Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS PRISTINA FY21 05
The U.S. Embassy in Kosovo (Department of State, U.S. Mission to Kosovo) offered a discretionary grant competition called "Independent Media Programming: Kosovo Serbian Language Media" (Funding Opportunity Number PAS PRISTINA FY21 05) to support a single project designed to strengthen independent Serbian-language media serving audiences in Kosovo and the broader region. The core idea is to improve both the sustainability and the audience reach of independent outlets by pairing them with Kosovo-based technology partners that can help modernize distribution, engagement, and resilience against misinformation. The priority region for the work is Kosovo, and the opportunity was listed under CFDA 19.900.
At the program level, the Embassy set three main objectives. First, it wants independent Serbian-language media in Kosovo to build more sustainable practices and longer-term partnerships with one another so they can provide credible, alternative sources of information for Serbian speakers in Kosovo and across the region. Second, it aims to connect these media organizations with local tech startups or tech-focused organizations to expand reach and experiment with new ways of engaging, especially with youth audiences. Third, it focuses on improving media literacy within participating newsrooms so they are better equipped to recognize and avoid amplifying misinformation and disinformation, particularly content pushed by malign actors.
The grant emphasizes concrete partnership requirements and specific activity types rather than general media support. Applicants were expected to secure partnerships with at least four established independent Serbian-language media outlets in Kosovo or the surrounding region, plus at least one Kosovo-based startup, technology NGO, or technology firm capable of developing innovative technology solutions with the media partners. The program design is expected to be collaborative and hands-on, including exchange components where journalists and staff spend time working in one another's newsrooms, as well as joint investigative efforts that demonstrate practical cooperation rather than simple networking.
A major portion of the work is meant to be skill-building and standards-based. Proposals were required to include joint trainings that strengthen attribution practices, fact-checking methods, ethical standards, media literacy, and understanding of how mis- and disinformation originate and spread. Alongside newsroom training, the opportunity strongly encourages applicants to build or adapt technology that supports healthier information ecosystems. That includes automated tools or workflows to share and amplify partner content while enforcing standardized attribution language, plus tracking mechanisms so outlets can see when, where, and by whom their content is redistributed within the partner network.
Another required direction is the development of tools and methods to identify and monitor disinformation in Serbian-language media. The Embassy described an approach that combines innovative technology solutions with journalist subject matter experts to identify, measure, and track disinformation trends, with the practical goal of helping partner outlets verify the original source of content before republishing or amplifying it. The opportunity also calls for technology-enabled strategies to interact with youth Serbian-language audiences, focusing on engagement formats and platforms that can compete with and counter low-quality or manipulative content by offering accessible, credible alternatives.
From a management and accountability standpoint, proposals were expected to budget and plan for monitoring and evaluation, including a clear description of how results would be measured and how challenges would be documented and addressed. The Embassy asked for a logic framework and an explicit list of anticipated outputs and outcomes, signaling that competitive applications needed a structured results chain (activities to outputs to outcomes) rather than broad intentions. Applicants were also expected to include a robust media or communications plan, and the selected recipient would need to share online activities and posts with the Embassy's Public Affairs Section for coordination and visibility.
Operational details included an award ceiling of $350,000, with one expected award. The opportunity was created on April 6, 2021, with an original closing date of May 31, 2021. The funding instrument was a grant, and eligibility was listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement materials.Apply for PAS PRISTINA FY21 05
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Kosovo in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Independent Media Programming: Kosovo Serbian Language Media" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 06, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 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 $350,000.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Independent Media Programming: Kosovo Serbian Language Media."
2) Who offered this grant?
This discretionary grant competition was offered by the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo (Department of State, U.S. Mission to Kosovo).
3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAS PRISTINA FY21 05.
4) What CFDA listing is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 19.900.
5) What is the main purpose of the project this grant supports?
The grant is intended to support a single project designed to strengthen independent Serbian-language media serving audiences in Kosovo and the broader region, with a focus on improving sustainability and expanding audience reach through partnerships with Kosovo-based technology partners.
6) How many awards were expected under this competition?
One award was expected.
7) What is the maximum funding amount available (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $350,000.
8) What type of funding instrument was used?
The funding instrument was a grant.
9) What geographic area is prioritized for project activities?
The priority region for the work is Kosovo, while also referencing audiences in Kosovo and the broader region.
10) What are the program-level objectives set by the Embassy?
The Embassy described three main objectives:
- Help independent Serbian-language media in Kosovo build more sustainable practices and longer-term partnerships so they can provide credible, alternative sources of information for Serbian speakers in Kosovo and across the region.
- Connect these media organizations with Kosovo-based tech startups or tech-focused organizations to expand reach and experiment with new audience engagement approaches, especially for youth.
- Improve media literacy within participating newsrooms so they can better recognize and avoid amplifying misinformation and disinformation, particularly content pushed by malign actors.
11) Does this opportunity emphasize general media support or specific partnership-based activities?
It emphasizes concrete partnership requirements and specific activity types rather than general media support.
12) What partnership commitments were applicants expected to secure?
Applicants were expected to secure partnerships with:
- At least four established independent Serbian-language media outlets in Kosovo or the surrounding region, and
- At least one Kosovo-based startup, technology NGO, or technology firm capable of developing innovative technology solutions with the media partners.
13) What kinds of collaborative or exchange activities were expected?
The program was expected to be collaborative and hands-on, including exchange components where journalists and staff spend time working in one another's newsrooms, as well as joint investigative efforts demonstrating practical cooperation (not just networking).
14) What training topics were required in proposals?
Proposals were required to include joint trainings focused on:
- Attribution practices
- Fact-checking methods
- Ethical standards
- Media literacy
- Understanding how misinformation and disinformation originate and spread
15) What kinds of technology components were encouraged?
The opportunity strongly encouraged building or adapting technology that supports healthier information ecosystems, including automated tools or workflows to share and amplify partner content while enforcing standardized attribution language.
16) Was content redistribution tracking part of the intended work?
Yes. The Embassy described tracking mechanisms so outlets can see when, where, and by whom their content is redistributed within the partner network.
17) What did the opportunity require related to disinformation monitoring?
A required direction was to develop tools and methods to identify and monitor disinformation in Serbian-language media, combining innovative technology solutions with journalist subject matter experts to identify, measure, and track disinformation trends.
18) What practical goal was tied to the disinformation monitoring approach?
The practical goal was to help partner outlets verify the original source of content before republishing or amplifying it.
19) How did the opportunity address youth audiences?
It called for technology-enabled strategies to interact with youth Serbian-language audiences, focusing on engagement formats and platforms that can compete with and counter low-quality or manipulative content by offering accessible, credible alternatives.
20) What monitoring and evaluation (M&E) expectations were included?
Proposals were expected to budget and plan for monitoring and evaluation, including a clear description of how results would be measured and how challenges would be documented and addressed.
21) Was a logic framework required?
Yes. The Embassy asked for a logic framework and an explicit list of anticipated outputs and outcomes, indicating a structured results chain (activities to outputs to outcomes) was expected.
22) Was a communications or media plan expected?
Yes. Applicants were expected to include a robust media or communications plan.
23) Were there coordination requirements with the Embassy for online activities?
Yes. The selected recipient would need to share online activities and posts with the Embassy's Public Affairs Section for coordination and visibility.
24) When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on April 6, 2021, and had an original closing date of May 31, 2021.
25) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement materials.
26) Does the program require participation from organizations located in Kosovo?
The partnership requirements included at least one Kosovo-based startup, technology NGO, or technology firm, and the priority region was Kosovo.
27) Is the project expected to focus on Serbian-language media specifically?
Yes. The grant focuses on strengthening independent Serbian-language media serving audiences in Kosovo and the broader region.
28) What does the opportunity say about resilience against misinformation?
The core idea includes improving resilience against misinformation by improving media literacy in newsrooms, developing tools to identify and monitor disinformation, and creating verification-oriented workflows that help confirm original sources before republishing content.
29) What does the grant indicate about how competitive proposals should be structured?
The description indicates that competitive applications should include concrete partnerships, hands-on collaborative activities, defined training components, technology development or adaptation, and a structured monitoring and evaluation approach supported by a logic framework with specified outputs and outcomes.
30) Is the program designed to support multiple small projects or one consolidated effort?
It was designed to support a single project (with one expected award) that brings together multiple media outlets and at least one Kosovo-based technology partner.
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