Publication Date: November 26, 2024.
Open to independent media outlets and civil society organizations (CSOs) from Moldova.
Application Submission Deadline: December 16, 2024, 18:00.
DESCRIPTION
Internews in Moldova is launching the second round to support initiatives that give rural and regional residents of all ages opportunities to develop their critical consumption skills and learn to recognize manipulated information as opposed to balanced information. To achieve this, Internews will select an institution (an independent media outlet or CSO) to conduct activities expecting to improve the abilities of individuals to evaluate information critically, recognize malign information, understand the importance of basing decisions on trustworthy information, and verify media sources for credible and reliable news. The interventions are also expected to identify the audience’s vulnerabilities to manipulate information, including in online space (social media networks). At the end of the supported project, citizens will have an increased ability to seek, analyze, and evaluate.
Applicants are encouraged to focus on innovative, creative, and interactive activities/approaches in order to develop critical thinking skills. Activities could build on existing media literacy initiatives to strengthen and expand efforts if needed.
Illustrative examples of possible project approaches include, but are not limited to:
- Online, and offline campaigns and initiatives that engage, inform, and inoculate citizens against malign information;
- Creative initiatives on social media (Facebook, TikTok, Telegram, Instagram, etc.) that involve local people and elements belonging to a specific community or region;
- Activities to improve people’s abilities to analyze, use, create, and disseminate information, both online and offline, more effectively and responsibly;
- Creative and innovative media literacy campaigns that involve influencers, community leaders, actors, etc.;
- Creative, innovative media-literacy-oriented content, such as debate clubs, games, competitions, satirical news shows, etc.
- Community-driven fact-checking activities that empower citizens to verify online information and counter malign information.
- Viral content production to enable citizens to develop their critical approach to the media, and to recognize and appropriately react to malign information.
The list is not exhaustive, and applicants are encouraged to propose alternative/different approaches and activities.
SUBAWARD AMOUNT
Under this RFA, Internews anticipates awarding one (1) subgrant, with a maximum budget of USD up to 34,500.
SUBAWARD DURATION
Internews anticipates signing the subgrant award between December 2024 – January 2025 with the performance period from February to September 2025.
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
To be eligible applicants must fulfill the following criteria:
- Applicants must be registered in accordance with Moldovan legislation;
- The applicant should not be affiliated with elected officials, political parties, or religious groups.
Current MEDIA-M Key Partners are not eligible but could partner with the applicants for content distribution.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a technical committee on a range of selection criteria. Each application will receive a score, with a maximum potential score of 100 points. Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
| Evaluation Criteria | Max points |
| Proposed activities are reasonable and likely to produce measurable results | 40 |
| Expected project’s results and impact | 10 |
| Organization’s record and capacity to work at the local level (established influence and connection within that target community, and expected reach of the intervention) | 20 |
| Clear understanding of disinformation trends and information flows within the region or community | 10 |
| Cost-effectiveness (costs are reasonably set in the budget and ensure the best possible delivery of the proposed activities) | 20 |
| Total | 100 points |
Selected sub-grantee will undergo standard vetting and due diligence procedures in line with the Internews’ and donor policies.
APPLICATION PACKAGE
To apply for the support the following documents must be submitted in Romanian, Russian, or English:
- Completed Application Form;
- Detailed Budget in Excel sheet;
- Copy of the Registration Certificate or Decision according to the Moldovan law;
- Copy of the Organization’s Statutes (for CSOs).
APPLICATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTION
Applications must be submitted electronically to the following e-mail address: in-chisinau@internews.org until December 16, 2024, 18:00. The subject line must include the words „RFA: Media literacy for rural communities”. The documents constituting the application must be included as attachments. The email must list and describe the documents to be included as parts of the application. If more than one message is required to transmit the application, each message must be identified as part of a multi-part submission. (E.g. “message 1 of 3”)
AWARD NOTIFICATION AND RESPONSES
All applications submitted will be acknowledged within two (2) working days following the deadline for submission of applications and will note the documents submitted. The respondent is responsible for ensuring and confirming that the emails comprising the application reach Internews representatives. Only the successful applicant will be notified of selection within twenty (20) working days following the deadline for submission of applications.
The successful respondent(s) must confirm the application and acceptance of the selection within five (5) working days of selection notification or the selection will be withdrawn due to a non-responsive respondent and offered to the next most qualified respondent.
NOTICE OF SELECTION OF THE APPLICATION IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A CONTRACT OR SUBGRANT AWARD. Once the selection is confirmed, a final subgrant agreement will be negotiated and signed with the successful respondent, subject to prime funder approval, and successful vetting of eligibility.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This activity is part of the USAID and UK-funded project “Media Enabling Democracy, Inclusion and Accountability in Moldova” (MEDIA-M) and implemented by Internews, which aims to promote the development of an independent, professional media, and to create a media sector that is more resilient to political and financial pressures.