Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS AF PDPA FY24 02
The U.S. Department of State, through Africa Regional Services in the Bureau of African Affairs Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (AF/PDPA), is offering a cooperative agreement to support a training program called "Understanding and Countering Disinformation for African Journalists" (Funding Opportunity Number: DOS AF PDPA FY24 02). The core purpose is to strengthen the ability of African journalists to recognize, verify, and responsibly report in an information environment where misinformation and disinformation are widespread and increasingly sophisticated. The opportunity is framed around the idea that false narratives are not just a media problem but a destabilizing force that can fuel violence, deepen political crises, intimidate civil society, and hide corruption and exploitation. It also highlights the growing risk posed by new technologies, including AI-generated content, which can accelerate the spread of convincing falsehoods and undermine trust in democratic systems.
The program itself is expected to run primarily as a bilingual (French and English) virtual series delivered over six months, with the overall project completed within 12 months or less. The training model should combine online presentations and interactive dialogue between American experts and African participants, using theory, case studies, and practical best practices. If funding allows, applicants are encouraged to design an in-person colloquium for a selected subset of participants to deepen engagement. A key expectation is that the project will not end when the sessions stop; proposals should include a clear plan to facilitate peer-to-peer networking, continued contact, and content sharing among participants after the formal program concludes, helping the learning translate into ongoing professional collaboration.
Content-wise, the State Department is looking for a robust curriculum that covers both foundational and emerging challenges. Topics are expected to include understanding and identifying misinformation and disinformation and how it impacts societies; practical fact-checking and verification techniques for both online and offline material; recognizing common warning signs, influence tactics, and manipulation patterns; ethical reporting responsibilities when false information is circulating; strategies journalists can use to counter disinformation without amplifying it; approaches for dealing with online harassment and abuse while building professional resilience; and a specific focus on misinformation and disinformation in the age of artificial intelligence. All subject matter experts involved in delivering the training must be American citizens, and the design should clearly connect to U.S. expertise, best practices, or institutional strengths in ways that are relevant and respectful to African media realities.
The target audience is African journalists and reporters working in print, broadcast, and digital media, with an emphasis on including both men and women and ensuring gender balance. The program is aimed at professionals roughly aged 25 to 50. Geographically, the opportunity is open to sub-Saharan Africa broadly, but it explicitly prioritizes West Africa and lists countries such as Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Guinea (Conakry), Togo, Benin, and also references Central Africa, Chad, and Cameroon among the priority areas. Proposals should be tailored to African audiences and should demonstrate an understanding of regional contexts, media ecosystems, language needs, and the practical constraints journalists face.
The stated goal is to improve the quality of news reporting in African countries by building journalists' capacity to counter misinformation and disinformation while drawing on American subject-matter expertise. Two main objectives drive the expected results: first, increasing the professional capacity of journalists through training workshops; and second, ensuring that participants apply what they learn by developing and publishing stories that demonstrate the skills gained during the program. In other words, applicants should not treat this as a purely academic training; it is meant to produce measurable professional outputs, ideally visible in published work and improved newsroom practices.
Funding is capped at USD 250,000 (award ceiling) and the agency expects to make one award. Because of the grant size and geographic scope, the successful applicant must demonstrate prior experience managing awards of USD 250,000 or more and show they have the operational capacity to manage a continent-wide project focused on counter-disinformation. Proposals must also include monitoring and evaluation, with clear output and outcome indicators, milestones, and a plan for how progress and success will be measured throughout implementation. Sustainability matters as well; applicants are scored partly on whether the activities will have continuing positive impact after the grant period ends, whether through ongoing networks, reusable training materials, institutional partnerships, or follow-on support.
Eligibility includes not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and NGOs/civil society groups), public and private educational institutions, and individuals. However, organizations face additional federal registration requirements: they must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active SAM.gov registration. Individuals do not need UEI or SAM.gov registration. Only one proposal may be submitted per organization; if an organization submits more than one, all of its submissions become ineligible. The notice also emphasizes that SAM registration can take 4 to 8 weeks, so applicants are expected to start early. Limited exemptions to UEI/SAM requirements may be possible in special cases tied to safety or exigent circumstances, but they require advance coordination and approval.
Applications were due by June 15, 2024, and submissions had to be emailed to ARSSpeaker@state.gov. The application package relies on standard federal forms available through Grants.gov, including SF-424 (or SF-424-I for individuals), SF-424A, and SF-424B, along with a summary cover sheet and a proposal narrative capped at 10 pages. The proposal must be written in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and formatting requirements are specific (8.5 x 11, Calibri 12, single-spaced, minimum 1-inch margins). Applicants also need to include a budget justification narrative and attachments such as one-page CVs for key personnel, partner letters of support, and indirect cost documentation (NICRA) if applicable.
Finally, proposals are scored using published criteria: quality and feasibility of the program idea (25 points), organizational capacity and prior federal grant performance (15 points), program content and its linkage to U.S. expertise and likely impact (15 points), budget reasonableness and completeness (15 points), monitoring and evaluation strength (15 points), and sustainability beyond the award period (10 points). A review committee evaluates eligible submissions, and continuation funding beyond the initial period may be considered non-competitively if funds are available and performance is strong, but that is not guaranteed and is explicitly subject to agency determination and budget availability.Apply for DOS AF PDPA FY24 02
- The Africa Regional Services in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Understanding and Countering Disinformation for African Journalists" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-15. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FAQs: Understanding and Countering Disinformation for African Journalists (DOS AF PDPA FY24 02)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State cooperative agreement offered through Africa Regional Services in the Bureau of African Affairs Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (AF/PDPA). It supports a training program titled "Understanding and Countering Disinformation for African Journalists" (Funding Opportunity Number: DOS AF PDPA FY24 02).
What is the main purpose of the project?
The core purpose is to strengthen the ability of African journalists to recognize, verify, and responsibly report in an environment where misinformation and disinformation are widespread, increasingly sophisticated, and often destabilizing.
Why is the U.S. Department of State focusing on disinformation in Africa?
The opportunity frames false narratives as more than a media issue. It describes misinformation and disinformation as forces that can fuel violence, deepen political crises, intimidate civil society, and conceal corruption and exploitation, while also undermining trust in democratic systems.
How does the opportunity address AI-generated misinformation and disinformation?
The program is expected to include a specific focus on misinformation and disinformation in the age of artificial intelligence, recognizing that AI-generated content can accelerate the spread of convincing falsehoods and further erode public trust.
What type of award is being offered?
The Department of State is offering a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates substantial involvement by the agency compared to a standard grant, and applicants should be prepared to work closely with the Department as part of implementation.
How much funding is available?
The award ceiling is USD 250,000.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency expects to make one award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and NGOs/civil society groups), public and private educational institutions, and individuals.
Do organizations need a UEI and SAM.gov registration to apply?
Yes. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active SAM.gov registration.
Do individuals need a UEI or SAM.gov registration to apply?
No. Individuals do not need UEI or SAM.gov registration.
How long can SAM.gov registration take?
The notice emphasizes that SAM registration can take 4 to 8 weeks, so applicants are expected to start early.
Are there any exceptions to the UEI/SAM requirements?
Limited exemptions may be possible in special cases tied to safety or exigent circumstances, but they require advance coordination and approval.
How many proposals may an organization submit?
Only one proposal may be submitted per organization. If an organization submits more than one proposal, all of its submissions become ineligible.
Who is the intended audience for the training program?
The target audience is African journalists and reporters working in print, broadcast, and digital media, generally ages 25 to 50, with an emphasis on including both men and women and ensuring gender balance.
Which regions and countries are prioritized?
The opportunity is open to sub-Saharan Africa broadly, but it explicitly prioritizes West Africa. Priority countries listed include Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Guinea (Conakry), Togo, and Benin. It also references Central Africa and highlights Chad and Cameroon among priority areas.
What languages should the training be offered in?
The program is expected to run primarily as a bilingual (French and English) virtual series.
What is the expected delivery format and timeline?
The training is expected to be delivered primarily as a virtual series over six months. The overall project is expected to be completed within 12 months or less.
Is an in-person component allowed or encouraged?
Yes. If funding allows, applicants are encouraged to design an in-person colloquium for a selected subset of participants to deepen engagement.
What training approach does the Department of State want to see?
The model should combine online presentations and interactive dialogue between American experts and African participants, using theory, case studies, and practical best practices that are relevant and respectful to African media realities.
What topics are expected to be included in the curriculum?
The curriculum is expected to be robust and cover both foundational and emerging challenges, including: understanding and identifying misinformation and disinformation and their societal impacts; practical fact-checking and verification techniques for online and offline material; recognizing warning signs, influence tactics, and manipulation patterns; ethical reporting responsibilities when false information is circulating; strategies to counter disinformation without amplifying it; approaches for dealing with online harassment and abuse while building resilience; and misinformation/disinformation in the age of artificial intelligence.
Who can serve as trainers or subject matter experts?
All subject matter experts involved in delivering the training must be American citizens.
How should proposals connect the program to the United States?
The design should clearly connect to U.S. expertise, best practices, or institutional strengths, while remaining relevant and respectful to African media ecosystems and constraints.
What outcomes is the program expected to achieve?
The stated goal is to improve the quality of news reporting in African countries by building journalists' capacity to counter misinformation and disinformation using American subject-matter expertise. The opportunity emphasizes two main objectives: (1) increasing professional capacity through training workshops, and (2) ensuring participants apply what they learn by developing and publishing stories that demonstrate the skills gained.
Is publishing work by participants an expectation?
Yes. The program is not intended to be purely academic. Proposals should show how participants will apply skills learned, including developing and publishing stories that demonstrate the training outcomes.
What does the Department of State expect after the training ends?
Proposals are expected to include a clear plan to facilitate peer-to-peer networking, continued contact, and content sharing among participants after the formal program concludes, so the learning translates into ongoing professional collaboration.
What experience must the applicant demonstrate?
Because of the grant size and geographic scope, the successful applicant must demonstrate prior experience managing awards of USD 250,000 or more and show the operational capacity to manage a continent-wide counter-disinformation project.
What are the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) expectations?
Proposals must include monitoring and evaluation with clear output and outcome indicators, milestones, and a plan to measure progress and success throughout implementation.
How important is sustainability in the review?
Sustainability is a scored component. Reviewers consider whether activities will have continuing positive impact after the grant period ends, such as through ongoing networks, reusable training materials, institutional partnerships, or follow-on support.
When was the application due?
Applications were due by June 15, 2024.
How were applications submitted?
Submissions had to be emailed to ARSSpeaker@state.gov.
Which standard forms were required?
The application package relies on standard federal forms available through Grants.gov, including SF-424 (or SF-424-I for individuals), SF-424A, and SF-424B, along with a summary cover sheet.
What are the proposal narrative length and formatting requirements?
The proposal narrative is capped at 10 pages. The proposal must be written in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and formatting must follow specific requirements: 8.5 x 11 paper size, Calibri 12-point font, single-spaced text, and minimum 1-inch margins.
What budget documentation is required?
Applicants must include a budget and a budget justification narrative. Indirect cost documentation (NICRA) should be included if applicable.
What attachments are mentioned as part of the application?
Attachments include one-page CVs for key personnel, partner letters of support, and indirect cost documentation (NICRA) if applicable.
How are proposals evaluated and scored?
Proposals are scored using published criteria: quality and feasibility of the program idea (25 points), organizational capacity and prior federal grant performance (15 points), program content and linkage to U.S. expertise and likely impact (15 points), budget reasonableness and completeness (15 points), monitoring and evaluation strength (15 points), and sustainability beyond the award period (10 points).
Who reviews the submissions?
A review committee evaluates eligible submissions.
Is continuation funding possible?
Continuation funding beyond the initial period may be considered non-competitively if funds are available and performance is strong, but it is not guaranteed and is subject to agency determination and budget availability.
What does it mean that proposals should be tailored to African audiences?
The notice calls for proposals that demonstrate an understanding of regional contexts, media ecosystems, language needs, and the practical constraints journalists face, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.
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