Opportunity Information: Apply for STATE BISHKEK PAS 21 0005
The Media Small Grants Program is a U.S. Department of State initiative run through the U.S. Mission to Kyrgyzstan that aims to strengthen independent media as a pillar of a more inclusive and accountable democracy in the Kyrgyz Republic. The program is designed to expand the skills, reach, and resilience of independent media outlets and media-focused civil society organizations, with the broader intention of increasing the production of balanced, locally relevant journalism and supporting alternative narratives that reflect diverse community perspectives. In practice, it emphasizes practical capacity-building that helps media actors report credibly on complex public issues, engage audiences responsibly, and withstand political, economic, and digital pressures that can weaken independent journalism.
The opportunity specifically encourages locally innovative projects that align with a wide set of public-policy priorities connected to democratic governance and social cohesion. These priorities include protecting freedom of speech and freedom of the press, encouraging pluralism and open discussion of current issues, and improving dialogue between communities and authorities. It also highlights interethnic and interfaith dialogue, government transparency and civic advocacy, and anti-corruption efforts. Beyond governance topics, the program also supports work tied to regional security and stability and countering transnational threats such as trafficking in persons, violent extremism, and organized crime. It further allows projects that strengthen entrepreneurship and small business development as it relates to media sustainability, raise awareness and public participation around climate change and air pollution, and improve public messaging and awareness connected to COVID-19 response efforts.
The overarching project goal is to strengthen the media environment in the Kyrgyz Republic by improving journalistic professionalism and boosting the sustainability of independent media organizations. The target audiences are broad but clearly defined: traditional and online media entities, media managers and working media professionals, university students specializing in journalism, and social media influencers who actively engage on social issues. This mix reflects a recognition that Kyrgyzstan's information ecosystem is shaped not only by legacy newsrooms but also by digital-first outlets and personalities, especially on platforms like YouTube and social media.
Applicants can propose projects that address one or more core objectives, with suggested numeric targets that can be adjusted based on a project's design. One major objective is to increase the capacity of at least 20 Kyrgyz journalists and media influencers through training and skill development in several key areas: constructive reporting on sensitive or high-risk topics (including violent extremism, conflict, minority rights, corruption, government transparency, public health crises such as COVID-19, and environmental issues like air pollution and climate change); stronger critical analysis and investigative techniques; fact-checking and research methods to reduce the impact of disinformation and misinformation; and personal and digital security practices for safe reporting, including crisis communications and lessons learned from real-world incidents. This objective also supports improving the creation of original, high-quality, locally relevant content by using storytelling approaches, new technologies, and digital tools.
Another objective focuses on the fast-growing Kyrgyz-language digital news space by aiming to increase the professionalism of at least 20 employees of YouTube-based news media. The emphasis here is on strengthening journalistic standards and ethics while also building the practical production and growth skills needed for digital outlets, including video editing, social media marketing, and graphic design. A separate but related objective targets the pipeline of future journalists by building the capacity of at least 50 journalism students through information literacy and fact-checking skills so they are better prepared to recognize and prevent the spread of false information as they enter the profession.
The program also supports longer-term institutional development in journalism education by encouraging stronger partnerships between Kyrgyz university journalism faculty and U.S. universities. These partnerships may include joint research, faculty exchanges, and curriculum development, helping align journalism training with modern standards, emerging digital realities, and evidence-based teaching approaches. Finally, recognizing that strong journalism depends on viable business models, the program includes an explicit sustainability objective: improving the financial stability and growth of at least four independent news outlets through training in marketing, financial planning, brand management, and business strategy.
From an administrative and funding perspective, this is a discretionary grant opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the funder may anticipate active involvement or coordination during implementation. The opportunity number is STATE BISHKEK PAS 21 0005 under CFDA 19.900. The award ceiling is $50,000, and the program anticipated making about four awards. The opportunity was created on May 14, 2021, with an original closing date of July 13, 2021.Apply for STATE BISHKEK PAS 21 0005
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Kyrgyzstan in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Media Small Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 14, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 13, 2021. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Media Small Grants Program (U.S. Mission to Kyrgyzstan) - FAQs
What is the Media Small Grants Program?
The Media Small Grants Program is a U.S. Department of State initiative implemented through the U.S. Mission to Kyrgyzstan. It is intended to strengthen independent media in the Kyrgyz Republic as a pillar of a more inclusive and accountable democracy by expanding the skills, reach, and resilience of independent media outlets and media-focused civil society organizations.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The overarching goal is to strengthen the media environment in the Kyrgyz Republic by improving journalistic professionalism and increasing the sustainability of independent media organizations.
What kinds of applicants or participants does the program focus on?
The program targets a broad set of media actors in the Kyrgyz Republic, including traditional and online media entities, media managers and working media professionals, university students specializing in journalism, and social media influencers who actively engage on social issues.
What types of projects does the program encourage?
The opportunity encourages locally innovative projects that build practical capacity and help media actors report credibly on complex public issues, engage audiences responsibly, and withstand political, economic, and digital pressures that can weaken independent journalism.
What public-policy themes and priorities can projects address?
The program supports projects aligned with democratic governance and social cohesion priorities, including freedom of speech and freedom of the press, pluralism and open discussion of current issues, and improved dialogue between communities and authorities. It also highlights interethnic and interfaith dialogue, government transparency and civic advocacy, and anti-corruption efforts.
Are security and transnational threat topics eligible under this program?
Yes. The program allows projects connected to regional security and stability and countering transnational threats such as trafficking in persons, violent extremism, and organized crime.
Can projects address environmental or public health topics?
Yes. The program supports work that raises awareness and public participation around climate change and air pollution, and it also supports improved public messaging and awareness connected to COVID-19 response efforts.
Does the program include support for media sustainability and business development?
Yes. The program explicitly includes a sustainability objective to improve the financial stability and growth of independent news outlets through training in marketing, financial planning, brand management, and business strategy. It also allows projects that strengthen entrepreneurship and small business development as it relates to media sustainability.
What are the core objectives applicants can propose to address?
Applicants can propose projects that address one or more core objectives. The opportunity describes objectives related to (1) training Kyrgyz journalists and media influencers; (2) professionalizing YouTube-based news media staff in the Kyrgyz-language digital news space; (3) building information literacy and fact-checking skills among journalism students; (4) strengthening partnerships between Kyrgyz university journalism faculty and U.S. universities; and (5) improving the financial sustainability of independent news outlets.
Are there suggested numeric targets for project results?
Yes. The opportunity provides suggested numeric targets for several objectives, and notes they can be adjusted based on a project's design.
How many journalists and influencers does the program aim to train?
One major objective is to increase the capacity of at least 20 Kyrgyz journalists and media influencers through training and skill development.
What training topics are included for journalists and influencers?
Training topics include constructive reporting on sensitive or high-risk issues (such as violent extremism, conflict, minority rights, corruption, government transparency, public health crises like COVID-19, and environmental issues such as air pollution and climate change), stronger critical analysis and investigative techniques, fact-checking and research methods to reduce disinformation and misinformation, and personal and digital security practices for safe reporting (including crisis communications and lessons learned from real-world incidents).
Does the program support improving content quality and use of digital tools?
Yes. The program supports improving the creation of original, high-quality, locally relevant content by using storytelling approaches, new technologies, and digital tools.
Is there a focus on Kyrgyz-language YouTube-based news media?
Yes. A specific objective focuses on the fast-growing Kyrgyz-language digital news space by aiming to increase the professionalism of at least 20 employees of YouTube-based news media.
What skills are emphasized for YouTube-based news media staff?
The emphasis includes strengthening journalistic standards and ethics, along with practical production and growth skills such as video editing, social media marketing, and graphic design.
Does the program support journalism students?
Yes. A separate objective targets the pipeline of future journalists by building the capacity of at least 50 journalism students through information literacy and fact-checking skills.
What is the purpose of training journalism students in information literacy and fact-checking?
The purpose is to better prepare journalism students to recognize and prevent the spread of false information as they enter the profession.
Are university partnerships included in the program design?
Yes. The opportunity encourages stronger partnerships between Kyrgyz university journalism faculty and U.S. universities as part of longer-term institutional development in journalism education.
What kinds of activities are envisioned under Kyrgyz-U.S. university partnerships?
Partnership activities may include joint research, faculty exchanges, and curriculum development to help align journalism training with modern standards, emerging digital realities, and evidence-based teaching approaches.
How many news outlets does the sustainability objective aim to support?
The sustainability objective aims to improve the financial stability and growth of at least four independent news outlets.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
In this opportunity, a cooperative agreement indicates that the funder may anticipate active involvement or coordination during project implementation.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $50,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
Approximately four awards were anticipated.
What is the opportunity number and CFDA number?
The opportunity number is STATE BISHKEK PAS 21 0005 under CFDA 19.900.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on May 14, 2021, with an original closing date of July 13, 2021.
Does this program specifically aim to counter disinformation and misinformation?
Yes. The opportunity includes fact-checking and research methods to reduce the impact of disinformation and misinformation, and it also supports information literacy and fact-checking for journalism students.
Does the program address journalist safety?
Yes. The training scope includes personal and digital security practices for safe reporting, including crisis communications and learning from real-world incidents.
Does the opportunity prioritize balanced, locally relevant journalism and diverse perspectives?
Yes. The program is intended to increase production of balanced, locally relevant journalism and to support alternative narratives that reflect diverse community perspectives.
Are projects expected to focus on practical capacity-building?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes practical capacity-building that improves professional reporting, responsible audience engagement, and the ability of media actors to withstand political, economic, and digital pressures.
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