Uganda: Media Literacy and Counter Disinformation Programs

Deadline: 31-Mar-23

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.  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.
• 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.)

Funding Information

• Total available funding: $50,000
• Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $2,000 to a maximum of $50,000.
• Length of performance period: 1-12 months
• Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 1 year or less.  PDS will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Public Diplomacy Section encourages applications from U.S. and Ugandan individuals and organizations:
  • Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience
  • Individuals
  • Non-profit or governmental educational institutions
  • Governmental institutions
• For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit Media Literacy and Counter Disinformation Programs.