Background: Budget of the call: up to $330.000
Pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, the United States Government (USG), as represented by the U.S. Agency for international Development Mission in Macedonia (USAID/Macedonia), is seeking second round of concept papers from qualified local, nonprofit or for-profit non-governmental organizations (NGOS), to carry out the Strengthening Independent Media in Macedonia Program throughout Macedonia.
The period of performance of the Cooperative Agreement(s) issued under this APS Amendment # 2 will be up to 34 months (from o/a Feb 2013 through o/a Dec 2015) from the date of award. The actual number of awards under this APS Amendment # 2 is subject to the viability of applications received and the availability of funds. Accordingly, USAID’ Regional Contracting Office (RCO) in Pristina, in coordination with USAID Macedonia, reserves the right to make multiple awards or no awards at all through this APS Amendment # 2. Subject to the foregoing, the total estimated amount available the USG is $330,000.00. The limit of the budget of the proposed individual programs is up to $330,000.00.
Macedonia’s media legal framework is generally respected, with the exception of criminal prosecution for libel or defamation. Freedom of the press is constitutionally-guaranteed, and Article 16 specifically states that freedom of personal conviction, conscience, thought, and public expression of thought is guaranteed. The constitution also guarantees freedom of speech, public address, public information, access to information, reception and transmission of information, and the establishment of institutions of public information. In practice, the legal system is selected in enforcement, and constitutional rights are often circumvented.
Macedonia is oversaturated with media outlets, which prevents development of a rational market. Despite a population of slightly more than two million inhabitants, Macedonia has 160 radio stations, 12 daily newspapers, eight weekly newspapers, and 76 television stations, of which six are privately-owned nationwide broadcasters and one is state-owned. Satellite broadcasters originating channels from Macedonia are a new addition to the mix. Internet use is affordable and relatively widespread in the major cities, but not in rural communities or villages.
Some of the reasons for the proliferation of media outlets are: 1) foreign direct investments in the print media; 2) majority and minority language publications serving different parts of the country; 3) indiscriminate issuance of too many licenses by the state regulatory agency, the Broadcast Council of the Republic of Macedonia; and 4) political and corporate sponsorship of media outlets which sustains otherwise unprofitable enterprises and manipulates and controls editorial policy. Of these, the last has the largest and most distorting impact on this critical sector.
Purpose:
The SIMM program seeks to open the space for independent free media and strengthen freedom of expression by empowering journalists to reduce their vulnerability to political, economic and legal intimidation. Journalists and associated organizations must also network with pertinent civil society organizations in common cause to support improved public interest journalism. Legislation will be promulgated which upon passage would de-criminalize current libel and slander laws and shift the burden of proof, reducing the power of political entities to punish the media for presenting the truth.
Program Objectives:
Objective 1: Build the capacity of media and journalists’ associations to support members through collective action, provide legal support to mitigate lawsuits and advance legislative reform to eliminate criminal defamation.
Objective 2: Monitor and enforce professional standards of practice through peer review, public discussion and condemnation of unethical journalism.
Objective 3: Develop sustainable systems to network journalists with CSOS in common cause to improve public interest journalism and bolster media’s legitimate role in society.
Local organizations will be instrumental in achieving these objectives. We will also work to integrate the new USAID civil society program and SIMM. We expect that the local media organizations will fully utilize the Civil Society grant component and participate in their capacity building technical assistance.
Possible activities could include: lobbying for media legislation and libel law reform, increasing access to and awareness of legal aid, offering pre-publication reviews for legal issues, and raising professional standards through peer review and condemnation of poor practices. Macedonian organizations could host an online media forum with a specific emphasis on monitoring professional standards of practice.
Program duration:
The duration — implementation of programs funded under the Amendment # 2 of the subject APS is anticipated for a period of approximately 34 months from the date of the individual award(s). Project will end not later than December 31, 2015. USAID reserves the right to incrementally fund activities over the duration of the program, if necessary, depending on program length, performance against approved program indicators and availability of funds.
Anticipated Funding available:
USAID anticipates $330,000.00 initially to be available to support the program(s) or activity/activities described herein, although final funding levels will depend on content, quality, number of applications received, needs, availability of funding, and competing priorities.
Applicant eligibility:
USAID will not accept applications from individuals. All applicants must be legally recognized organizational entities under applicable law.
The following types of organizations may apply for funding under this APS:
- Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOS) registered under the Law on Non-Governmental Organizations
and Foundations of the Republic of Macedonia;
- For-profit consulting companies/think tanks/ registered as local entities.
Deadline: 15 October 2012
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