OpportunityTitle: Safeguarding Freedom of Expression from Coercive Legal Pressure
CategoryExplanation: As mandated by law, the GEC directs, leads, synchronizes, integrates, and coordinates efforts of the Federal Government to recognize, understand, expose, and counter foreign state and foreign non-state propaganda and disinformation efforts aimed at undermining or influencing the policies, security, or stability of the United States and United States allies and partner nations. GEC carries out eleven specific functions, among them to lead, direct, synchronize, integrate, and coordinate international efforts to track and evaluate counterfactual narratives abroad that threaten the policies, security, or stability of the United States and United States allies and partner nations.
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: The GEC may make awards through this solicitation to U.S. and foreign non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, and commercial entities. Individuals, state and local governments, foreign public entities, and public international organizations are not eligible to apply. Before submitting, potential applicants should ensure that they are eligible to receive a grant or cooperative agreement and prepared to adhere to the terms of 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 600.  GEC welcomes applications irrespective of an applicant&#8217;s race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
Description: A Cooperative Agreement for up to a total of $2,500,000 U.S. Dollars (USD) in FY 2021 ESF will be awarded for work that will build the capacity of foreign researchers, journalists, and others civil society actors to increase awareness about the use of coercive legal instruments by the People&#8217;s Republic of China (PRC) and/or Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to limit freedoms of speech and expression abroad. The project will also build the capacity of and provide resources to key beneficiaries to curb the impact of these coercive measures and correct its destabilizing effect on foreign information environments. The initial period of performance will be for twenty-four (24) months. Funding authority rests under FY2021 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (Div. K, P.L. 116-260) and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.
GrantorContactText: GEC-Programs@state.gov