum sustainability of the project’s results after its completion.
- Note: Incomplete, lengthy, and unclear applications will not be considered.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=327043