Call for Applications: Innovation Grants Program

This includes supporting projects that use new technologies and social media to effectively reach and engage audiences. These solutions should also aim to strengthen the diversity of media voices, promote access to information and encourage citizen participation. The overall aim of the project is to stimulate innovation in media and journalism to build audience loyalty and interaction.

Independent media in the Maghreb region face significant challenges, including repression, lack of diversity and economic viability. These challenges hamper their ability to provide reliable and inclusive information, which is essential for a democratic and informed society. Despite these difficulties, the media must also respond to changing public expectations and adapt to new information and communication technologies. In this ever-changing environment, it is crucial to find innovative ways to build audience loyalty and interaction, and to ensure quality information.

Objectives

• This programme aims to:
  • Stimulate innovation in the media to increase audience engagement.
  • Support independent media initiatives to produce quality journalism and increase audience engagement.
  • Promote diversity and inclusion in the media.
  • Strengthen the economic viability of the media.

Funding Information

• Amount available: Maximum €20,000 per project. Please note that this budget must comply with the following rules:
  • EUR 249/month (maximum 8 months, i.e. EUR 1992) for the entire duration of the project must be included as a monthly subscription to the audience analysis tool ¨Indepth¨. The selected organisations will be trained by the Al Khatt Association in the use of this tool.
  • The grant awarded must be co-financed. The amount of the grant may not exceed 70% of the total cost of the project, the remaining 30% being financed by other means (external or own resources). For example, to receive a grant of €20,000, the applicant must submit a project for a total amount of €28,570.
  • Duration: Maximum 8 months.
  • Number of projects funded: 4 innovative projects.

Eligible Activities

• Technical innovations in newsrooms.
• Development of innovative multimedia formats.
• Activities to strengthen public engagement.

Eligible Costs

• Direct expenditure (salaries).
• Purchase or hire of equipment.
• Software licences, data visualisation and publication resources, hosting/streaming server costs, etc.
• Direct costs.
  •  Knowledge exchange/peer learning visits.
  •  Networking activities, including travel and accommodation costs, per diems, travel insurance, visa costs, etc.
• Access to specialised databases or specific publications/networks.
• Consultancy fees.
• Subscription fees for the Indepth tool (paid directly by FPU).

Eligible Beneficiaries

• Media start-ups, journalism incubators, innovative media initiatives, non-profit and for-profit media organisations.
• Multi-country initiatives (between target countries) and/or joint applications from different actors (media, technology, business) are strongly encouraged.
• Applicants must provide clearly defined and realistic indicators of success. It is essential that projects demonstrate a tangible impact on target audiences. Although projects may be experimental, they must be measurable and have clearly defined objectives.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must operate in Algeria, Tunisia or Libya but may be based outside these three countries.
• Applicants must not be affiliated to a political party.
• Previous experience in media projects is an asset.

Selection Criteria

• The selection committee will be made up of the chief coordinator of the Free Press Unlimited (FPU) programme and the director of the Al Khatt programme. The jury will evaluate the applications based on the following criteria:
  • The relevance and innovation of the proposed idea.
  • Technical feasibility and coherence of the project.
  • Potential impact on the quality of journalism and on building audience loyalty and interaction.
  • Scale and overall impact of the project.
  • Risk management, diversity, inclusiveness and sustainability.
  • Financial feasibility and appropriateness of expenditure.
  • Applicants will be informed of the status of their application no later than one month after the call for proposals closes.

For more information, visit Free Press Unlimited.