NOFO: DRL Preserving Freedom of Expression in Bangladesh

Through this award, DRL aims to enable journalists, media outlets, and civil society activists in Bangladesh to sustainably counter threats and challenges faced under various laws, in order to conduct accurate reporting that informs the population and holds power-holders accountable.

Where appropriate, competitive proposals may include:

• Opportunities for beneficiaries to apply their new knowledge and skills in practical efforts;
• Solicitation of feedback and suggestions from beneficiaries when developing activities in order to strengthen the sustainability of programs and participant ownership of project outcomes;
• Input from participants on sustainability plans and systematic review of the plans throughout the life of the project, with adjustments made as necessary;
• Inclusion of vulnerable populations;
• Joint identification and definition of key concepts with relevant stakeholders and stakeholder input into project activities;
• Systematic follow-up with beneficiaries at specific intervals after the completion of activities to track how beneficiaries are retaining new knowledge as well as applying their new skills.

Funding Information

• Total Funding Floor: $750,000
• Total Funding Ceiling: $750,000
• Anticipated Number of Awards: 1-2
• Period of Performance: 24-36 months
• Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 4-5 months

Outcomes

The proposed program should achieve the following outcomes:

• Civil society more safely and effectively documents restrictions to freedom of expression and conducts advocacy on freedom of expression issues in regional, international, and multilateral forums;
• Independent journalists and media outlets, civil society, and activists bolster efforts to call for a revision of regressive expression laws;
• Civil society collaborate with journalists to help report on their findings;
• Civil society and community actors operate and coordinate safely to navigate the legal operating environment;
• Media actors implement secure practices to ensure their safe and effective operations.

Activities

• Illustrative project activities could include:
  • Advancing coordinated, multi-stakeholder advocacy among civil society and media to widen space for freedom of expression in Bangladesh;
  • Strengthening the skills of civil society and journalists to safely document Bangladesh’s limitations on freedom of expression and media freedom and use documentation of violations to advance coordinated action;
  • Improving civil society’s understanding of how to navigate regional and international mechanisms for coordinated regional, international, and multilateral advocacy on freedom of expression issues within Bangladesh;
  • Advocating against the misuse of Bangladesh’s freedom of expression laws against civil society and supporting civil society input on the draft ICT law;
  • Supporting documentation efforts and/or international reporting efforts that incorporate local voices;
  • Promoting digital and physical security practices among civil society, journalists, and other media actors.
• Proposed projects should also seek to engage marginalized and underserved communities, such as youth, women, religious and ethnic minorities, indigenous groups, LGBTQI+ persons, and persons with disabilities, as project beneficiaries.

Eligibility Criteria

• DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.

For more information, visit Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL).