Конкурс концепцій Фонду Інноваційних Комунікаційних Досліджень

Dear Applicants:

USAID Transformation Communications Activity (TCA), implemented by Chemonics International, is seeking concept papers for the implementation of innovative applied research initiatives under the Innovative Communications Research Fund. The grants will be awarded and implemented in accordance with USAID and US Government regulations governing grants under contracts and TCA’s internal grant management policies.

• Online pre-application conference: April 22, 2024
• Due Date for submitting questions: April 26, 2024
• Due Date for the concept paper stage: May 13, 2024

The project will hold an online pre-application conference on April 22, 2024 from 15:00 to until about 17:00 Kyiv time to review the grant objective and description. This conference will allow eligible and interested applicants the chance to ask questions about the RFA and receive guidance on how to complete the initial concept paper. Applicants must indicate their interest in attending the virtual pre-application conference by emailing [email protected] no later than April 22, 2024 at 13:00 Kyiv time. The TCA Awards team will provide a link to join the conference remotely for those applicants who express interest by the deadline. If there are any changes to the conference date or time, TCA will inform those who express interest by the deadline.

All questions must be submitted in writing to [email protected] no later than April 26, 2024. TCA does not guarantee responses to questions sent in past this date. Phone calls will not be permitted, and applicants are kindly requested not to directly contact any Chemonics staff with questions.

To apply for Phase 1. Concept paper, please submit to [email protected] by May 13, 2024 by 17:00 Kyiv time the following documents:

1. Concept paper (in English OR Ukrainian language according to the template provided in Annex A in both Word and a signed version in PDF)
2. Extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs, and Public Associations
3. Annex C: Letter certifying that the applicant has no real or perceived conflict of interest with Chemonics or TCA.
4. Resumes of key personnel in English language

Applicants must be a registered Ukrainian  non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organization (CSOs) [not-for-profit and for-profit], and local cooperatives, private enterprises, formally constituted, recognized by and in good standing with appropriate Ukrainian authorities, and compliant with all applicable civil and fiscal regulations. Applicants must be registered as one of the following types of entities in accordance with Ukrainian law:

• Limited Liability Company (LLC)
• Joint Stock Company (JSC)
• Business partnerships as general partnerships, limited partnerships, and Additional Liability Partnerships
• Cooperatives
• Profit and non-profit institutions
• Representative Office and/or Branch Office

Topics To Be Covered by Grant Activities:

TCA intends to award grants to organizations who propose to address one or more of the specified topics in their grant activities:

1. Research aimed at informing the development of communication frameworks for strategic communications and coordinated communication policies for the newly emerged Ukrainian diaspora/displaced Ukrainians, given that there are no clearly established channels of communication with that target audience.
2. Investigative studies on counteracting disinformation, propaganda, and foreign influence campaigns, given that fact-checking and post-hoc reaction often cannot give sufficient results.
3. Development of an analytical framework for narrative-based strategic communications, which must be a toolkit for national-level long-term narrative-based activities.
4. Advancements in research tools, methodologies, and approaches to inform media studies and strategic communication.
5. Cost-effective strategies for communication activities, given that activities must be designed for relatively small organizations with limited funds for
6. Enhancing strategic communications through research related to modification of target audiences’ behaviors, given that the target audience has a high to moderate level of resistance to change.

Please find full information in the RFA and Annexes attached to this announcement.

RFA 013_Innovative Communications Research Fund 

Annex A. RFA-013 Concept Paper Template

Annex C. RFA-013 Conflict of Interest Form