Opportunity Information: Apply for SMK80020PAS005
The Media Mentorship Program 2020 (Funding Opportunity Number SMK80020PAS005) is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Mission to North Macedonia to support a stronger, freer, and more independent media environment in the country. It is a discretionary grant with an anticipated single award of up to $100,000 (award ceiling), listed under CFDA 19.900. The opportunity was posted on March 31, 2020, with an original application deadline of May 30, 2020. The core idea is to fund a structured mentorship and training program that builds practical, modern journalism capacity while directly addressing the realities of today s information space, including disinformation and digital risk.
Programmatically, the Embassy is looking for proposals that advance several connected objectives. These include introducing journalists to new skills and current trends in reporting, strengthening their ability to recognize disinformation tactics and develop the know how to expose them, and improving their use of digital tools while raising their awareness of digital security. The program is also expected to help participants analyze challenges and opportunities created by new media, support the creation of original high quality content, and use case studies and hands on experiences to build critical thinking and stronger storytelling. In other words, the goal is not just classroom learning, but applied learning that results in better reporting habits, better judgment in the face of manipulation, and more compelling journalism outputs.
Structurally, the grant should support the selection of a cohort of about 15 to 25 journalists who are under the age of 35. Over a 9 to 15 month period, the grantee is expected to organize and deliver 9 to 12 workshops held in North Macedonia for that cohort. The workshops are intended to be in person, but they may feature speakers who join either virtually or in person. Those speakers can come from North Macedonia, the broader region, and the United States, as long as they bring relevant expertise aligned to each workshop topic. The Embassy also notes that potential speakers could include alumni of prior U.S. government sponsored media programs in North Macedonia, signaling an interest in leveraging established networks and locally informed experience.
A key deliverable is a capstone event at the end of the program designed to reach a larger audience beyond the cohort itself. This helps position the program as more than a closed training series by encouraging public facing dissemination of lessons learned, showcasing participant work, and potentially sparking broader professional discussion in the media community. The overall timeline is not meant to be set unilaterally by the applicant; it will be developed in coordination with U.S. Embassy Skopje, so proposals should show flexibility and a realistic implementation plan that can be refined with the Embassy.
In terms of inclusion, proposals must demonstrate a clear commitment to supporting and including marginalized communities. The opportunity explicitly references a broad range of dimensions such as disability status, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and whether participants come from rural or urban settings. That means applicants should describe how recruitment, selection criteria, accessibility, and program design will reduce barriers to participation and ensure diverse representation. For proposals submitted by U.S. institutions, the Embassy expects applicants to identify potential local sub grantees, which implies the program should have a strong local partnership component and that applicants should be prepared to manage sub grant relationships transparently.
The application itself is expected to be results oriented and operationally credible. Proposals should clearly explain how the project will contribute to the listed objectives, and they should spell out concrete outputs and outcomes that will be achieved by the end of the grant period. Applicants must also describe the American content and or involvement in the project, which can include U.S. expert participation, U.S. based methodologies, comparative case studies, or other meaningful U.S. engagement rather than nominal branding. Proposals need to specify who the program will reach and where activities will take place, and if activities are planned across multiple locations, applicants should explain how logistics and delivery will be handled.
The Embassy also expects a thoughtful approach to monitoring and evaluation, meaning applicants should describe how they will track participation, skill gains, behavior change in reporting practice, and program quality over time. In addition, proposals should explain how the project will create a multiplier effect or remain sustainable after the grant ends, such as through peer training models, ongoing mentorship networks, reusable training materials, partnerships that continue beyond the funding period, or mechanisms that encourage continued collaboration and content production. A communications component is required as well: applicants should include a traditional media and or social media plan to market program activities and share outcomes, helping the program reach broader audiences and increase visibility of its impact.
Finally, applicants must demonstrate they can manage the administrative and financial responsibilities that come with a U.S. government grant. This includes handling participant related costs, maintaining strong oversight and compliance practices, and setting up transparent arrangements for any sub grants or partner organization relationships. The funding notice also mentions that any cost amendments or option years would depend on funding availability, which signals that while the core program is defined, future adjustments or extensions are not guaranteed and would be contingent on resources and Embassy decisions.Apply for SMK80020PAS005
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Media Mentorship Program 2020" 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 Mar 31, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 30, 2020. (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 $100,000.00 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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