U.S. Embassy Namibia PDS Offering Grant for Media Literacy and Counter Disinformation Programs

•American entities applying should demonstrate expertise in the Namibian context

The U.S. Embassy Namibia, Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to focus on Media Literacy and Counter Disinformation activities.  

PDS Windhoek invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the United States and Namibia through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

The objective of this specific funding opportunity is to improve media literacy, reduce vulnerability to misinformation and disinformation, and/or raise awareness about the importance of media literacy and fact-checking. Proposed projects will work with an audience aged 18 to 50.

Examples of activities in potentially successful proposals include, but are not limited to:

 •  Training Namibian journalists, media professionals, and journalism students on fact-checking and verification of credible sources and/or the identification of disinformation and misinformation.

•  Conducting trainings for Namibian professionals in any relevant field that focus on media literacy and community leadership in checking the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

•  Hosting events or trainings that promote the development of innovative technologies or solutions to strengthening media literacy and/or unmasking misinformation/disinformation (e.g., a media literacy “hackathon” or coding event to develop tools that support easy fact-checking or the identification of disinformation and misinformation).