Special call: Grant for National Media Defence Centre Indo-Pacific region

In partnership with the International Center for Non-Profit Law, Media Defence is calling for proposals from NGOs and law centres based in countries in the Indo-Pacific region for a grant to provide legal support to journalists and strategic litigation on media freedom.

Background

Media Defence is a charity, based in London, which provides legal help to journalists, citizen journalists and independent media across the world. Media Defence’s vision is a world where journalists no longer face legal challenges that threaten their ability to report freely and independently on issues of public interest, allowing citizens to be better informed, able to hold those in power to account. Media Defence’s mission is to ensure legal protection of journalists and media workers under threat for reporting on issues of public interest, in the belief that freedom of expression is essential.

As part of our work to help build a strong global legal defence network for independent media, Media Defence provides financial assistance to organisations that have or wish to establish a legal aid unit. Currently, Media Defence can only fund a small number of organisations. Our aim is to expand this network and achieve better local-level access to legal assistance for independent media outlets, journalists and bloggers who lack the financial means to access legal support at commercial rates.

Summary

Media Defence would like to partner with one NGO or law centre for the provision of quality legal support for media outlets, journalists and bloggers facing legal threats because of their reporting in the Indo-Pacific region. Organisations interested in applying must either have, or wish to establish, a media defence centre to provide free, high quality legal support in that field.

Objectives

We are offering one 12-month grant of up to GBP 23,337 to organisations with backgrounds in defending and supporting the right to freedom of expression. The grant can be used to set up a media legal defence unit which provides pro bono legal support to journalists, citizen journalists and independent media and/or coordinates networks of lawyers to do the same.

Media Defence is available to provide legal mentoring, capacity building, and other forms of non-financial organisational support.

Eligibility

To be considered, organisations must meet the following criteria:

• The grant is open to NGOs and law centres registered in the Indo-Pacific region;
• The organisation must have a background or demonstrable interest in litigation and/or provision of legal support;
• The organisation should have previous experience in the advancement and protection of freedom of expression; and
• The organisation must have sufficient administrative and financial capacity to comply with Media Defence’s reporting requirements.

How to apply

Interested organisations are encouraged to submit their full application to hannah.stoate@mediadefence.org

The deadline to submit applications is Sunday 31 March 2023, 23h59 (BST).

Applicants will be asked to provide the following information:

• Annex A: Concept note and application form
• Annex B: Application budget

As part of the application process, if shortlisted, organisations will be asked for:

• Proof of Registration
• CV of fully-funded project staff and finance staff
• Organogram / Organisational Chart
• List of Trustees / Board of Directors
• Audited Financials and Management letter (last two years)
• Organisation’s Annual (income and expenditure) Budget for 2023
• Partner pre-award assessment form.

Please read the full Media Defence Call for Applications: Indo-Pacific and see our Funded Partner Organisation Application Guide  for further information.

Timeline  

Shortlisted organisations will receive notification that their grant/application will be considered for approval by Media Defence’s Board in May 2023. The grant is scheduled to start in June 2023 and run until June 2024. The grant will require additional approval by Media Defence’s donor.

• Deadline: 31 March 2023
• Notification to shortlisted organisations and request for additional documents: 16 April 2023
• Final selection of organisation: 7 May 2023
• Media Defence Board: 25 May 2023
• Scheduled grant start date: June 2023

If you have any questions or require further information, please contact Hannah Stoate, Capacity Building Manager, hannah.stoate@mediadefence.org