NOFO: Promoting Media Literacy Project in Uganda

The project will have two elements: (1) Training of senior members of broadcast media (presenters, reporters, investigative journalists, and producers) on how to detect and counter misinformation and disinformation. (2) Research and analysis of information manipulation and propaganda across Uganda’s media landscape. The U.S. Mission in Uganda is concerned about the proliferation of information manipulation that negatively influences Ugandans’ perception of public health campaigns, domestic politics, the value of a democratic system, and other significant issues. The project aims to support one of the Public Diplomacy Section’s (PDS) central goals of improving the professional development of the Ugandan media corps.

Goal

• Recognizing the importance and support provided by the U.S. government in promoting free, fair and objective media, this project will provide training that promotes an analytical approach to identifying and mitigating the impact of disinformation and propaganda in Uganda,that negatively impact programs and outcomes in the fields of governance, health and economic growths.

Program Objectives 

• Train senior broadcast journalists across the country on how to detect and counter disinformation and propaganda in Uganda.
• Equip senior broadcast journalists with skills, knowledge, and tools to become more effective and discerning custodians of information that is broadcast to the Ugandan population through their media platforms.
• Undertake research and analysis of false narratives in Uganda’s media landscape. Note: The grantee should be ready to have a comprehensive look at what narratives appear in Ugandan media, where specifically they occur, and how they are disseminated. This is meant to provide a baseline of current knowledge.
• The grantee will also be expected to make available small grants for select journalists to carry out in-depth investigative stories pertaining to what narratives appear across the disinformation landscape in Ugandan media. These will be competed.

Funding Information

• Total Amount Available: $100,000
• Number of awards anticipated: 2 awards (dependent on amounts)
• Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $35,000 to a maximum of $100,000
• Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less.

Participants and Audiences 

• Senior members of broadcast media (presenters, reporters, investigative journalists, and producers).
• The project proposal must clearly state the number of journalists who will be trained, the selection process, detailed budget, geographical scope of training, mode of training, topics to be covered, biographies of the trainers, detailed curriculum, and a clear timeline for implementation.

Eligibility Criteria

• The following organizations are eligible to apply:
  • Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/nongovernmental organizations
  • Public and private educational institutions
  • Individuals
  • Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
• For-profit or commercial entities, including for-profit media organizations, are not eligible to apply.
• Organizations should have an established track record of training journalists (special emphasis on rural based journalists).
• Organizations should have the ability to network with other media training organizations in these trainings.
• Organizations must have the ability to promote and defend the right to freedom of expression through research, documentation, analysis, advocacy, strategic collaborations, and capacity building initiatives.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.