Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS MON FY22 02
The Investigative Reporting for Democratic Resiliency grant (Funding Opportunity Number PAS MON FY22 02) is a discretionary U.S. Department of State award run through the U.S. Embassy Monrovia Public Affairs Section (PAS). It is designed to strengthen investigative journalism in Liberia as part of a broader push for democratic resiliency in the lead-up to the second Summit for Democracy planned for December 2022. The central idea is to help Liberian journalists produce credible, public-interest reporting that informs citizens, supports accountability, and reinforces democratic norms during a period when governance commitments are under heightened public and international attention.
The program funds the development and publication of 28 separate news productions, which can be written stories, audio pieces, video segments, visual journalism, or a mix of formats. These productions must rely on Liberian investigative reporters and be published through local Liberian media houses for a general domestic audience, rather than being limited to niche or international outlets. The reporting focus is tied to contextual issues connected to the Government of Liberia commitments from the 2021 Summit for Democracy. Priority topic areas include anti-corruption reforms such as amending the Anti-Corruption Act to strengthen prosecutorial powers, establishing a dedicated criminal court to prosecute corruption and financial crimes, and improving transparency and accountability. The opportunity also highlights gender and human rights commitments, including ongoing efforts to reduce and ultimately end gender-based violence, engaging traditional leaders to end harmful traditional practices, and proposing legislation to prohibit female genital mutilation. Additional emphasized commitments include fairness and transparency in election funding, increasing womens participation in elections and senior government roles, making legislative votes public with trackable individual voting records, and formalizing customary land tenure.
A key requirement is that the selected NGO functions as an implementing partner that actively supports the reporting process rather than producing content itself in a top-down way. The grantee is expected to provide hands-on support to reporters across the full production cycle: reporting assistance, editing, logistical coordination, and help addressing issues that may arise after publication (which can include follow-up reporting needs, safety considerations, documentation questions, or responses to public pushback). The underlying purpose is professional development for media practitioners, so the grant is not just about publishing stories but also about strengthening investigative capacity, standards, and routines that can last beyond the grant period.
The Embassy makes a clear distinction between funding support and editorial control. While the U.S. Embassy provides the funding for the implementing partners support to journalists, it states it will not exercise editorial oversight over the choice of topics, the reporting and production process, or the final published products. In practice, this means the NGO must be able to run a credible, independent support program that protects journalistic integrity while still meeting the grants thematic intent and deliverables.
Applications are expected to be concrete about how the NGO will operate in the Liberian media environment. Proposals should explain the applicants track record supporting reporters in Liberia or similar contexts, the types of journalism expertise they can bring (for example investigative methods, fact-checking systems, editorial coaching, digital security, or production skills), and how they will select the journalists and/or media institutions they will work with. Applicants also need to lay out how the final productions will be placed or distributed through local media houses and how they will track reach and public reaction. Notably, support staff must include U.S. citizen experts involved in the production process, which is a built-in staffing requirement applicants must plan and budget for.
The program objectives combine public accountability with capacity-building. The stated goals are to show the Liberian public why a free press matters for democratic resiliency, build the ability of Liberian media to report objectively and verify information through fact-checking, encourage the Government of Liberia to follow through during the so-called year of action on its Summit for Democracy commitments, and signal the U.S. Governments broader commitment to good governance and democratic values. Operationally, the implementer is responsible for liaising with local reporters, determining the content and formats of the productions (independently), distributing the work to local media, and monitoring how audiences respond.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is offered by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Liberia, under CFDA 19.040. The award ceiling is $140,000, with one expected award. The opportunity opened February 2, 2022, and originally closed March 4, 2022. Ideal applicants are media-focused NGOs, especially those with existing networks in Liberia, because the program depends on fast, credible coordination with local journalists and outlets to produce and publish 28 investigative pieces within the Summit-for-Democracy timeline.Apply for PAS MON FY22 02
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Liberia in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Investigative Reporting for Democratic Resiliency" 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 Feb 02, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 04, 2022. (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 $140,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Investigative Reporting for Democratic Resiliency (PAS MON FY22 02)
What is the Investigative Reporting for Democratic Resiliency grant?
It is a discretionary U.S. Department of State grant run through the U.S. Embassy Monrovia Public Affairs Section (PAS). The program is designed to strengthen investigative journalism in Liberia as part of a broader push for democratic resiliency in the lead-up to the second Summit for Democracy planned for December 2022.
Who is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Liberia, through the U.S. Embassy Monrovia Public Affairs Section (PAS).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAS MON FY22 02.
What is the CFDA number for this award?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 19.040.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The central purpose is to help Liberian journalists produce credible, public-interest investigative reporting that informs citizens, supports accountability, and reinforces democratic norms during a period of heightened attention to governance commitments tied to the Summit for Democracy.
What are the program objectives?
The stated objectives include: demonstrating to the Liberian public why a free press matters for democratic resiliency; building the ability of Liberian media to report objectively and verify information through fact-checking; encouraging the Government of Liberia to follow through during the "year of action" on its Summit for Democracy commitments; and signaling the U.S. Government's broader commitment to good governance and democratic values.
How many news productions must be developed and published?
The program funds the development and publication of 28 separate news productions.
What formats are allowed for the 28 productions?
The productions can be written stories, audio pieces, video segments, visual journalism, or a mix of formats.
Who must produce the reporting?
The reporting must rely on Liberian investigative reporters.
Where must the productions be published?
The productions must be published through local Liberian media houses for a general domestic audience, rather than being limited to niche or international outlets.
What topics should the investigative reporting cover?
The reporting focus is tied to contextual issues connected to the Government of Liberia commitments from the 2021 Summit for Democracy. Priority topic areas include anti-corruption reforms, gender and human rights commitments, election-related transparency and fairness, public legislative voting records, and customary land tenure formalization.
What anti-corruption themes are highlighted as priorities?
Examples of highlighted anti-corruption reforms include amending the Anti-Corruption Act to strengthen prosecutorial powers, establishing a dedicated criminal court to prosecute corruption and financial crimes, and improving transparency and accountability.
What gender and human rights commitments are emphasized?
Emphasized commitments include efforts to reduce and ultimately end gender-based violence, engaging traditional leaders to end harmful traditional practices, and proposing legislation to prohibit female genital mutilation.
What election-related topics are included in the priorities?
The opportunity emphasizes fairness and transparency in election funding, as well as increasing women's participation in elections and in senior government roles.
Are legislative transparency issues included in the priority areas?
Yes. One emphasized commitment is making legislative votes public with trackable individual voting records.
Does the program mention land issues as a reporting focus?
Yes. The opportunity highlights formalizing customary land tenure as one of the emphasized commitments.
What type of organization is expected to apply?
The selected grantee is expected to be an NGO that functions as an implementing partner supporting the reporting process. The opportunity indicates ideal applicants are media-focused NGOs, especially those with existing networks in Liberia.
Is the implementing NGO supposed to produce the stories itself?
No. A key requirement is that the NGO actively supports the reporting process rather than producing content itself in a top-down way. The program is centered on professional development for media practitioners.
What kind of support is the grantee expected to provide to reporters?
The grantee is expected to provide hands-on support across the full production cycle, including reporting assistance, editing, logistical coordination, and help addressing issues that may arise after publication (such as follow-up reporting needs, safety considerations, documentation questions, or responses to public pushback).
Does the U.S. Embassy control editorial decisions?
No. The Embassy draws a clear distinction between funding support and editorial control. It states it will not exercise editorial oversight over the choice of topics, the reporting and production process, or the final published products.
Who determines the content and formats of the productions?
The implementer is responsible for determining the content and formats independently, while still aligning with the grant's thematic intent and required deliverables.
What does the opportunity say about journalistic integrity and independence?
The NGO must be able to run a credible, independent support program that protects journalistic integrity, since the Embassy provides funding but does not provide editorial oversight.
What should proposals explain about operating in Liberia?
Applications are expected to be concrete about how the NGO will operate in the Liberian media environment, including how it will coordinate with local journalists and outlets to produce and publish the required 28 investigative pieces within the Summit-for-Democracy timeline.
What experience should applicants describe in their proposals?
Proposals should explain the applicant's track record supporting reporters in Liberia or similar contexts and outline the types of journalism expertise the organization can bring.
What kinds of journalism expertise are specifically mentioned?
Examples mentioned include investigative methods, fact-checking systems, editorial coaching, digital security, and production skills.
How should applicants plan to select journalists or media institutions?
Applicants need to describe how they will select the journalists and/or media institutions they will work with.
How should applicants plan for distribution or placement of stories?
Applicants must lay out how the final productions will be placed or distributed through local Liberian media houses.
Does the grant require monitoring audience reach and reaction?
Yes. Proposals should describe how the applicant will track reach and public reaction, and the implementer is responsible for monitoring how audiences respond.
Are there staffing requirements tied to U.S. citizens?
Yes. The opportunity notes that support staff must include U.S. citizen experts involved in the production process, and applicants must plan and budget for this requirement.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is $140,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
One award is expected.
When did the opportunity open and close?
The opportunity opened on February 2, 2022, and originally closed on March 4, 2022.
How does this program connect to the Summit for Democracy?
The program is framed around democratic resiliency and is tied to the Government of Liberia commitments made during the 2021 Summit for Democracy, with an implementation push leading up to the second Summit for Democracy planned for December 2022.
Why does the opportunity emphasize local publication and a domestic audience?
The opportunity specifies publication through local Liberian media houses for a general domestic audience to ensure the reporting informs citizens in Liberia and supports local accountability and democratic norms.
What does "implementing partner" mean in this grant context?
In this context, an implementing partner is an NGO that liaises with local reporters, supports them through the reporting and production process (including editing and logistics), helps manage issues after publication, and ensures the work is distributed through Liberian media houses while monitoring audience response.
Is capacity-building part of the deliverables, or only publication?
Capacity-building is a core part of the program design. The grant is described as strengthening investigative capacity, standards, and routines that can last beyond the grant period, not only producing publishable stories.
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