Deadline: 31 July 2019
The Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA) and the Ford Foundation have partnered to establish a Community Media Fund (CMF) to enhance citizens’ access to relevant information that enables the public to support policies and practices that drive inclusive economic and human development locally, regionally and nationally. The CMF’s will make disbursements to grantees in East, West and Southern Africa regions.
The CMF is seeking Concept Notes to award grants to key civil society organizations, community media and non-governmental organizations in the East, West and Southern Africa regions to strengthen citizen journalism, enhance the financial literacy of citizens, improve their access to relevant data and build the capacity of community media to improve governance and accountability through analysis and reporting.
The specific objectives of the CMF include:
- Provide funding to select organizations supporting community media;
- Promote transparency, accountability and governance through media and/or the financial literacy of less privileged or marginalized communities;
- Fund initiatives to increase visibility of emerging non-traditional reporters (e.g. citizen reporters);
- Drive the creation and delivery of new media content; and
- Make localized data available about public resources allocation and statistical information (e.g., demographics, employment, health, education).
Thematic Areas
Concept notes from eligible organizations who are implementing interventions in the following thematic areas are currently being accepted:
- Producing and disseminating media content on their host communities; and or
- Focusing on transparency and accountability, financial Journalism, financial literacy, greater access to data, social justice, or investigative reporting.
Funding Information
- The CMF will have two rounds of a call for proposals. This is the second round.
- The minimum grant award amount is USD 10,000.
Duration
The CMF will award grants for a maximum duration of six months.
Geographical Location
Projects must be implemented at least in one of the following regions: East, West or Southern Africa.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible grant applicants must:
- Be an Africa-focused and headquartered:
- Civil society organization (CSO)/non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting community media; or
- Media training institution; or
- Community media outlet, including an outlet affiliated with educational institutions; or
- Network of community media; or
- CSO/NGO supporting initiatives that increase the visibility of emerging non-traditional reporters; or a
- CSO/NGO focusing on transparency, accountability and financial literacy at the community level.
- Be registered in good standing in accordance with the relevant laws of respective countries in East, West and Southern Africa regions.
- Be directly responsible for the preparation, implementation and management of the proposed project.
- Have prior experience carrying out activities in priority areas of this RFP, specifically:
- producing and disseminating media content on their host communities; and/or
- focusing on transparency and accountability, financial Journalism, financial literacy, greater access to data, social justice, or investigative reporting.
- Must have a bank account and be willing to open a separate account for the grant. and
- Must have certified financial audit reports.
Eligible Activities
Applicants must submit proposals that demonstrates good potential, provides verifiable data on the outcome of the project at the activity level ((e.g. include a clear community outreach and engagement strategy).
How to Apply
- Interested Applicants are invited to submit a concept note and a summary budget. Applicants should send their fully completed concept note, budget, as attachments at the address given on the website.
- All concept notes must be completed in English.
For more information, please visit https://east-africa.hivos.org/news/call-for-concept-notes-2/