Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0007480
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) offered a competitive grant opportunity called "DRL Promoting and Protecting Media Freedom in Bangladesh" (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0007480). The program is designed to support projects that advance freedom of expression and strengthen media freedom in Bangladesh, responding to an environment where journalists and human rights defenders are frequently arrested, detained, or imprisoned for criticizing the government, alleged defamation, or purportedly offending religious sentiments. The opportunity emphasizes that authorities have expanded online censorship, blocked websites critical of the government, and monitored social media to identify and suppress dissent. Within that context, DRL frames its overall aim as helping uphold Bangladesh's commitments to press freedom reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and improving safety for journalists and human rights defenders facing censorship, intimidation, and harassment by government and police actors.
The core objective is to equip and enable civil society organizations and independent media to promote and defend media freedom, including online, even under restrictive laws and heightened surveillance. DRL highlights practical, needs-driven support that can be deployed quickly and tailored to realities on the ground. In terms of what applicants might propose, the notice points to several example approaches: creating and running a small grants program that funds independent media outlets while also providing training, mentorship, and support to strengthen both physical security and digital security; delivering capacity-building trainings in areas like reporting, writing, editing, filming, and ethical journalism, alongside tools for countering disinformation and addressing workplace harassment, with particular attention to rural or underserved areas; improving public media literacy so citizens are better able to access, recognize, and rely on unbiased, fact-based information; and offering legal assistance and emergency support to human rights defenders, including journalists and civil society actors, who face unfair arrest or other legal threats. Across these activities, DRL expects projects to align with broader U.S. Government democracy, governance, and human rights priorities in Bangladesh and to contribute to Bangladesh's own efforts to strengthen democratic governance and rights protections.
Administratively, this was a discretionary grant opportunity under CFDA 19.345, issued by the Department of State, DRL. The opportunity was posted on December 11, 2020, with an original application deadline of January 28, 2021. The funding structure anticipated a single award, with a maximum award ceiling of $750,000. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional details referenced in the original eligibility clarification, indicating that a range of organizational applicants could potentially apply depending on the requirements described in the full notice.Apply for SFOP0007480
- The Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DRL Promoting and Protecting Media Freedom in Bangladesh" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 11, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 28, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "DRL Promoting and Protecting Media Freedom in Bangladesh."
2) Who is offering this grant?
The grant was offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL).
3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0007480.
4) What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to support projects that advance freedom of expression and strengthen media freedom in Bangladesh, including online media freedom, particularly in a restrictive environment with heightened surveillance and censorship.
5) What situation or problem is the program responding to in Bangladesh?
The opportunity describes an environment where journalists and human rights defenders are frequently arrested, detained, or imprisoned for criticizing the government, alleged defamation, or purportedly offending religious sentiments. It also notes expanded online censorship, blocking of websites critical of the government, and social media monitoring used to identify and suppress dissent.
6) What outcomes is DRL trying to achieve through this funding?
DRL frames its overall aim as helping uphold Bangladesh's commitments to press freedom reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and improving safety for journalists and human rights defenders facing censorship, intimidation, and harassment by government and police actors.
7) What is the core objective for funded projects?
The core objective is to equip and enable civil society organizations and independent media to promote and defend media freedom, including online, even under restrictive laws and heightened surveillance.
8) What types of activities or projects does the notice suggest applicants could propose?
The notice provides examples such as:
- Creating and operating a small grants program that funds independent media outlets and also provides training, mentorship, and support to strengthen physical and digital security.
- Delivering capacity-building trainings (reporting, writing, editing, filming, ethical journalism) and support for countering disinformation and addressing workplace harassment, with particular attention to rural or underserved areas.
- Improving public media literacy so citizens can better access, recognize, and rely on unbiased, fact-based information.
- Providing legal assistance and emergency support to human rights defenders (including journalists and civil society actors) facing unfair arrest or other legal threats.
9) Does the opportunity emphasize online media freedom and digital risks?
Yes. The description highlights expanded online censorship, blocking of critical websites, and monitoring of social media, and it explicitly includes strengthening digital security and defending media freedom online under surveillance.
10) What does DRL mean by "practical, needs-driven support"?
The opportunity emphasizes support that can be deployed quickly and tailored to realities on the ground, suggesting a preference for implementable assistance that responds directly to the needs of civil society organizations, journalists, and independent media operating in restrictive conditions.
11) Are rural or underserved communities specifically mentioned?
Yes. The notice specifically points to capacity-building activities with particular attention to rural or underserved areas.
12) Does the opportunity include support related to disinformation?
Yes. The suggested training areas include tools for countering disinformation, alongside core journalism skills and ethical journalism.
13) Does the opportunity address harassment or safety concerns for journalists and defenders?
Yes. It focuses on improving safety for journalists and human rights defenders who face censorship, intimidation, and harassment, and it lists both physical security and digital security support as relevant components. It also mentions workplace harassment as an area to address through capacity-building.
14) Is legal assistance an eligible or encouraged component?
Yes. The notice identifies offering legal assistance and emergency support to human rights defenders, including journalists and civil society actors, who face unfair arrest or other legal threats as an example approach.
15) How many awards were anticipated?
The funding structure anticipated a single award.
16) What was the maximum award amount?
The maximum award ceiling was $750,000.
17) What type of grant is this described as?
It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
18) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.345.
19) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on December 11, 2020.
20) What was the application deadline?
The original application deadline was January 28, 2021.
21) Who was eligible to apply, based on the information provided?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional details referenced in an eligibility clarification in the full notice. This indicates that a range of organizational applicants could potentially apply depending on the requirements described in the complete funding announcement.
22) Does the opportunity indicate any alignment requirements with broader policy priorities?
Yes. DRL expects projects to align with broader U.S. Government democracy, governance, and human rights priorities in Bangladesh and to contribute to Bangladesh's own efforts to strengthen democratic governance and rights protections.
23) Does the notice position the work in relation to international standards?
Yes. DRL references helping uphold Bangladesh's commitments to press freedom reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
24) Is the program limited to supporting media outlets, or does it also include civil society and human rights defenders?
It includes both. The core objective mentions civil society organizations and independent media, and the example approaches include support for journalists, civil society actors, and other human rights defenders who face legal threats or repression.
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