Entrepreneurial Approaches to Countering Disinformation & Misinformation (Hakkerha!) | PAS JOR FY21 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS JOR FY21 004

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to Jordan and its Public Affairs Section in Amman (with support from the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs), invited organizations to compete for a cooperative agreement to design and run a program called "TechCamp Jordan (Hakkerha): Entrepreneurial Approaches to Countering Disinformation and Misinformation." The core idea of the opportunity is to bring an entrepreneurial, technology-forward approach to the problem of false or misleading information, with the program scheduled to take place around September 2021 and supported by a longer engagement period afterward.

This funding opportunity (PAS JOR FY21 004) was offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means the U.S. government expects to be actively involved in the project during implementation rather than simply providing funds with minimal interaction. The program sits at the intersection of community development, education and workforce development, information and statistics, and science and technology-driven research and development. In practical terms, applicants were expected to propose a plan that uses innovation, training, convening, and likely some form of prototype or solution-building to help participants understand, detect, and counter disinformation and misinformation in ways that can scale beyond the event itself.

The Embassy anticipated making a single award, with a maximum budget (award ceiling) of up to $120,000 for a 12-month period of performance. The notice also allowed for the possibility of extending the performance period by up to an additional three months, specifically to support continued engagement programming. That detail signals that the Embassy was not only looking for a one-off workshop, but for a design that includes follow-on activities such as mentoring, alumni networking, additional trainings, pilot testing, or other post-event support that keeps momentum going and helps participants apply what they learned.

Eligibility was open primarily to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status in the United States (excluding institutions of higher education), along with other eligible entities as described in the full announcement's additional eligibility language. Applications were reviewed competitively, and the Embassy planned to select the proposal it believed was most likely to achieve the program goals within the stated budget and time constraints, using the evaluation criteria provided in the full solicitation. The opportunity was posted on July 7, 2021, and the original application deadline was August 10, 2021.

Overall, this grant opportunity was essentially a call for a capable implementing partner to plan, execute, and sustain a Jordan-focused TechCamp-style program that helps equip participants with practical, entrepreneurial tools to address misinformation and disinformation, combining training and collaboration with longer-term engagement so the impact extends beyond the initial September 2021 convening.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Jordan in the community development, education, employment, labor and training, information and statistics, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Entrepreneurial Approaches to Countering Disinformation & Misinformation (Hakkerha!)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 07, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 10, 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 $120,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for PAS JOR FY21 004

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