The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) is offering this grant to advance freedom of expression in Bangladesh. This grant aims to counter the increasing arrests, detentions, and online censorship faced by journalists and human rights defenders. DRL seeks to uphold Bangladesh’s commitment to press freedom, ensuring safety from government harassment. The objective is to empower civil society to promote media freedom, even within restrictive legal frameworks. Proposed approaches include small grants for independent media entities, training in journalistic skills, ethical reporting, and countering disinformation. It also supports increasing citizens’ access to unbiased information and provides legal and emergency aid to those facing unfair arrests. This initiative supports Bangladesh’s democracy, governance, and human rights goals.
Opportunity ID: 330345
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | SFOP0007480 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | DRL Promoting and Protecting Media Freedom in Bangladesh |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Other (see text field entitled “Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity” for clarification) |
| Category Explanation: | Democracy Fund/Human Rights Democracy Fund |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 1 |
| Assistance Listings: | 19.345 — International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Dec 11, 2020 |
| Last Updated Date: | Dec 11, 2020 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Jan 28, 2021 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Jan 28, 2021 |
| Archive Date: | – |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | – |
| Award Ceiling: | $750,000 |
| Award Floor: | $700,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor |
| Description: | The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that advance freedom of expression in Bangladesh. Journalists and human rights defenders in Bangladesh are routinely arrested, detained, or imprisoned for criticizing the government, defamation, or offending religious sentiments. Authorities have increased online censorship, blocked websites critical of the government, and surveil social media for dissent. DRL’s goal is to help uphold the Bangladesh’s commitment to freedom of the press as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human rights, and help ensure that human rights defenders and journalists are safe from censorship and harassment from government and police. DRL’s objective is to provide organizations with the tools necessary to empower civil society to promote media freedom, including online, despite the current restrictive legal framework. Possible program approaches could include: • Develop and implement a small grants program to fund, train, and mentor independent media entities and improve their physical and digital security; • Conduct trainings on topics such as journalistic skill-building in reporting, writing, editing, and filming; ethical journalism; countering disinformation; and countering harassment in the workplace, especially in rural or underserved areas; • Increase citizens’ ability to access, identify, and consume non-biased, fact-based information; • Provide legal support and emergency support to human rights defenders (including civil society and journalists) that face unfair arrests. Proposed programming must be responsive to immediate needs on the ground and in line with the U.S. Government’s democracy, governance, and human rights goals in Bangladesh; and should contribute to and support Bangladesh’s efforts to strengthen democracy, governance, and human rights in the country. |
| Link to Additional Information: | Link to Opportunity in SAMS Domestic |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
DRL-SCA-ProgramInfo@state.gov
Email:- |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
Related Documents
Folder 330345 Full Announcement-Bangladesh NOFO -> FY20 Bangladesh Media NOFO.pdf
Folder 330345 Full Announcement-Bangladesh NOFO -> PSI for Applications Jan. 2020 – after 01.21.20.pdf
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | DRL-SCA-ProgramInfo@state.gov |
| Who Can Apply: | Organization Applicants |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.345 | SFOP0007480 | DRL Promoting and Protecting Media Freedom in Bangladesh | PKG00264484 | Dec 11, 2020 | Jan 28, 2021 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
330345 SF424_3_0-3.0.pdf
330345 SF424A-1.0.pdf
330345 BudgetNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
330345 ProjectNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
Optional forms
330345 SFLLL_2_0-2.0.pdf
330345 SF424B-1.1.pdf
330345 AttachmentForm_1_2-1.2.pdf
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