Deadline: 31-May-21
The United States Embassy in Kosovo announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to improve the security and resilience of Kosovo’s independent media online infrastructure through partnerships with ethical “white hat” hackers.
Program Objectives
The objectives of this program are:
- To strengthen cyber defenses of independent Kosovo media outlet online presences/portals, thereby enhancing media freedom.
- To develop the capacity of Kosovo “white hat” ethical hackers and ethical hacker organizations not only to identify weaknesses and help media partners fortify against them, but also improve communication skills needed to educate media partners and the public about the potential for malign actors to gain access to critical infrastructure and information.
Funding Information
- Total available funding: $50,000
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $50,000
- Length of performance period: 6 to 12 months
- Number of awards anticipated: 1-2 awards (dependent on amounts)
- Type of Funding: Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia – AEECA Funds
- Anticipated program start date: August 1, 2021
Participants and Audiences
- Participants for main activities are “white hat” hackers and media partner organizations.
- For education and awareness campaigns, audiences would include journalists, commercial and government IT professionals, and policy makers.
Priority Region: Kosovo
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligibility is limited to not-for-profit IT and Software organizations (Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO’s), and independent media outlets officially registered in the Republic of Kosovo.
- Successful proposals must have and include:
- A network of ethical hackers able to test media partners’ online infrastructure
- At least 5-10 partnerships with influential media outlets willing to participate in this pilot program.
- Innovative projects to educate media partners on how to identify, respond to, and fortify their online infrastructure.
- Innovative communication strategies and campaigns to increase awareness around these issues with other independent media and other Kosovo audiences.
- Proposals should include appropriate funds for the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of program successes and challenges, and a detailed description of how M&E will be carried out and program success will be determined, including a logic frame and a list of outputs and outcomes expected.
- Proposals should detail a robust media plan, and winning applicants should plan to share their online activities/posts with the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section (PAS).
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=332651