Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS SOFIA FY22 03
AEECA: Detect and Check Disinformation in Bulgaria (Funding Opportunity Number PAS SOFIA FY22 03) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Bulgaria, aimed at strengthening independent media in Bulgaria by building practical skills to detect, verify, and counter Russian disinformation. The core idea is straightforward: support a single grantee to run hands-on trainings and seminars that help journalists and journalism students recognize common manipulation tactics, improve fact-checking workflows, and better protect their reporting and audiences from coordinated disinformation campaigns across both traditional outlets and online platforms.
The program is designed as a capacity-building effort rather than a media production fund. It emphasizes developing journalistic resilience, meaning the ability to consistently apply verification methods under pressure, identify misleading narratives early, and respond in ways that do not amplify falsehoods. A central focus is the "flood" of disinformation attributed to Russian sources, with trainings meant to help participants spot patterns such as fabricated or misleading claims, manipulated images or videos, impersonation of legitimate outlets, selective or distorted framing, and narrative laundering through social media and fringe websites before content reaches mainstream attention. The intended outcome is a stronger professional skill set among participants so they can more reliably identify questionable content, confirm facts using credible sources and tools, and communicate corrections with clarity and confidence.
The target audience is journalists and journalism students from across Bulgaria, with a particular emphasis on participants who are typically underserved by similar professional development opportunities. While Sofia-based media environments often have better access to training and networks, this opportunity explicitly calls for broader geographic reach, including influential regional journalists outside the capital. The training model implied by the announcement is national in scope, with seminars and workshops that bring together participants from different areas and media contexts, so lessons and networks extend beyond a single city or a small cluster of outlets.
In terms of eligibility, the competition is open to several organization types, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations both with and without U.S. 501(c)(3) status. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is listed as "Other," reflecting that the project is primarily a specialized training and resilience-building initiative rather than a standard program category.
Financially, the award ceiling is $150,000, and the Embassy expected to make one award, meaning the selected applicant would likely be the sole implementer responsible for delivering the full program plan. The opportunity was posted on June 17, 2022, with an original application deadline of August 1, 2022. The CFDA listing referenced is 19.900, tying the opportunity to State Department public diplomacy and related assistance activities.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a focused, skills-based intervention to reinforce independent journalism in Bulgaria at a time of heightened information manipulation risk. The grant supports structured training and seminars that equip current and future journalists with concrete methods for verification and disinformation detection, with intentional outreach to regional and underserved participants so resilience is strengthened across the broader Bulgarian media ecosystem, not only within the capital.Apply for PAS SOFIA FY22 03
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Bulgaria in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AEECA: Detect and Check Disinformation in Bulgaria" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 17, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 01, 2022. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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