Deadline: 7-May-21
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a Cooperative Agreement from qualified entities to implement the Strengthening Media for Accountability in Zimbabwe Program (SMAZ).
The program intends to contribute to the advancement of a culture of accountability in Zimbabwe by enhancing the capacity of the media to hold powerful state and non-state actors accountable for their acts and omissions. The program also aims to strengthen citizen participation in public life and spur demand for accountability by improving citizens’ access to timely and reliable information.
The program seeks to find innovative ways to help the media encourage democratic and accountable governance, reveal corrupt practices and illicit financial flows, and promote constructive dialogue to make democratic processes more accessible to citizens. Program implementation strategies and approaches are expected to be flexible and innovative to respond to challenges and dynamics in Zimbabwe as they evolve.
Objectives
The objectives of this activity are to:
- Strengthen watchdog journalism and media reporting for accountability;
- Anticipated results:
- Enhanced capacity of the media to serve the public interest;
- Increased knowledge sharing, mentorship and cooperation between media practitioners;
- Improved reporting and coverage of political issues by the media.
- Anticipated results:
- Enhance media pluralism and diversity;
- Anticipated Results:
- Increased number of independent media outlets providing quality media content.
- Enhanced access to and demand for quality media products in underserved communities.
- Improved capacity of independent media to be self sustaining.
- Anticipated Results:
- Improve the policy, legal and regulatory environment for the media;
- Anticipated Results:
- Enhanced quality of laws and policies aligned to the 2013 Constitution for regulating media in Zimbabwe.
- Increased collaborative advocacy for media reforms from all sectors of society.
- Improved legal, policy, and normative frameworks for online information exchange.
- Anticipated Results:
- Increase media literacy and promote fact-driven action by consumers
- Anticipated Results:
- Increased role of the media in civic engagement and accountability.
- Improved ability of citizens to critically analyze media products.
- Improved ability of citizens and organizations to organize effectively on and offline.
- Anticipated Results:
Funding Information
- USAID intends to award one (1) Cooperative Agreement pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide $7, 000, 000, 00 in total USAID funding over a five (5) year period.
- The anticipated period of performance is five years.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=332403