Call for Grant Proposals: Global Media Defence Fund to support Journalists

• Eligibility Criteria:
  • This Call for Partnerships is open to not-for-profit entities only (e.g. NGOs, media associations, journalists’ unions, human rights defenders, lawyers’ associations and pro bono legal aid organizations, investigative journalism networks, foundations, academic institutions, etc.).
  • Candidate partners must have been active and registered as not-for-profit entities for at least two years.
  • Natural persons, private companies, unincorporated entities, and organizations with less than two years of incorporation/activity are not eligible for funding.
• Type of funding: Programmatic
• Target countries: Global
• Application language: English

UNESCO invites not-for-profit organizations to submit proposals aimed at strengthening legal protection for journalists and promoting media freedom through investigative journalism or strategic litigation.

The GMDF seeks partnerships with specialized not-for-profit organizations (e.g. NGOs, media associations, journalists’ unions, human rights defenders, lawyers’ associations and pro bono legal aid organizations, investigative journalism networks, foundations, academic institutions, etc). Working on the ground at the local, regional, and international levels to enhance media freedom and bolster the legal protection of journalists.

From the grant description

• Output 2:Reinforcing the operationalization of national protection mechanisms and peer support networks to ensure journalists rapid access to legal assistance, bolster their defense, and enhance their safety, taking into account the gendered nature of the threats against them;
• Output 3: Supporting investigative journalism that contributes to reduced impunity for crimes against journalists by holding the justice system accountable and by pursuing investigative work that risks being censored when journalists are attacked; imprisoned, or murdered; and enhancing the safety of those conducting this line of work;
• Output 4: Enhancing structures for fostering strategic litigation in order to protect environments where the legal frameworks are conducive to an independent, free, and pluralistic media ecosystem.

Funding Information

• The total amount earmarked for the co-financing of projects under this Call is estimated at USD $1.4 million. This amount will be distributed among the proposals with the highest evaluation score (estimated number of grants: 40).
• The size of the grants that will be distributed under this Call will go from a minimum of USD $15,000 up to a maximum of USD $35,000. The amount requested by candidate partners should be commensurate with their entities’ proven administrative and financial management capabilities.

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