Informed_Citizens-_Resilient_Society_RFI_Questions.docx

Informed Citizens for Resilient Macedonia

In response to the draft activity design document (ADD) being shared with interested parties, USAID/Macedonia is requesting responses to the following questions. USAID is ultimately looking for an innovative activity that combines new approaches with tried and tested ones. Certain questions below seek to substantiate whether USAID’s AAD elicits interventions that USAID believes would ultimately assure successful implementation and accomplishment of USAID’s goal.

Any responses received to the questions below will be treated confidentially by USAID and will not be shared outside of USAID. Interested parties are encouraged to respond to all questions below, but may also only respond to those where they have expertise. Additionally, all comments in response to questions 1 – 8 will be anonymized before being shared by the Contracting Office with the activity design team. Only responses to question 9 will be shared as submitted with the design team. Those choosing to respond to this RFI may send responses to question 9 in a separate document to facilitate the sharing within USAID.

1. Are the objectives in the RFI relevant vis-a-vis the activity's goal of improving the “demand” side of information with citizens becoming more savvy media consumers, and ultimately, more active participants in a modern democratic society. Why or why not? If they are not, which other objectives would be relevant?

1. How can media literacy of the general public be improved best? What interventions would you implement to strengthen media literacy of journalists? Would the best media literacy programs be conducted through formal, informal, or non-formal education systems or an mix of these? What are you basing on your response on?

1. A great deal of effort has been made to train journalists in Macedonia, yet quality of output remains low and ethical standards are often ignored. Would there be a benefit of additional training?

If yes, what would it be? How could an implementer ensure that there is a positive environment for trained journalists to utilize the new knowledge and skills at the workplace? How should the training be structured, who would be the trainees, and what content would it include?

If no, what would be alternatives for increasing the quality of journalistic output? What interventions would improve the quality of journalistic output, i.e. of information available to citizens?

1. In light of the structural and financial anomalies plaguing the media sector in Macedonia at present, USAID is seeking innovative new approaches for new independent voices to enter the media sphere. What innovative and sustainable media entrepreneurship models could bring new vitality, competitiveness, and quality into the sector? What are the major concerns regarding whether promoting greater entrepreneurship in the media sector can increase the quality of journalistic information available in Macedonia?

1. Given the Macedonian media advertising market, could a variety of small/new/digital media run sustainable business models? What would these models look like? What sustainable media business models are possible given the Macedonian media market? How ca donor dependence of professional web-portals and freelance journalists be decreased? Would it make sense to regulate the media advertising market and if so, what interventions could achieve this? If it would not make sense, why not?

1. What types of interventions would help the media sector better govern itself? How can the implementer ensure protections of free speech function adequately?

1. In regards to the ADD, what additional information would be helpful to interested parties to develop a proposal/application for this new activity? Keeping in mind that USAID seeks innovative approaches and does not look to prescribe interventions, what questions would potential bidders/applicants have in responding to an RFP/RFA with this AAD?

1. Are implementation principles 3 through 6 too prescriptive for an activity that seeks to be innovative?

1. Interested parties are encouraged to submit organizational information or past performance examples that demonstrate that your organization's vision and mission are directly aligned to the purpose and objectives of the goals that the proposed activity seeks to accomplish or that you have successfully implemented awards that had a similar purpose and objectives.

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