OpportunityTitle: Online Course for Watchdogs
CategoryExplanation: Creation of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to build the capacity of civil society and investigative journalists to better monitor and report on the structure, financing, and scope of infrastructure and other projects, as well as their impact on the environment and labor.  The project would leverage existing expertise on real-time project auditing and other multilateral groups, such as the Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development (OECD)
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: The following organizations are eligible to apply: &#183;    Registered Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations &#183;    Universities and educational institutions&#183;    Governmental institutions.&#183;    Individuals.For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.All organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun &amp; Bradstreet, NCAGE/CAGE Code, as well as an active registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 of our Notice of Funding Opportunity for information on how to obtain these registrations. Step by step guideline available at our website (see links below). Individuals are not required to have a DUNS number or be registered in SAM.gov
Description: The Public Affairs Section of the Embassy of the United States in Panama announces an open competition for organizations to submit funding applications for a project to create an online training course for civil society leaders, journalists, and educators that will improve their ability to monitor, analyze, and report on public infrastructure projects in Panama. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Project Objectives: This project advances the U.S. interest in making Panamanian institutions more resilient, transparent, and democratic through the engagement of civil society and a free press. The support for better accountability and stewardship of financial and natural resources will also promote economic development, regional stability, and a sustainable environment. Project Description: This project will design, create and distribute a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to train civil society, investigative journalists and educators in Panama on specific methods, tools, and resources for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on the structure, financing, scope, and impact of public infrastructure projects, especially as they relate to environmental sustainability, labor markets, and democratic institutions. The project may leverage existing resources and materials from U.S. sources tailored to the Panamanian audience. The course should be freely accessible on the internet or through a portal operated by the project implementer in coordination with the U.S. Embassy. The purpose of the course is flexible delivery of high-quality content and need not include scheduled instructor guidance or graded/participatory activities. Familiarity with basic concepts may be assumed but the course should be accessible to a lay audience while incorporating tools and resources that would be useful to more specialized participants. Grant funding should be used for any and all expenses for the program, including but not limited to course materials, design, web hosting, content licensing, translation, and consulting costs. Partners and Audience: The ideal implementer of this project will have experience with curriculum design and online course development as well as direct subject-matter expertise on the course content or the ability to consult, collaborate, or contract with a supplementary third party in order to implement the project. Additional familiarity with Panamanian people, institutions, and current issues is a plus. The intended audience is civil society leaders, journalists, and educators. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: &#183; Registered Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations &#183; Universities and educational institutions &#183; Governmental institutions. &#183; Individuals For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply. All organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun &amp; Bradstreet, NCAGE/CAGE Code, as well as an active registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 of our Notice of Funding Opportunity for information on how to obtain these registrations. Step by step guideline available at our website (see links below). Individuals are not required to have a DUNS number or be registered in SAM.gov.*** Submission Dates and Times Applications may be submitted for consideration at any time before the closing date of January 31, 2020. Project activities should not be scheduled prior to April 1, 2020 to allow time for processing the grant. All application materials must be submitted by e-mail to PanCultural@state.gov Application package must contain: &#183; Proposal (including Budget Narrative) &#183; Budget Worksheet &#183; Form SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance and SF-424_A Required application forms and templates are available at our website: https://pa.usembassy.gov/education-culture/grants/ https://pa.usembassy.gov/es/education-culture-es/subvenciones/ For further information about out Notice of Funding Opportunity please read carefully our NOFO PAS-PAN-FY20-05 Online Course for Watchdogs
GrantorContactEmailDescription: pancultural@state.gov
GrantorContactText: Colin Machado &lt;br/&gt;Cultural Officer, U.S. Embassy Panama