Deadline: 26-Mar-21
The U.S. Embassy Islamabad’s Public Affairs Section is pleased to announce competition for an assistance award through Public Diplomacy Grants program. U.S. Embassy, Islamabad invites eligible organizations to submit proposals for an award under a Cooperative Agreement to support efforts to build media capacity in an increasingly digital space through a series of virtual workshops, webinars, and one-on-one support for developing digital media skills.
Program activities will take place virtually, engaging a total of 30 journalists from across Pakistan. Participant selection will be subject to the approval of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates, and the program must ensure at least 50 percent female participation. The program should include both Urdu and English language journalists.
Goal: The project aims to increase journalistic capacity and opportunities in the digital media space for 30 young professional journalists, with 50 percent participation of female journalists, across Pakistan. The grantee will organize a series of virtual workshops, webinars, and one-on-one support sessions for writing, editing, and managing online journalism. The program must: 1) build the professional capacity of these journalists by helping them embrace contemporary digital media skills; and 2) enable them to learn the best monetization practices to sustain their online ventures. The program must support efforts to strengthen independent digital media by creating a network of professional and independent digital journalists. Under the program, over the period of one year, each participant must be provided one-on-one support and mentoring. Training activities may be conducted in English and/or Urdu, depending on the journalists’ preference and abilities.
Objectives
The project must outline and implement the activities to achieve the following three objectives:
- Objective 1: Increase the technical digital skills and the professional capacity of 30 journalists in Pakistan.
- Objective 2: Create new and strengthen existing networks of Pakistanis journalists working in the digital media field.
- Objective 3: Foster an environment that enables social media startups and entrepreneurial ventures in the field of digital journalism to prosper.
Funding Information
- Anticipated Award Amount: The award floor is $80,000; the award ceiling is $100,000.
- Duration of Award: September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022
Participants and Audiences
Ideal participants are early in their professional careers, but with established journalism credentials. The organization selected to carry out this cooperative agreement will choose a diverse group of 30 journalists from various regions of Pakistan. The journalists selected to participate must receive final approval from the U.S. Embassy. The grantee can release a call for applications through a public announcement on the grantee’s and Embassy Islamabad’s social media platforms. The grantee will ensure an equal gender balance in the selection of these journalists. With the applications, the grantee must solicit letters of intent noting the journalists’ areas of interest, ideas, present work, and journalistic endeavors. The target age for participants is 18 to 40 years of age.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility is open to international non-profit organizations. Organizations may sub-award or subcontract with other entities, but only one non-profit organization can be the prime recipient of the award. Pakistan government entities are not eligible to apply. For-profit entitles are not eligible to be the prime recipient of an award under this NOFO. When sub-awarding or subcontracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. The applicants must submit proof of their non-profit status with their proposal submission (e.g. proof of 501(c) (3) status, Pakistan NGO license). Applications that do not include proof of non-profit status will not be considered for an award. Individuals are not eligible for an award under this NOFO. U.S.-based or registered organizations should provide proof of registration to operate in Pakistan or have a documented agreement with a partner organization registered to operate in Pakistan.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=331078