Media Initiatives and Partnerships Support | 72016918RFA00008

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72016918RFA00008

The Media Initiatives and Partnerships Support (MIPS) opportunity is a USAID/Serbia funding call focused on strengthening how people in Serbia find, evaluate, and use information in a complicated media environment. The central aim is to build citizens skills so they can better navigate modern media, recognize and value accurate and objective reporting, and take part more effectively in economic, social, and political life. The program is designed to do this by expanding local engagement and encouraging stronger public demand for trustworthy information, with the idea that when audiences expect higher standards, media and information providers have stronger incentives to improve quality, transparency, and professionalism.

This opportunity was issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), specifically the USAID Mission in Serbia (USAID-Belgrade). It was posted on September 14, 2018, under Funding Opportunity Number 72016918RFA00008. The grant falls under a discretionary opportunity category and uses a Cooperative Agreement as the funding instrument. A cooperative agreement typically means USAID expects to stay substantially involved during implementation compared to a standard grant, such as through collaboration on planning, monitoring, learning activities, or coordination with other related efforts.

In terms of program classification, the activity is listed under the Funding Activity Category of Community Development and carries CFDA Number 98.001, which is commonly associated with USAID foreign assistance. The funding parameters indicate an award ceiling of $3,000,000 and USAID anticipated making one award, meaning the agency expected to select a single implementer (or a lead organization working with partners) to carry out the full scope of work.

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement text. In practice, this usually signals that the applicant pool may include a range of entities beyond a narrow category, such as non-profit organizations, NGOs, educational institutions, or other qualified organizations, depending on the specific criteria set out in the solicitation. The original closing date for applications was October 30, 2018, establishing the timeline for submission and review.

Overall, MIPS can be understood as a media and civic resilience effort that prioritizes citizen capability and community-level engagement. Rather than focusing only on media outlets themselves, the description emphasizes the audience side of the information ecosystem: increasing public skills, strengthening public access to reliable information, and building consumer demand for accuracy and objectivity so that better information becomes both more available and more valued.

• The Agency for International Development, Serbia USAID-Belgrade in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Media Initiatives and Partnerships Support" 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 Sep 14, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 30, 2018. (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 $3,000,000.00 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).

Apply for 72016918RFA00008

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