Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS NOFO FY21 03
The U.S. Consulate General Lagos, through its Public Affairs Section (PAS), announced a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Media Literacy and Countering Misinformation Project" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAS NOFO FY21 03). The program is designed for media capacity development organizations that can build public resilience to online misinformation and disinformation, with a strong emphasis on practical media literacy and basic fact-checking skills delivered through radio. The funding instrument is a grant under CFDA 19.040, administered by the U.S. Mission to Nigeria, with an award ceiling of $60,000. The opportunity was posted on March 30, 2021, and originally closed on May 4, 2021.
Geographically, the project focuses on Nigeria's southern regions, specifically the states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, and Rivers. Within this footprint, the grant aims to reach communities that are especially vulnerable to misleading narratives circulating online, particularly through social media platforms and messaging apps where rumors can spread quickly and unchecked. The overall intent is to strengthen people’s ability to evaluate information critically, reduce the reach of harmful falsehoods, and encourage a culture of verifying before sharing.
The program objectives lay out what the grantee is expected to accomplish. First, applicants must identify which audience or audiences are most susceptible to misinformation and disinformation, rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all approach. Second, the grantee must educate that audience on how false information is created, packaged, and amplified online, using media literacy radio programming as the main delivery channel. Third, the programming should directly address common conspiracy theory themes and recurring misinformation topics that gain traction in group chats and social feeds. Examples mentioned include claims that COVID-19 does not exist, beliefs about supposed immunity, fears about vaccine safety, exaggerated or anecdotal claims about self-medication and folk remedies, and even conflict-related narratives such as claims about Boko Haram controlling harvests. In addition to topic-specific awareness, the program must teach the basics of digital fact-checking, including comparing multiple sources and seeking corroboration, and it must encourage people to rely on credible news sources online. A final and important objective is to increase public awareness of personal accountability, meaning the idea that individuals share responsibility for the harm caused when they forward unverified claims.
The priority program areas describe a fairly structured implementation plan centered on radio partnerships and capacity-building. A key early requirement is for the grantee to conduct a survey to determine the most appropriate target audience for the radio program and to identify which radio stations that audience actually listens to. Instead of building a new standalone survey from scratch, the audience analysis questions are expected to be added to an existing research instrument, suggesting the project should leverage ongoing or pre-existing data collection efforts where feasible. Using the findings, the grantee must then formalize partnerships by signing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with at least 16 radio stations to support the production and airing of the media literacy program over a one-year period. The station distribution is specified: four stations in Lagos, four across the rest of the South West, four in the South East, and four in the South-South.
A notable feature of this opportunity is how it proposes to fund the radio programming. Rather than primarily paying for production services and airtime, the grantee is expected to negotiate arrangements where the value offered to stations comes through training and capacity support. Specifically, the grantee will train selected producers and reporters at the partner stations on how to promote media literacy and counter misinformation through radio content. The grant also includes donating certain equipment to stations to improve their ability to produce the program, making the intervention both educational and practical by strengthening local production capacity. The training content must incorporate existing U.S. Government materials, particularly the YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative) Media Literacy curriculum, which implies that applicants should be prepared to adapt and contextualize established modules rather than inventing all content anew.
Operationally, the trainings are expected to take place in American Centers and American Corners, indicating that programming should align with U.S. Mission public engagement spaces and possibly use them as convening venues for workshops and sessions. The opportunity also encourages, where possible, the inclusion of U.S. Government-sponsored Nigerian program alumni in implementation. This suggests the project should tap into alumni networks as trainers, speakers, mentors, or local champions who can extend the credibility and reach of the effort.
In short, this grant opportunity funds a one-year, radio-centered media literacy intervention across southern Nigeria that combines audience research, station partnerships, journalist/producer training, and targeted public education content aimed at reducing the spread and impact of misinformation. The expected outcome is a better-informed target audience that understands how misinformation travels, can perform basic verification, recognizes recurring conspiracy narratives, and feels a stronger sense of responsibility about what they share with others.Apply for PAS NOFO FY21 03
- The U.S. Mission to Nigeria in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled " U.S. Consulate Lagos Public Affairs Section (PAS)Notice of Funding Opportunity Media Literacy & Countering Misinformation Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-03-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $60,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Media Literacy and Countering Misinformation Project (PAS NOFO FY21 03)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Media Literacy and Countering Misinformation Project".
Who is offering this grant?
The grant is offered by the U.S. Consulate General Lagos through its Public Affairs Section (PAS), under the U.S. Mission to Nigeria.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (NOFO) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is PAS NOFO FY21 03.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant administered by the U.S. Mission to Nigeria.
What CFDA number is associated with this award?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 19.040.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $60,000.
When was this opportunity posted?
It was posted on March 30, 2021.
When did the application period originally close?
The original closing date was May 4, 2021.
What is the overall purpose of the project?
The project is designed to build public resilience to online misinformation and disinformation, with a strong emphasis on practical media literacy and basic fact-checking skills, delivered primarily through radio.
Who is this program designed for (intended applicants)?
The program is designed for media capacity development organizations that can implement a radio-centered media literacy intervention to counter misinformation and disinformation.
What geographic areas does the project focus on?
The project focuses on Nigeria's southern regions, specifically the states of: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, and Rivers.
Why does the project focus on these communities?
Within the southern Nigeria footprint, the grant aims to reach communities especially vulnerable to misleading narratives circulating online, particularly through social media and messaging apps where rumors can spread quickly and unchecked.
What is the primary delivery channel for media literacy education in this program?
The main delivery channel is radio programming.
What are the main objectives the grantee is expected to accomplish?
Based on the program description, the grantee is expected to:
- Identify which audience or audiences are most susceptible to misinformation and disinformation.
- Educate the target audience on how false information is created, packaged, and amplified online using media literacy radio programming.
- Address common conspiracy theory themes and recurring misinformation topics that circulate in social feeds and group chats.
- Teach basic digital fact-checking skills, including comparing multiple sources and seeking corroboration.
- Encourage reliance on credible news sources online.
- Increase awareness of personal accountability for forwarding unverified claims.
Does the program require audience research before producing or airing radio content?
Yes. A key early requirement is to conduct a survey to determine the most appropriate target audience for the radio program and to identify which radio stations that audience listens to.
Is the survey expected to be newly created for this project?
Not necessarily. The opportunity indicates that the audience analysis questions are expected to be added to an existing research instrument, suggesting the project should leverage ongoing or pre-existing data collection efforts where feasible.
How many radio station partnerships are required?
The grantee must sign MOUs with at least 16 radio stations to support production and airing of the media literacy program over a one-year period.
Is there a specific distribution requirement for the radio stations?
Yes. The station distribution is specified as:
- 4 stations in Lagos
- 4 stations across the rest of the South West
- 4 stations in the South East
- 4 stations in the South-South
How long is the radio partnership and program implementation period expected to last?
The MOUs are intended to support production and airing of the program over a one-year period.
Is the grant primarily meant to pay for airtime and production services?
No. A notable feature is that the grantee is expected to negotiate arrangements where stations receive value primarily through training and capacity support, rather than the project mainly paying for production services and airtime.
What kind of training is the grantee expected to provide to radio stations?
The grantee is expected to train selected producers and reporters at partner stations on how to promote media literacy and counter misinformation through radio content.
Does the grant include equipment support for radio stations?
Yes. The grant includes donating certain equipment to stations to improve their ability to produce the program, strengthening local production capacity.
Are there required curricula or materials that must be used in the training?
Yes. The training content must incorporate existing U.S. Government materials, specifically including the YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative) Media Literacy curriculum. This implies training should adapt and contextualize established modules rather than creating all content from scratch.
What misinformation themes or examples should the programming address?
The opportunity highlights recurring conspiracy theory themes and misinformation topics often seen in group chats and social feeds, including examples such as:
- Claims that COVID-19 does not exist
- Beliefs about supposed immunity
- Fears or claims about vaccine safety
- Exaggerated or anecdotal claims about self-medication and folk remedies
- Conflict-related narratives such as claims about Boko Haram controlling harvests
What basic fact-checking skills does the project emphasize?
The project emphasizes basic digital fact-checking such as comparing multiple sources, seeking corroboration, and encouraging people to rely on credible news sources online.
Does the project address personal responsibility in sharing information?
Yes. A final objective is to increase public awareness of personal accountability, meaning individuals share responsibility for harm caused when they forward unverified claims.
Where are trainings expected to take place?
Trainings are expected to take place in American Centers and American Corners, aligning workshops and sessions with U.S. Mission public engagement spaces.
Is there encouragement to involve alumni from U.S. Government-sponsored programs?
Yes. The opportunity encourages, where possible, the inclusion of U.S. Government-sponsored Nigerian program alumni in implementation (for example, as trainers, speakers, mentors, or local champions).
What outcomes is the program aiming to achieve?
The expected outcomes include a target audience that is better able to:
- Understand how misinformation travels and gains traction online
- Recognize recurring conspiracy narratives and misleading themes
- Perform basic verification before accepting or sharing claims
- Rely more on credible sources for news and information
- Feel stronger personal responsibility about what they forward to others
What makes this grant opportunity different from a standard media campaign?
Based on the description, it combines multiple elements into one coordinated approach: audience research, formal radio station partnerships, training for producers/reporters, equipment support, and radio-based public education, with training anchored in existing materials like the YALI Media Literacy curriculum.
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