Request for Applications: DIRECT Small Grants

Publication Date: 2nd December, 2024

Summary 

  • Funder (Prime Funder):  Internews (US Department of State)

  • Funder Project Name: Data Rights and Enforcement through Community Trust (DIRECT)

  • Announcement Type: Initial 

  • CFDA Number:  19.345

  • Application Submission Deadline: 20th December, 2024

About DIRECT

The DIRECT (Data Rights and Enforcement through Community Trust) project is an initiative led by Internews through its network of partners in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia to advocate for rights-respecting data protection policy, support community-driven action to defend personal data, and expand an international network of organizations to jointly press for more accountable, independent, and empowered institutions to defend users’ data. Internews’ activities are funded by an award from the US Department of State (DOS).

About Internews

Internews is an international nonprofit operating in 100 countries. At Internews, we believe everyone deserves trustworthy news and information to make informed decisions about their lives and hold power to account. We train journalists and digital rights activists, tackle disinformation, and offer business expertise to help media outlets become financially sustainable. For more information about the organization please visit: www.internews.org.

About KICTANet

KICTANet is a multistakeholder think tank for ICT policy based in Nairobi, Kenya whose work spans stakeholder engagement, capacity building, research, and policy advocacy. The organization’s mission is to promote an enabling environment in the ICT sector that is robust, open, accessible, and rights-based through multi stakeholder approaches. For more information about the organization visit: https://www.kictanet.or.ke/ 

Program Description

As a part of the DIRECT project, KICTANet is carrying out an advocacy campaign in Kenya that seeks to center the realities of marginalized communities and new stakeholders within data protection policies and advocacy for data rights. Towards these goals, DIRECT features a grassroots advocacy grant pool designed to provide support to diversify the organizations and perspectives working on and engaged with data protection in Kenya.

This grants pool is targeted specifically at organizations representing marginalized or traditionally underrepresented groups. The goal of this grants-based initiative is to engage key communities to build advocacy campaigns focused on direct advocacy with policymakers, awareness raising, and the production of community-centered stories of impact that highlight the potential risks associated with weak or nonexistent data protection legislation. Each grant will feed into KICTANet’s larger advocacy efforts under DIRECT, raising awareness about data protection and promoting policy that directly responds to and considers the needs of a diverse coalition of actors— particularly for those who normally do not have a seat at the table. 

Application Information and Submission Instructions

KICTANet and Internews will award three grants for grassroots advocacy-oriented activities, particularly those that aim to expand the organizations and perspectives working on and engaged with data protection in Kenya. Potential projects include:

  • Collected video testimonials from impacted communities on how/why data protection is important to them
  • Short research reports demonstrating harms faced by these communities and existing policy gaps
  • Awareness raising campaigns to improve knowledge about data rights within key communities
  • Trainings for key communities to improve knowledge about existing laws and data rights
  • Direct lobbying campaigns to bring key communities to speak to policymakers about their experiences
  • Podcasts, magazines, art, music or creative efforts to illustrate the importance of data protection 

 This list is not exhaustive & we encourage the submission of creative proposals that feature innovative approaches to advocacy. 

Internews anticipates subgrants awarded under this mechanism to have a performance period of 3 months.

Selected grants are limited to eligible organizations (specific eligibility criteria below) that represent or regularly engage with marginalized or traditionally underrepresented groups and have previous experience carrying out advocacy activities.

To apply, you must submit the following documents: 

  1. A cover letter (no more than 1 page) detailing the structure of the organization, its mission, experience, and its interest in the program outlined above. 
  2. A proposal not more than 4 pages covering the following elements:
    1. Intended project and scope 
    2. Intended community of focus and audience (this could include women, LGBTQ groups, people with disabilities, specific geographic, religious or ethnic communities, rural or agricultural groups, or similar)
    3. Project overview, describing how the proposed project fits the key requirements and overall objectives of this initiative
    4. Key objectives of the project
    5. Project methodology and structure (high-level work plan including specific roles and responsibilities)
    6. Initial indicators of success and methods to assess impact (how will you verify if the project is successful)
    7. Key project risks and proposed mitigation strategies
    8. Timeline (no more than 3 months)
  3. Proposed detailed budget between $1,500 – $3,500 USD using the provided budget template

All submissions are to be sent to [email protected] and cc [email protected]  by the call for proposal submission deadline. 

Applications are due no later than 20th December, 2024, 1700h EAT time.

Eligibility and Application Evaluation

Organizations applying for this opportunity must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  1. Be a local independent and registered organization in Kenya
  2. Be in good standing in performance and reporting under previous Internews subgrants, if applicable
  3. Represent or regularly engage with marginalized or traditionally underrepresented groups including LGBTQ community, rural communities, ethnic or linguistic minorities, etc.
  4. Have experience carrying out advocacy or awareness raising campaigns, preferably around digital rights
  5. Not be listed with active exclusions on the UN Security Designation List, Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, System for Award Management (SAM), or Internews List of Debarred Subrecipients

Proposals from qualified organizations will be evaluated by KICTANet and Internews via the following selection criteria:

  1. Quality of Program Idea (project uniqueness and innovation; inclusion of marginalized or traditionally underrepresented groups; potential reach/engagement; etc.)
  2. Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives (clear plan for development of deliverables and dissemination within relevant communities; reasonable timeline; etc.)
  3. Cost Effectiveness (reasonable budget which maximizes resources available; evaluators will consider proportionality and reasonability, quantity and complexity of work, and duration of the project; etc.)
  4. Program Monitoring & Evaluation (clear metrics and methods for assessing whether the initiative is successful; proper resources dedicated to M&E; etc.)
  5. Institution’s Record and Capacity (previous experience in project management; relevant capacity related to advocacy and awareness raising; experience preparing similar content; etc.)

A notice of selection of the application is not to be construed as a subgrant award. Once the selection is confirmed, a final subgrant agreement will be negotiated and signed with the successful applicant, subject to prime funder approval, and successful vetting of eligibility.

Proposal budgets will be reviewed in accordance with, and selected subrecipients’ costs will be subject to, the cost principles that apply to them to assure reasonableness, allocability, and allowability:

The following regulations and provisions, at minimum, will apply to subawards issued as a result of this RFA.

For further questions, please email [email protected]