U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. EMBASSY KAMPALA, PUBLIC DIPLOMACY SECTION
Notice of Funding Opportunity
Funding Opportunity Title: U.S. Embassy Kampala Media Literacy and Countering Disinformation Programs
Funding Opportunity Number: DOS-PDS-KAM-FY23-02
Assistance Listing: 19.040 – Smith Mundt
Estimated Total Program Funding: $50,000. Funding may be available to renew awards issued under the Public Diplomacy Grant Program for a period of two additional years.
Award Ceiling: $50,000
Award Floor: $2,000
Deadline for Applications: March 31, 2023
Email: Kampalagrants@state.gov
- PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The U.S. Embassy Kampala Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program to focus on Media Literacy and Counter Disinformation activities. This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity outlining a funding priority and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Proposals that do not align with stated objectives and project outcomes will not be considered for funding.
Objectives and Project Outcomes:
The objectives of the Public Diplomacy Grant Program in general are to promote understanding and foster positive relations between the people of Uganda and the United States; reinforce shared values; and connect high potential Ugandan youth and young professionals (aged 16 to 35) as well as established professional leaders to the American people. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.
Download: Detailed NOFO Document | DOS-PDS-KAM-FY23-02 | UGANDA – Media Literacy and Disinformation NOFO
The objective of this specific funding opportunity is to improve media literacy, reduce vulnerability to misinformation and disinformation, and/or raise awareness about the importance of media literacy and fact checking. Proposed projects will work with an audience of established professionals aged 25 to 50. Examples of activities included in potentially successful proposals could include, but are not limited to:
- Training Ugandan journalists and media professionals on fact checking and verification of credible sources and/or the identification of disinformation and misinformation.
- Conducting trainings for Ugandan professionals in any relevant field that focus on media literacy and community leadership in checking the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
- Hosting events or trainings that promote the development of innovative technologies or solutions to strengthening media literacy and/or unmasking misinformation/disinformation (i.e. a media literacy “hackathon” or coding event to develop tools that support easy fact checking or the identification of disinformation and misinformation.)
Types of activities that are not typically funded include, but are not limited to:
- Social welfare, community development, or vocational skilling projects,
- Fees and travel costs to attend conferences in the United States,
- Ongoing salary costs and office equipment,
- Paying to complete activities begun with other funds,
- Projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to individual or single party electoral campaigns,
- Political party activities,
- Projects that support specific religious activities,
- Trade activities; fundraising campaigns; commercial projects; scientific research; construction projects; or projects whose primary aim is the institutional development of the organization itself.
