U.S. Consulate Lagos PAS Media Literacy & Countering Misinformation Grant

The U.S. Consulate General Lagos, Public Affairs Section (PAS) announces an open competition for Media Capacity Development Organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to Increase media literacy among members of a target group vulnerable to online misinformation, Counter Misinformation, Media Literacy & Media Capacity Development. Please follow all instructions below.

Priority Region: The states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, and Rivers

Program Objectives:

1. Identify which target audience(s) are most susceptible to misinformation/disinformation.
2. Educate the target audience on the ways disinformation and misinformation are spread on social media channels and messaging apps through media literacy radio programming.
3. Highlight the topics and issues that often form the subject of conspiracy theories on messaging groups and social media, including the non-existence of COVID-19; supposed immunity to the virus; the perceived dangers of receiving the vaccine; anecdotal benefits of self-medication and folk remedies; Boko Haram’s control of harvests, etc. 
4. Teach the basics of digital fact-checking, using multiple sources, etc.
5. Encourage recourse to reliable sources of news online.
6. Increase awareness of the importance of personal accountability in the dissemination of information.

Priority Program Areas: 

1. The grantee will conduct a survey to identify the most appropriate target audience for a radio program on media literacy. The survey will also specify the radio stations popular with the target audience. The audience analysis questions are to be added to an existing research instrument.
2. The grantee will sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the production and airing of the radio program with at least 16 identified stations (Lagos -4; Rest of the South West: 4; South East: 4; and South- South: 4).
3. The duration of the MOU will be 1 year. 
4. In lieu of paying for program production and purchasing airtime to air the radio program, the grantee will offer to train the radio stations’ selected producers and reporters on promoting media literacy and countering misinformation via radio. The grant would also donate certain equipment to the radio stations to help in program production.
5. The training modules will incorporate existing United States Government content from the YALI Media Literacy curriculum. 
6. Media training sessions are to take place in American Centers and Corners.
7. Where possible, the grantee includes U.S. Government-sponsored Nigerian program alumni in the implementation of the grant.