The Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) aims to support programming to improve access for Syrians to unbiased, accurate, and locally relevant information as a means to empower citizens, promote accountability, and counter violent extremist narratives.

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to advance the following U.S. Government policy priorities in Syria:

• Ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and al-Qaeda to counter violent extremism;
• Support ceasefire agreements to reduce violence;
• Expand humanitarian access and the delivery of humanitarian aid across Syria;
• Promote long-term, locally led, and internationally supported approaches to transitional justice, accountability, and reconciliation; and,
• Advance a political solution to the Syrian conflict under the auspices of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2254.

Eligible Countries and Territories:

In this announcement, NEA/AC seeks to support activities focused on Syria. The project should be implemented from a third country, with a strong justification for why that country was chosen.

Achievable objectives :

A successful proposal will demonstrate how to best support the independent media landscape in addressing the challenges and needs enumerated above.

Proposed project activities should achieve the following objectives:

• Improve independent media platforms’ capacity, journalistic production and management to ensure access for Syrians to unbiased, accurate, and locally relevant information, to empower citizens, promote accountability, and counter violent extremist narratives; and
• Counter disinformation perpetuated by designated by the Assad regime, terrorist organizations and other malign actors through support for professional Syrian media outlets.

Eligible applicants :

Eligible applicants include:

• U.S. or foreign
• Non-profit organizations;
• For-profit organizations;
• Private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and
• Public international organizations

NEA/AC is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities. NEA/AC welcomes applications irrespective of an applicants’ race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

NEA/AC encourage applications from organizations working with underserved communities, including women, people with disabilities, and youth.

Closing date : February 16, 2023

Funding : $5,000,000 – $3,000,000

Further information