Countering Disinformation Training for Vernacular Language Journalists | H NOFO 24 100

Opportunity Information: Apply for H NOFO 24 100

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Mission to India and the Consulate General in Hyderabad, is offering a discretionary grant competition titled "Countering Disinformation Training for Vernacular Language Journalists" (Funding Opportunity Number: H NOFO 24 100). The program is designed as an 18-month, practical training effort aimed at strengthening the ability of journalists working in major Indian regional languages to identify, verify, and counter disinformation before publishing content. The overarching purpose is to improve the quality and credibility of local-language reporting by building stronger verification habits and increasing the routine use of fact-checking tools and multi-source confirmation.

The project focuses on training a cohort of approximately 20 to 25 journalists drawn from media outlets and digital platforms. Participants are expected to represent five key vernacular languages: Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, and Hindi. The training is intended to be delivered across five locations that correspond to four consular regions plus the embassy region: Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, and New Delhi. The hands-on nature of the program is emphasized, with training topics centered on countering disinformation, consulting multiple credible sources, and making effective use of fact-checking and verification resources. A major skills outcome highlighted in the opportunity is the ability to verify not only written claims and opinions, but also photos and videos, reflecting the reality that manipulated or context-stripped visual content is a common driver of misinformation online.

Beyond individual skill-building, the grant also seeks to create longer-term professional impact by fostering a network of responsible vernacular-language journalists across India. The program aims to encourage a professional culture that values accuracy and audience trust over speed, reinforcing the idea that being correct and transparent is more important than being first. By connecting trained journalists and giving them shared tools and norms, the project is meant to support continued advocacy for verification practices within their newsrooms and professional communities.

The opportunity is funded under CFDA number 19.040 and will be supported through a grant mechanism. The anticipated award structure indicates a single award (Expected Awards: 1) with a maximum funding level (Award Ceiling) of USD 175,000, subject to funding availability. The opportunity was created on 2024-04-05, with an original application closing date of 2024-05-04.

Eligible applicants, as listed in the source data, include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The narrative description also signals interest in partnerships or implementation by not-for-profit organizations, civil society or non-governmental organizations, think tanks, public and private educational institutions, public international organizations, and governmental institutions in India, indicating the program is oriented toward reputable organizations that can manage training, convene journalists across cities, and deliver sustained capacity-building over the full 18-month period.

In practical terms, an applicant would be proposing a structured, multi-city training program with a clear plan for recruiting vernacular journalists, delivering ongoing instruction and mentorship, and producing measurable improvements in verification behavior. The most competitive approach would logically align with the stated goals: repeated, applied learning rather than one-off workshops; strong modules on digital verification and source triangulation; and an intentional network-building component that keeps participants connected and reinforces professional norms around fact-checking and accuracy.

• The U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Countering Disinformation Training for Vernacular Language Journalists" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-04. (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 $175,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for H NOFO 24 100

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