US offers grants for groups promoting media freedom and reconciliation

The United States is busy making preparations to move a second resolution on Sri Lanka at the on-going UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva.

In the midst of that activity, the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour (DRL) has announced a Request for Proposals from organisations interested in submitting proposals for projects that promote democracy, human rights, and rule of law in Sri Lanka.

Here are the requested proposal programme, objectives and the amounts to be paid to those who qualify:

Increasing Support and Safety for Journalists (Approximately $500,000):

DRL's goal is to strengthen the capacity of independent media in the area of investigative journalism and increase safety and support for journalists in Sri Lanka. The bureau seeks proposals that will 1) increase the capacity of independent media to effectively investigate and report in a restrictive environment; 2) provide digital and physical security training to journalists, bloggers and other media professionals, including those who work in post-conflict areas and cover issues such as reconciliation, accountability within a rule of law framework and democratic governance; AND 3) establish a mechanism that offers legal support and advocacy for media professionals who are facing legal challenges. Competitive proposals will 1) focus on journalists working in English as well as Tamil and Sinhala media outlets; 2) include journalists from throughout the country rather than focusing just on Colombo.

Facilitating Reconciliation (Approximately $500,000): DRL's goal is to facilitate coop- eration across religious and ethnic lines to advance reconciliation so that all citizens of Sri Lanka can live with each other in peace. The bureau seeks proposals that will create opportunities for religious and ethnic groups to come together to promote reconciliation through cross-community communication and programming. Activities should include: (1) developing a plan to promote reconciliation at the community level using the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission report recommendations as a starting point; (2) identifying community leaders, including youth and women, to facilitate and advance the reconciliation process; and (3) implementing concrete actions to build intercommunity trust and understanding such as peace-building and dialogue activities, or other mechanisms to foster inter-communal collaboration.