Birn

Birn is a non-profit organization that provides services to the U.S. federal government through prime federal grant awards and sub-awards on federal grants and contracts. The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) is a network of local non-governmental organizations promoting freedom of speech, human rights, and democratic values in Southern and Eastern Europe.

Through federal contracts, Birn has been awarded sub-awards to support investigative journalism and increase media content related to procurement and public finance irregularities. For example, Birn received a sub-award from DAI Global LLC, a prime contractor, to support civil society organizations (CSOs) and media outlets in their efforts to advance investigative journalism and increase high-quality media content on procurement and public finance irregularities. This sub-award highlights Birn's work in promoting transparency and accountability in public finance and procurement processes.

Through federal grants, Birn has received prime awards from agencies such as the Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor to support projects that promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Notably, Birn was awarded a $642,000 Project Grant through the International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor program (CFDA 19.345) to increase accountability of the Montenegrin national and local governments and public institutions to citizens by empowering the justice system and the rule of law from October 1, 2022, to March 31, 2025. Additionally, Birn has received sub-awards on grants from organizations like Internews Network for projects such as the Greater Internet Freedom (GIF) initiative, demonstrating its involvement in promoting internet freedom and access to information.