Opportunity Information: Apply for SOL 383 17 000004
The Media Empowerment for a Democratic Sri Lanka (MEND) Activity is a USAID Sri Lanka (USAID-Colombo) funding opportunity aimed at strengthening the media environment so that people in Sri Lanka can more easily access balanced, reliable, and objective news. The central purpose is not just to support individual outlets or short-term training, but to help reinforce broader democratic governance by building on and protecting recent gains in media freedom. In practical terms, the activity is framed around improving the overall quality, credibility, and independence of information available to citizens, recognizing that trustworthy news and open access to information are foundational to public participation, accountability, and democratic decision-making.
USAID is seeking applications from qualified non-governmental organizations, and the opportunity is open to both U.S. and non-U.S. NGOs, with eligibility clarified in the grant instructions referenced in the opportunity materials. The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which typically signals an implementation relationship where USAID expects substantial involvement during the life of the award (for example, through collaboration on work planning, approvals, coordination, or technical direction), rather than a more hands-off relationship sometimes associated with other grant types. Only one award is expected, indicating USAID intends to select a single lead implementer to run a unified program rather than splitting activities among multiple separate awards.
The scope of work emphasizes engagement across the media ecosystem rather than focusing on one narrow audience. The selected implementer would be responsible for working directly with media institutions as well as with the professionals who shape content and standards, including journalists and editors. The activity also anticipates coordination and support to media-related commissions and agencies, along with other relevant organizations that play roles in media freedom, access to information, and related enabling conditions. That ecosystem focus suggests the project is designed to support both the supply side of information (professional practice, editorial standards, institutional capacity) and the broader enabling environment (structures, bodies, or organizations that influence rights, protections, access to information, and the space in which media operates).
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed under the “Other” opportunity category and uses the Assistance listing CFDA 98.001. The award ceiling is up to USD 6,000,000, which sets the maximum amount USAID would provide for the single expected award. The opportunity was created on March 10, 2017, with an original closing date of April 28, 2017, establishing the historical application window for submission under this specific solicitation (Funding Opportunity Number SOL 383 17 000004). Overall, MEND is positioned as a substantial, single-award USAID initiative intended to help Sri Lanka consolidate democratic progress by strengthening the quality, independence, and accessibility of news and information through coordinated work with journalists, editors, media institutions, and the organizations and bodies that support media freedom and access to information.Apply for SOL 383 17 000004
- The Agency for International Development, Sri Lanka USAID-Colombo in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Media Empowerment for a Democratic Sri Lanka (MEND) Activity" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 10, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 28, 2017. (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 $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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| Sri Lanka Civil Society Program Apply for RFI 383 17 GVP CS Funding Number: RFI 383 17 GVP CS Agency: Agency for International Development, Sri Lanka USAID-Colombo Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
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| New Youth Development Activity Apply for RFA 176 17 000004 Funding Number: RFA 176 17 000004 Agency: Agency for International Development, Kazakhstan USAID-Almaty Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
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| YSEALI Seeds for the Future 2018 Apply for USMAS 17 YSEALI 002 Funding Number: USMAS 17 YSEALI 002 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $330,000 |
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| The Research and Evaluation, Demonstrations and Data Analysis and Utilization Program (HUDRD) Apply for FR 6100 N 29 Funding Number: FR 6100 N 29 Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Suffolk Sportsplex Water Access Project – Planning and Preliminary Design Apply for NPS 17 NERO 0164 Funding Number: NPS 17 NERO 0164 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| COMAC (Conflict Mitigation Assistance for Civilians) Apply for RFA 306 17 000004 Funding Number: RFA 306 17 000004 Agency: Agency for International Development, Afghanistan USAID-Kabul Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $40,000,000 |
| Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants (RCB) Apply for FR 6100 N 08 Funding Number: FR 6100 N 08 Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| FY 2017 Bank Enterprise Award Program Application Apply for CDFI 2017 BEA Funding Number: CDFI 2017 BEA Agency: Department of the Treasury, Community Development Financial Institutions Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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