2022-NOFO-Investigative-Journalism.pdf

U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Title: 2022 Investigative Journalism Support Program

Funding Opportunity Number: DOS-DAR-FY2022-NOFO-2

Deadline for Applications: August 31, 2022

Assistance Listing Number: 19.225

Total Amount Available: $250,000

The U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania announces an open call for a $250,000 24-month grant to a well-established Tanzanian media organization to establish and manage an investigative journalism support fund that will empower local journalists to report on public interest issues through capacity building and financial support.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam advocates for the establishment of a vibrant, independent, responsible, and diverse media sector in Tanzania that serves the public interest. Supporting investigative journalism is a crucial part of achieving this objective. Investigative reporting can draw attention to and sustain public interest in issues of national importance. Unfortunately, the economic challenges facing the media business in Tanzania means that reporters are rarely given the time or resources to conduct in-depth investigations. As a result, members of the public are deprived of information on issues that impact their lives, such as corruption, labor abuses, financial mismanagement, harmful environmental practices, and more.

Program Objectives:

This project will address the problem described above by creating a media support fund that will empower local journalists to report on public interest issues through capacity building and financial support. The grantee will be in charge of managing and administering this fund and will issue small sub-grants to individual reporters who successfully pitch investigative stories falling within a defined set of sectors and topics.

Successful proposals will clearly explain:

• How the grantee will structure and administer the fund

• Which themes and topics will be prioritized by the fund

• How the fund will be promoted and advertised to the media sector

• The number How the beneficiaries of the fund will be selected and on what basis

“pitches” will be scored

• Who will comprise the selection panel and on what basis the panel members will be chosen

• How the fund will maintain impartiality and independence to guard against appearances of bias or favoritism in the distribution of funds

• How distributed funds will be accounted for

• How the fund will measure and evaluate success

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 2 years

Number of awards anticipated: 1 award

Award amount: $250,000

Total available funding: $250,000

Type of Funding: FY 2021 ESF Funds

Anticipated program start date: October 2022 – October 2024

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant, fixed amount award, or cooperative agreement.

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants:

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• Individuals or representatives of civil society and non-governmental organizations, cultural organizations, or research and academic institutions

2. Cost Sharing

Inclusion of cost share is not a requirement of this opportunity.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

All project activities must take place outside of the United States and its territories.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

Application templates are available online at: https://tz.usembassy.gov/funding-opportunities/

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Applications must be submitted using the form “US Embassy Investigative Journalism Support

Program Application”

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

https://tz.usembassy.gov/funding-opportunities/

Content of Application

Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity

• The proposal addresses all questions in the “Dar PD Small Grant Application Form”

• All documents are in English

• The budget is in U.S. dollars

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I

(Application for Federal Assistance --individuals)

• SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

2. Application form including:

• Executive Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed project, including project objectives and anticipated impact.

• American Component: The project must have an American aspect.

• U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam Goal: Select the goal the project will address.

• Project Justification: Clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed project is needed.

• Target Audience: Include the group/demographic the project will reach and how many people the project intends to reach.

• Program Goal and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the project is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.

• Project Activities: Include the proposed project schedule and timeline for the project activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.

• Monitoring and Evaluation: Outline in detail how the proposal’s activities will advance the program’s goals and objectives (listed above). A strong proposal will include:

o Any outcomes the grantee expects to occur because of their program. Outcomes could include: change in knowledge, awareness, and attitudes; improved quality of services; increased capacity at a school, group; etc. Proposals should also include how the grantee will know those outcomes are occurring (surveys, interviews, observations, etc.)

o For example: If the program expects that a teacher-training program will improve the skills of a teacher, a proposal may explain the skills the teacher would gain and plan to perform a survey before the program and a survey following the program that would show a change in understanding due to the program.

o A plan to include the grantee’s reflection of how their program contributed to the program’s goals. As applicable, a strong final report would include success stories, behaviors changed, lessons learned, and results obtained.

• Key Personnel: List personnel involved in the project, their qualifications, and their role in the project. Personnel must already be identified and listed by name.

• Project Partners: List partners who will support your project. Please note if you have an existing relationship with your partner organization(s) and describe their role in the project. If you do not have an existing relationship, explain how you anticipate establishing a partnership with the organization(s).

• Sustainability: Explain how you plan to continue the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

• Communication Plan: Explain how you will promote your project. Include social media, websites, print news, or other forms of media you intend to use to share information about your project to beneficiaries and the public. Communications should include U.S. Embassy branding and a draft version of the Embassy logo and wording about Embassy role should be approved before uploading or printing final versions.

These include training materials, materials for recipients or materials to communicate or promote with foreign audiences a program, event, project, or some other activity under an agreement.

3. Budget Summary and Narrative: Applicants must submit a detailed budget and narrative justifying proposed expenditures. Budgets must be submitted in U.S. dollars.

Please note that the U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program does not support the following activities or costs, and the selection committee will deem applications involving any of these activities or costs ineligible:

o Sustained staff salaries, office space, and overhead/operational expenses exceeding 10% of total operational costs;

o Large items of durable equipment or construction programs;

o Alcohol, excessive meals, refreshments, or entertainment;

o Academic or scientific research;

o Support or opposition of partisan political activity or lobbying for specific legislation or programs;

o Programs that support specific religious activities;

o Fund-raising campaigns;

o Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;

o Venture capital, for-profit endeavors, or charging a fee for participation in the project ;

o Individual scholarships;

o Personal development;

o Social travel/visits;

o Gifts or prizes;

o Programs that duplicate existing programs o Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) o

5. Attachments:

• 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program

• Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner

• If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a

PDF file.

• Official permission letters, if required for program activities

Required Registrations:

All federal award recipients must maintain current registrations in the SAM database. Recipients must maintain accurate and up-to-date information in www.SAM.gov until all program and financial activity and reporting have been completed. Recipients must review and update the information at least annually after the initial registration and more frequently if required information changes or another award is granted. Failure to register in SAM will render applicants ineligible to receive funding.

Organizations must have a commitment to equal opportunity employment practices and to non-discrimination practices with regard to beneficiaries, without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

4. Submission Dates and Times

Applications are due no later than August 19, 2022.

5. Funding Restrictions

None.

6. Other Submission Requirements

Applications must be submitted in English to DARPDProposals@state.gov. All correspondence regarding this announcement should reference the title “2022 Investigative Journalism Support

Program” located at the top of this announcement when making your request.

Successful applicants will be required to sign a grant agreement with the U.S. Embassy and to submit program and financial reports as specified in the agreement.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria

The U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section will use the criteria outlined below to evaluate all applications. Panelists will use the criteria below to review and evaluate applications.

Purpose and summary, description, and implementation plan: When developing the purpose, summary, description, and implementation plan, applicants should aim to make all descriptions clear, concise, and compelling. Reviewers will judge the proposals based on the http://www.sam.gov/ mailto:DARPDProposals@state.gov likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the community where it is undertaken. Does the project address an important gap of understanding or need? If the aim of the project is achieved, how will existing knowledge or practice be improved? What audience do the applicants hope to reach with this project? How many people will participate and how will they be selected?

American component and U.S. Embassy goal: Successful applications will address one of the embassy’s main goals with an American component or aspect. “How does this program promote a better understanding of the United States?”

Participation and support from reliable local partners: A successful application will demonstrate buy-in and support from the community where the project will take place. The involvement of local partners is a strong sign that there is community support and that the project will engage a broad array of experts, such as subject matter experts, community centers, academic institutions, businesses, local/national government, non-governmental organizations, American Spaces, etc.

Evaluation and impact of the project: Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project’s success, both as the activities take place and at the end of the project. Overall, the quality of monitoring and evaluation plan will be judged on how well it 1) specifies the intended outcomes and how these outcomes will be achieved, 2) gives clear descriptions of how each outcome will be measured, 3) identifies when the outcomes will be measured, and 4) explains how outcomes will be collected (such as surveys, interviews, or focus groups). Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting clear goals and outcomes and consider potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success. Interim and final reporting is required for winning projects and winning applicants should have a reporting plan to share information about the success/impact of the project.

Sustainability: Project activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the project.

Communication, media and outreach plan: The project includes a plan to share information about the project.

Budget and budget narrative: The budget and narrative justification are sufficiently detailed.

Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities. The results and proposed outcomes justify the total cost of the project. Budget items are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.

Disclaimer: This notice is subject to availability of funding. U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam does not guarantee availability of funding by receiving applications under this announcement. Only successful applicants will be contacted.

2. Review and Selection Process

The proposals will be reviewed by a Selection Committee.

3. Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)

For any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity, if the Federal awarding agency anticipates that the total Federal share will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold on any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity may include, over the period of performance (see §200.88 Simplified Acquisition Threshold), this section must also inform applicants:

i. That the Federal awarding agency, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of

Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313);

ii. That an applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM;

iii. That the Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in §200.206 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

E. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

The grant award will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Grant Officer at the U.S. Embassy Dar es

Salaam.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the

U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

Payment Method: The award document will specify the payment method and schedule.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply.

These include:

• 2 CFR 25 - UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD

MANAGEMENT

• 2 CFR 170 - REPORTING SUBAWARD AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

INFORMATION

• 2 CFR 175 - AWARD TERM FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

• 2 CFR 182 - GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-FREE

WORKPLACE (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE)

• 2 CFR 183 - NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY

• 2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS

• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following: NOTE:

• Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2

CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 85 FR 49506 on August 13, 2020, particularly on:

o Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an objective process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205), o Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the National Defense

Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 115—232) (2 CFR part 200.216), o Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with

Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free

Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O.

13864) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341), o Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR part 200.322), and https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.25&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.25&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.170&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.170&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.175&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.182&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.182&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.183&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2chapterVI.tpl https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/ https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 o Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2

CFR part 200.340).

In accordance with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Underserved

Communities, proposals should demonstrate how the program advances equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability.

The proposal should also demonstrate how the program will further engagement in underserved communities and with individuals from underserved communities. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing racial equity and underserved communities will enhance the program’s goals and objectives, as well as the experience of participants.

The support of underserved communities will be part of the review criteria for this opportunity.

Therefore, proposals should clearly demonstrate how the program will support and advance equity and engage underserved communities in program administration, design, and implementation.

3. Reporting

Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For information and questions about this announcement, please send all email inquiries to the

U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam at DARPDProposals@state.gov.

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