Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0010221
The DRL Global Media Risk Mitigation grant is a U.S. Department of State opportunity run by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) to strengthen freedom of expression worldwide by helping journalists and other media actors operate more safely, especially in high-risk contexts. The core idea is practical, tailored protection: supporting journalists, media practitioners, and social communicators who face immediate threats or can reasonably expect heightened risk because of their work, including in active conflict zones and places where civic space is shrinking or tightly controlled. The program focus also includes improving resilience to disinformation, largely by ensuring the people producing and communicating information can continue their work without being forced offline, intimidated into silence, or compromised.
The projects DRL is looking for center on providing targeted, individualized risk mitigation plans. These plans are meant to be developed case-by-case, based on the specific operating environment and the specific threat profile of each beneficiary. The support can cover multiple dimensions of safety, including digital security (for example, account hardening, secure communications, device security practices, and operational security), psychosocial support needs (such as measures that help reduce trauma impacts, stress, burnout, and intimidation effects), and physical safety considerations (such as movement safety planning and situational risk reduction). A key requirement is that this assistance is not a one-size-fits-all training program; it is targeted technical assistance built around the beneficiary's current circumstances and risks.
Another defining feature is how beneficiaries are selected and served. DRL expects assistance to be delivered on a rolling basis, meaning the program should be able to respond as needs arise rather than only at fixed intake periods. Beneficiaries should be vetted, and the opportunity specifically notes that they should have already completed prior safety trainings. In other words, this grant is geared toward advanced, customized follow-on support for people and outlets who already have baseline training but now need specialized, situational tools and planning to deal with concrete threats. The risk mitigation plans are to be co-developed with the beneficiaries, reflecting their needs and constraints, rather than imposed externally.
The funding is strictly for technical assistance and does not allow direct financial assistance to individuals or organizations. That means the program can provide expertise, planning, guidance, and potentially in-kind support structures tied to technical assistance, but it cannot function as a pass-through fund that gives cash grants or direct monetary support to threatened journalists or media outlets. Applicants therefore need to design an approach that delivers meaningful, immediate improvements in safety without simply issuing subgrants or stipends to beneficiaries.
Eligibility is broad. DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profits/NGOs, public international organizations, private/public/state institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL states a preference for working with non-profit entities, but acknowledges that in some cases a for-profit may be best suited; if a for-profit applies, it may face additional review after panel selection. Also, the Department of State does not allow profit under assistance awards to for-profit or commercial organizations. In practice, that means budgets must be built around allowable direct and indirect costs only, with no margin above those costs. Cost allowability for commercial organizations is governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation standards referenced in the notice.
In terms of award specifics, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0010221, CFDA 19.345) with an anticipated single award. The award ceiling is $750,000, and the original closing date listed is April 8, 2024. Overall, the opportunity is aimed at building a responsive, global capability to help at-risk media actors quickly assess threats and implement tailored protective measures across digital, psychosocial, and physical domains, while keeping the assistance strictly technical and tightly aligned with the realities of each operating environment.Apply for SFOP0010221
- The Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DRL Global Media Risk Mitigation" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-08. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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DRL Global Media Risk Mitigation Grant (SFOP0010221) - FAQs
What is the DRL Global Media Risk Mitigation grant?
It is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity run by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) designed to strengthen freedom of expression worldwide by helping journalists and other media actors operate more safely, especially in high-risk environments.
What is the main goal of this opportunity?
The goal is practical, tailored protection for at-risk media actors. DRL is seeking projects that can rapidly assess risks and provide individualized technical assistance so beneficiaries can keep working without being forced offline, intimidated into silence, or otherwise compromised.
Who is the assistance intended to support?
The opportunity targets journalists, media practitioners, and social communicators who face immediate threats or who can reasonably expect heightened risk because of their work, including those operating in active conflict zones and in places where civic space is shrinking or tightly controlled.
What kinds of projects is DRL looking for?
DRL is looking for projects centered on targeted, individualized risk mitigation plans. These plans should be developed case-by-case based on each beneficiary's operating environment and specific threat profile.
What is a "targeted, individualized risk mitigation plan" in this program?
It is a customized plan co-developed with a beneficiary to address their real-world threats and constraints. The plan should be tailored to the beneficiary's circumstances rather than delivered as a generic curriculum or one-size-fits-all training package.
Does the program fund general safety trainings for large groups?
No. A key requirement is that the assistance is not a one-size-fits-all training program. DRL is seeking targeted technical assistance built around each beneficiary's current risks and circumstances.
What types of safety support can the technical assistance include?
Support can cover multiple dimensions of safety, including digital security, psychosocial support needs, and physical safety considerations, with the specific mix determined by the beneficiary's threat profile and operating context.
What are examples of digital security assistance under this opportunity?
Examples listed include account hardening, secure communications, device security practices, and operational security (OpSec) improvements.
What does psychosocial support mean in the context of this grant?
Psychosocial support refers to measures that help reduce the impacts of trauma, stress, burnout, and intimidation effects that can result from threats and high-risk reporting environments.
What does physical safety support mean in the context of this grant?
Physical safety support focuses on practical risk reduction, such as movement safety planning and situational risk reduction measures tailored to the beneficiary's environment.
How are beneficiaries expected to be served (fixed cohorts or ongoing intake)?
DRL expects assistance to be delivered on a rolling basis, meaning the program should be able to respond as needs arise rather than only during fixed intake windows.
Are beneficiaries required to be vetted?
Yes. DRL indicates beneficiaries should be vetted as part of how they are selected and served.
Do beneficiaries need prior safety training to participate?
Yes. The opportunity notes that beneficiaries should have already completed prior safety trainings. This grant is positioned as advanced, customized follow-on support for people and outlets that already have baseline training.
Is this grant intended for people facing immediate threats only?
It is intended for those facing immediate threats and also for those who can reasonably expect heightened risk because of their work, including in conflict zones and restrictive environments.
How does the opportunity relate to disinformation?
The program focus includes improving resilience to disinformation, largely by helping ensure the people producing and communicating information can continue their work without being forced offline, silenced, or compromised.
Can the grant provide direct financial assistance (cash) to threatened journalists or media outlets?
No. Funding is strictly for technical assistance and does not allow direct financial assistance to individuals or organizations. The program cannot operate as a pass-through fund providing cash grants, stipends, or direct monetary support to beneficiaries.
If direct financial assistance is not allowed, what is allowed?
The notice emphasizes technical assistance: expertise, planning, guidance, and support structures tied to technical assistance. The project design must deliver immediate, meaningful safety improvements without issuing subgrants or stipends.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profits/NGOs, public international organizations, private/public/state institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations or businesses.
Does DRL prefer certain types of applicants?
DRL states a preference for working with non-profit entities, while noting that a for-profit organization may be best suited in some cases.
Can a for-profit organization apply, and are there special conditions?
Yes, for-profits may apply. The opportunity notes that a for-profit applicant may face additional review after panel selection.
Can a for-profit earn profit (a margin) under this assistance award?
No. The Department of State does not allow profit under assistance awards to for-profit or commercial organizations. Budgets must be limited to allowable direct and indirect costs only, with no added margin above those costs.
What rules govern cost allowability for commercial (for-profit) organizations?
The notice indicates that cost allowability for commercial organizations is governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation standards referenced in the opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0010221.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 19.345.
Is this a discretionary grant opportunity?
Yes. The notice describes it as a discretionary grant opportunity.
How many awards does DRL anticipate making?
The opportunity indicates an anticipated single award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $750,000.
What is the closing date listed for the opportunity?
The original closing date listed is April 8, 2024.
What makes this program different from basic safety capacity building?
The defining features are (1) individualized, case-by-case risk mitigation plans, (2) co-development of plans with beneficiaries rather than externally imposed approaches, (3) rolling delivery so support can be provided as needs arise, and (4) an advanced follow-on focus for beneficiaries who already completed prior safety trainings.
Does the opportunity emphasize global coverage or a specific country?
The description frames it as a global capability aimed at helping at-risk media actors in high-risk contexts worldwide, including conflict zones and restrictive civic space environments.
What core safety domains should a project be prepared to address?
The opportunity highlights three domains: digital security, psychosocial support, and physical safety, with the exact support package tailored to each beneficiary's threats and circumstances.
How quickly should the program be able to respond to needs?
The expectation of rolling assistance implies a responsive model that can act as needs arise rather than waiting for periodic application cycles or cohort start dates.
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