STRENGTHENING INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA PROJECT

 

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Advocacy grants for journalist and media industry
associations

April 2011

Internews Network’s Strengthening Independent Media (SIM) in Bosnia and Herzegovina Project will consider proposals from journalists’ associations and other media industry associations that will work to improve the media sector in BiH through the objectives and criteria described below. Through the Journalist and Media Industry Associations Fund, Internews will support advocacy activities that will: (a) make journalists’ associations and other media industry associations more effective in advocating for media freedoms, legal defense and support, and other common interests; (b) make them more united and networked in advocacy efforts across the country; and (c) increase public awareness of these associations and their operations. Furthermore, proposed advocacy activities should be in line with the overall following objectives of the SIM project:

• Promote national cohesion and inter-ethnic trust

• Create a more supportive environment for the work of journalists throughout BiH

• Provide reliable information to BiH citizens through both traditional and alternative sources
of information

• Strengthen the ability of people to hold the government accountable.

GRANT SIZE

This first round grant pool of $20,000 will be divided among successful applicants.
Average grant size expected - $5,000-$7,000.
No grant is to exceed $10,000.

Grant Criteria (that will be used for scoring applications)

1. Improvement of media ethics and standards

Applicants should demonstrate HOW their project will address the issue of media ethics and
standards and HOW this project will contribute to raising the level of professional standards in BiH.

2. Creation of a more supportive and sustainable environment for the work of journalists/media workers throughout BiH
Applicants should show the relevance of the project in terms of contributing to and maintaining a more supportive environment for the work of journalists/media workers throughout BiH

3. Capacity and Project Sustainability
Applicants should demonstrate their capacity to provide sustainability ideas and plans

4. Collaboration
Internews encourages proposals that collaborate with other partners and organizations.

5. Creativity and innovation
All proposals should demonstrate creativity and innovation.

6. Multimedia Outreach
Increasing audience reach using different tools (such as TV, radio, Press) and web-based concepts is encouraged: having a multimedia approach suitable for distribution through all types of communication channels, making existing content available to a greater number of citizens, especially the younger population.

7. Project impact
Please show WHY your project is important and HOW it satisfies the program goals. What do you expect to achieve? How will you measure your progress and achievements?

8. Clear and transparent budget
Project budgets should be transparent and describe major expense categories that show clear cost effectiveness and suggested cost share of at least 15 percent. [Cost share: the resources you contribute to the project: from another non-US Government source (such as EU money), or in-kind, such as equipment, production, and/or labor costs that you donate to implement the project.]

Proposal Instructions (submitted proposal should follow the structure bellow)

All proposals can be submitted in English, or B/H/S with executive summary in English.

I. Cover Page – 1 page in 11 pt. type:
A. Project Title
B. Brief Project Description: In one paragraph, clearly and concisely summarize your project.
C. Organization: Name and contact information (mobile telephone number and email).
D. Project Coordinator and key staff: Name(s) and contact information.
E. Duration of the Project (up to 12 months)
F. Amount Requested in USD

II. Program Description – 5 pages maximum in 11 pt. type:
A. Description of major project goal(s) and objectives connected to the SIM objectives.
B. Activities that are based on achieving the objectives
C. Expected results and impact that are connected to activities
D. Monitoring and evaluation tools and indicators – how will you measure your progress?
E. Timeline
F. Partners -- both public and private – with attached letter or memo of support

III. Budget– 1 page in Excel format – must use attached template – and 1 page budget narrative in a Word document that explains the proposed costs.
The one-page budget description in the attached format should describe major expense categories that show clear cost effectiveness and suggested cost share of 15 percent. An accompanying Word document should describe the justification for each cost.

 

IV. Capacity and Previous Experience, if applicable – no more than one page in 11 pt. type:
A. Business or project management experience
B. Previous grants received

PROPOSALS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
• Proposals should be sent electronically to internewsbh@internews.org by May 30, 2011, 5:00 pm

• Potential applicants are welcomed to contact Internews with their question in the process of
preparing applications.

• Proposals will be reviewed by a Grant Selection Committee and scored.

• Internews may contact your organization if questions arise during the scoring/selection process.

• Internews will contact your organization with the results of your application.