Opportunity Information: Apply for AF MWI FY21 02

The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe, through the U.S. Department of State (Bureau of African Affairs), issued a discretionary grant competition focused on reducing COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and disinformation in Malawi. The opportunity is designed to support a grassroots, non-governmental effort to rebuild trust in vaccine safety and encourage informed decision-making, particularly as Malawi prepared to begin vaccine distribution in March. The underlying problem the grant seeks to address is that false or misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccines were circulating widely in both urban and rural communities, spreading through common social media platforms as well as through word of mouth, and contributing to skepticism, suspicion, and refusal.

This is a single-stage competitive process, meaning applicants are expected to submit a complete, full proposal right away rather than going through an initial concept note round. Proposals are reviewed and scored by a merit review panel, with emphasis on two main factors: how well the proposed activities align with the specific program objectives selected, and whether the applying organization can demonstrate the capacity to deliver timely, measurable results. Applicants are instructed to focus their proposals on only one or two of the stated objectives, rather than trying to cover everything at once, which suggests the funder is looking for clear, targeted projects with strong implementation plans.

The grant call highlights several acceptable approaches and outcomes. First, it explicitly invites innovative projects that directly counter vaccine misinformation and disinformation, including public information campaigns, social media outreach, journalism training on vaccine science, and student-focused educational activities. Second, it seeks programs that strengthen critical thinking at the community level in places where skepticism is already noticeable. This includes teaching people practical media literacy skills such as checking sources, comparing multiple perspectives, and recognizing possible motives or agendas behind what they see and share online. Third, it encourages projects that work through the education system by equipping educators, especially in rural and underserved areas, to teach students these same critical thinking and source-evaluation skills related to COVID-19 and vaccination information.

Beyond communications and education activities, the opportunity also emphasizes measurable shifts in attitudes and behaviors. One desired result is an increase in the number of Malawians who previously expressed suspicion or rejection of COVID-19 vaccines but later report a more positive attitude toward vaccination. Another desired result is an increase in actual vaccine uptake in areas where skepticism had been observed earlier. In other words, the funder is not only interested in messaging outputs (like posts, trainings, or events) but also in evidence that the work contributed to changed perceptions and increased vaccination in targeted communities.

Key administrative details include the funding opportunity title "Counter misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 in Malawi" and the opportunity number AF MWI FY21 02. The issuing agency is the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Malawi, and the CFDA number listed is 19.040. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is listed as "Other" (with additional clarification referenced in the original notice). The award ceiling is USD 50,000, with one expected award, meaning the program is relatively small and likely intended for a focused pilot or targeted intervention rather than a nationwide campaign. The notice was created on February 23, 2021, with an original closing date of February 28, 2021. Eligibility is not limited to a standard set of applicants in the summary text and is instead noted as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced elsewhere in the full announcement.

  • The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Malawi in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Counter misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 in Malawi" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Feb 23, 2021.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 28, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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