72048623R00001_RFI_ Regional Investigative Journalism Collaboration Activity.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Request for Information No. 72048623R00001 Anticipated Activity Title The Regional Investigative Journalism Collaboration Project Release Date October 12, 2022 Response Due Date & Time October 26, 2022, 5:00 PM local Bangkok time Response Email drakowski@usaid.gov

The United States Agency for International Development, Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA) is gathering feedback to inform the early design of an anticipated activity with the preliminary title: The Regional Investigative Journalism Collaboration Project. This anticipated activity seeks to strengthen collaboration among investigative journalists across Southeast Asia (SEA).

USAID/RDMA seeks feedback from potential implementing organizations, locally-based and regionally-oriented, international, and other development partners.

A description of the activity USAID/RDMA is contemplating and a list of questions are detailed in the sections that follow. Responses to this Request for Information (RFI) are voluntary and respondents are welcome to address any or all of the questions listed as well as provide any additional relevant information. Interested entities should submit responses to the RFI via email to Deborah Rakowski at drakowski@usaid.gov. Additional submission instructions are found at the end of this document.

This RFI is issued solely for information, research, and planning purposes. Issuance of this RFI neither obligates the U.S. Government (USG) to issue a funding opportunity or award nor commits the USG to pay for any costs incurred or information resulting from this request. Respondents remain solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Respondents are advised that USAID is under no obligation to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

Responses to this notice will not be considered responses to a funding opportunity.

Thank you for your interest in USAID/RDMA programming efforts. We look forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards, /s/

Ayana Angulo Regional Agreement Officer Director, Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance

USAID/RDMA

mailto:drakowski@usaid.gov

PURPOSE & OBJECTIVES

Purpose The purpose of this RFI is to gather market insights and strategic inputs for an upcoming activity to grow networking and collaboration among Asian investigative journalists and newsrooms that produce cross-border investigative reports of regional and global importance on trans-border crime and corruption. The following preliminary objectives and a brief elaboration are proposed for inclusion in the design of this activity.

Objective 1: Localization and local leadership Supporting locally-based and regionally-oriented, Asian newsrooms (and journalists) to lead networked, collaborative investigative journalism activities in Southeast Asia (SEA) with possible expansion to the Asia-Pacific region. This may include:

● Supporting entrepreneurial entrants into the investigative journalism space: Investigative newsrooms provide opportunities for aspiring investigative journalists in Asia to work on collaborative investigative reporting projects.

● Bolstering editorial leadership in investigative newsrooms: locally-based and regionally-oriented investigative newsroom(s) serve as editorial lead to manage, edit, and produce networked, collaborative investigative reporting projects that adhere to the highest standards of journalism.

This may also include developing administrative leadership for locally-based and regionally-oriented newsroom(s) to bolster their institutional processes, governance, and are able to raise and administer a diverse range of funds.

● Providing coaching/mentoring leadership for investigative journalists: locally-based and regionally-oriented newsroom(s) are able to grow the cadre of investigative reporters, providing editorial support, professional development, and mentorship to aspiring reporters with opportunities for “learning by doing.” Young, enterprising journalists in Asia find a space in these newsrooms to hone their craft working with editors and mentors on high-impact, high-profile investigative reports.

● Networking journalists: locally-based and regionally-oriented investigative journalists are able to participate in regional and international forums and opportunities where they can connect with partners for future collaborative reporting projects.

● Supporting access to newsroom tools and resources: locally-based and regionally-oriented investigative newsroom(s) have organizational resources or linkages with investigative journalism networks and hubs that provide tools, resources, data, and research capacity for data-driven collaborative reporting projects.

Objective 2: Engagement, amplification, and impact Supporting the publication of investigative reports that can reach a broad regional (and global) audience.

● Supporting publication strategies in which impactful, investigative reports into crime and corruption, of broad public interest, are produced in ways that are appealing and impactful and are picked up in mainstream national, regional, and international media. This support will ensure that investigative reports reach media consumers in accessible and engaging formats relevant to different target audiences, on the platforms that they use, and in the languages that they speak.

● Engagement with the broader public: Data and reporting is presented in ways that citizens are able to engage and interact with content, and stimulates linkages with civil society groups that use investigative reporting to inform their advocacy and actions.

Objective 3: Safety and security capacity Investigative journalists and newsrooms operate with practices, protocols, equipment and resources to ensure that they minimize risks of physical, digital, psychosocial, and legal threats.

● Risk-mitigation: Investigative newsrooms and journalists are trained in and practice physical and digital safety practices. They have the protocols, services, and equipment to handle data safely with secure communications among teams and with sources and possess needed data storage and architecture for sharing of data and documents within reporting teams. They have access to pre-publication legal review and fact-checking to ensure that reporting adheres to the highest ethical standards and prevents legal exposure.

● Emergency resources: Investigative newsrooms and journalists can access emergency funds for travel, legal resources, psychosocial support, respite care, and support for relocation or other emergency situations.

USAID is seeking:

● Input regarding relevant media outlets (existing or emerging), investigative journalists’ organizations, and networks of investigative journalists that would best enable investigative journalists to collaborate on cross-border reporting on crime and corruption across SEA.

● Input regarding new and innovative approaches for investigative journalists to reach broader audiences on a variety of platforms.

● Recommendations on how to best strengthen the network and skills of investigative journalists across SEA; and provide risk mitigation strategies and protection for locally-based and regionally-oriented journalists who encounter risks to their safety based on their professional activity.

RFI QUESTIONS

All organizations and firms (large and small businesses) are strongly encouraged to provide information and comments by the closing date and time noted on the cover page. Responses should not exceed 5 pages. We would particularly value comments in response to the following questions:

1. How feasible is it to grow a network of investigative journalists across Asia that can collaborate on reporting projects? What kind of resources are needed, approximately?

2. Are the objectives on point? Can they be further refined? Is there something missing? Is there anything that should be removed or added?

3. What kind of partners, notionally or specifically, would you want to see involved in the collaboration proposed by this project?

4. Should this project focus more on working with existing investigative journalist centers or working with new and emerging initiatives? Which would be more effective? Can you recommend entrepreneurial journalists or existing centers that should be included in such an initiative?

5. What are the main regional stories that investigative journalists in Asia would like to follow that would require cross-border collaboration?

6. What are some existing protection mechanisms in place to safeguard locally-based and regionally-oriented journalists from harm that should be included in such an activity?

7. What are the best approaches in empowering female and ethnic-minority investigative journalists in the SEA context? Country or regionally specific context can be provided.

8. What challenges exist at the country and regional levels that affect the ability of investigative journalists to perform their jobs (context specific approaches)?

9. What challenges and opportunities do you anticipate might be associated with increasing the capacity and networks of investigative journalists in SEA?

10. In your experience, what have been the most successful strategies and activities to support investigative journalism?

11. The activity seeks to demonstrate innovative models to catalyze private sector engagement. In your experience, what private sector interventions are currently being implemented to engage with investigative journalism in SEA?

12. Would your organization be interested in participating in a roundtable discussion, with USAID and other Asian and international investigative newsrooms, to develop this activity to strengthen regional collaborative investigative journalism?

13. What role does investigative journalism have to play in fighting corruption issues in SE Asia?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUESTED

USAID is planning to host a roundtable discussion with Asian and international investigative newsrooms in the first week of November 2022. For entities who are interested in joining this discussion please provide your organization's experience in producing investigative reporting, your editorial staff and their experience guiding and editing investigative reporting as well as mentoring and cultivating investigative reporting staff; as well as experience with cross-border investigative reporting projects. Also, indicate your organization’s primary point of contact (i.e., name, title, phone number, and email address).

Responses to this section should be concise and are not included in the 5-page limit in the previous section, RFI Questions.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

All responses must be submitted electronically with the subject title “72048623R00001 The Regional Investigative Journalism Collaboration Project” to Deborah Rakowski, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, at drakowski@usaid.gov. Responses to this RFI will be accepted through the date and time indicated on the cover sheet.

You will only receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response but will not receive individualized feedback on any suggestions. No basis for the claims against the U.S. Government shall arise as a result of a response to this RFI or from the Government’s use of such information. Specific questions about this RFI should be directed only to the Response Email address as listed on the cover sheet.

The submitted response should include:

Reference number: 72048623R00001 [Date] Name/Email Affiliation/Organization

Attachments: Respondents may attach any documents that support responses to the above questions. File size must not exceed 25 megabytes.

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