Apply Now: Support for Independent Media

The primary aim of these grants is to support independent media outlets/media organisations in the Western Balkans region promoting pluralism of expression, strengthening their cooperation with the Western Balkan Public Service Media (PSM) and improving audience-relevant reporting. Prioritized in close cooperation with Western Balkan PSM, topics of regional public interest may include (but are not limited to): cultural exchange and dialogue, education, rule of law, good governance, human, economic, and social rights (including vulnerable groups), gender, investigating environmental issues, Western Balkans’ progress on the EU integration path, etc.

Objectives

• Improve internal governance and organisational performance of public interest journalism;
• Enhance the professional capacity of journalists, both women and men equally in public broadcasters and,
• Expand the cooperation and partnership between public service media in the Western Balkans.

Topics

• Understanding the nature, aims and benefits of funding opportunities within the call for proposals;
• Presentation of the online application form within GAP;
• Developing project proposal and applying.

Funding Information

• A total budget of EUR 90,000 will be distributed for this type of grants.
• Three grants in total will be awarded, the highest amount per grant is EUR 30,000.
• Applicants may apply to cover the following costs:
  • Costs for new productions such as fees for freelance contracts (filming team), catering (only if directly linked to the media content production activities), materials for filming, human resources costs for employees of the independent media outlets/organisations, etc.
  • Lump sums for travel, accommodation/per diems for staff, etc.

Eligible costs

• Travel
  • Travel costs, from the place of origin to the destination city and return (economy class only). Travel expenses will be eligible only if connected to specific project activities proposed in the project proposal.
  • Financing mechanism: Actual costs
  • Amount: 100% of actual costs
• Costs of stay
  • Costs for food, accommodation, local and public transport, per diems for productions. Costs of stay will be eligible only if connected to specific project activities proposed in the project proposal.
  • Financing mechanism: Actual costs
  • Amount: 100% of actual costs
• Special needs
  • Additional expenses linked to disability or other special needs.
  • Financing mechanism: Actual costs
  • Amount: A maximum of 1,500 EUR can be funded.
• Visa fees (if required)
  • Visa costs
  • Financing mechanism: Actual costs
  • Amount: 100% of actual costs
• Rent of equipment
  • Technical support and rent of equipment that will be used for production of media content. Use of equipment should be clearly justified and explained.
  • Financing mechanism: Actual costs
  • Amount: 100% of actual costs
• Costs for new productions
  • Fees for freelance contracts (filming team), catering, materials for filming, etc.
  • Financing mechanism: Actual costs
  • Amount: 100% of actual costs
• Human resources costs
  • Cost of applicant’s staff and experts directly involved in the implementation of the proposed project, proportionate to their level of involvement.
  • Financing mechanism: Actual costs
  • Amount: 100% of actual costs

Ineligible Costs

• VAT costs
  • VAT (value added costs) will not be accepted within this project. Recipients of EU funds in the Western Balkans are exempt from paying VAT. Beneficiaries will be informed about the VAT exemption procedure before signing a grant contract.
• Entertainment
  • Entertainment costs such as:
    • Gifts;
    • Alcohol;
    • Restaurant bills or hospitality costs for personnel not directly participating in the project.
• Excessive transport
  • Excessive taxi fares (taxi receipts above 50,00 EUR) and/or fuel costs (above 200,00 EUR). Applicants are encouraged to plan funds for public transportation (if the suggested project activities allow it).
• Other travel expenses
  • Travel of a companion/dependents, translations, preparation of documents for visa, etc.
• Double funding
  • Expenses that are already fully covered by another source, grant, or program.
• Not approved project expenses
  • Expenses that have not been indicated in the budget and approved, as well as expenses that are not directly related to the proposed and approved project activities by the grant contract.
• Other
  • Foreign currency exchange losses, debts and debt service charges (interest), provisions for losses, debts or potential future liabilities, credit to third parties, benefits in kind, performance-related bonuses that are included in staffing expenses.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must comply with the following criteria:
  • Operate as an independent media outlet/media organisation3 with legal entity established in one of the following IPA beneficiaries4: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia.
  • Status of legal entity: independent private sector media companies or non-forprofit media organisations. State-controlled media are not eligible.
  • Transparent ownership structure with no involvement of state or stateaffiliated entities (e.g., state-owned/controlled economic operators), nor senior political actors or their close relatives.
  • Proven commitment to professional and ethical standards of journalism (e.g. through membership to press councils, adherence or compliance with other recognized mechanisms, and platforms, established to promote professional and ethical standards in journalism).
  • Independent media outlet/media organisation registered for at least 3 years.
  • Have a signed official document (contract/agreement/statement/letter of intent) with at least one of the Western Balkan PSM that signed a memorandum of understanding5 to broadcast the media content developed and created within this grant scheme. The produced media content must be broadcasted for at least one month and posted on different Western Balkan PSM’s and beneficiary’s media platforms (TV, social media, websites, YouTube, etc.).

Application Requirements

• Applicants need to submit the following supporting documents:
  • Registration documents (certificate) confirming the legal entity status as a registered media outlet/organisation within the relevant IPA beneficiary.
  • Portfolio of media outlet/organisation on a similar media content topic that the applicant is suggesting in its project proposal.
  • CVs of proposed key personnel.
  • Editorial guidelines of the lead and partner applicant (if applicable).
  • Organisational chart of the lead and partner applicant (if applicable). The organisational chart has to display a reporting or relationship hierarchy. Please include all departments and managing bodies within your organisation, including the steering committee and founders. For the managing positions within the media outlet/organisation, please include the names of employees (persons) currently engaged at these roles, including the steering committee members and founder(s).
  • Financial statements for the last two fiscal years.
  • Any official document (signed) which confirms the applicant has a formal agreement with at least one Western Balkan PSM on broadcasting the media content that will be produced within this grant scheme. Project proposals having formal agreements with more than one Western Balkan PSM will have an advantage. Self-declaration on exclusion criteria and avoidance of conflicts of interest for the awarding of a grant by the Goethe-Institut.

For more information, visit Goethe-Institut.