Opportunity Information: Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 12 055
Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 12 055
- The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving the Legal and Regulatory Environment for Iraqi Media" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.016 Iraq Assistance Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 16, 2012 and posted on May 15, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 21, 2012 No Explanation. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Organizations submitting proposals must meet the following criteria Be a U.S. non profit organization meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3) or a comparable organization headquartered internationally, or an international organization.
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), offered a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Improving the Legal and Regulatory Environment for Iraqi Media" under the Iraq Assistance Program (CFDA 19.016). The aim was to fund a two-year initiative designed to help build a stronger legal and regulatory foundation for a free, independent, and diverse press in Iraq. The central idea behind the program was that lasting improvements in media freedom depend not only on training journalists or supporting outlets directly, but also on modern, rights-respecting laws and regulators that align with international standards on press freedom.
The program was framed around practical legal and policy reform work. Applicants were expected to organize a broad-based process that brings together government actors and civil society to examine Iraq's existing media-related laws and regulations, review drafts being considered, and identify where they fall short of international norms. The opportunity emphasized advocacy for reforms, meaning the work was not limited to technical legal analysis; it also required building coalitions, developing persuasive policy recommendations, and engaging decision-makers so that reforms could actually move forward through legislative or regulatory channels.
A major requirement was that the project cover a defined set of legal categories that directly affect the day-to-day reality of journalists, media outlets, and the public's right to information. These categories included freedom of information, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly, all of which shape whether citizens and journalists can access information, speak openly, and gather or protest without undue interference. It also included copyright law, which affects media content creation and distribution, and information and communication technology (ICT) laws, which influence online expression, digital publishing, and platform regulation. In addition, the program had to address laws regulating journalism or journalists (such as licensing, accreditation, professional restrictions, penalties, or press offenses), along with the laws and regulations governing the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), the body with significant authority over broadcasting and media regulation. By requiring coverage of both rights-based protections and sector-specific regulation, the opportunity signaled that press freedom depends on the overall legal ecosystem, not a single statute.
Another core element was implementation monitoring and accountability. DRL required partnership with local media advocacy groups to track how laws and regulations are applied in practice and to monitor the broader state of media freedom in Iraq over the life of the program. This implies ongoing data collection and documentation (for example, tracking enforcement actions, censorship attempts, licensing decisions, arrests or lawsuits against journalists, or restrictions on assembly), coupled with public reporting and engagement intended to keep attention on whether reforms are producing real-world change.
Proposals had to demonstrate a clear ability to work with a wide range of Iraqi stakeholders across both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region. Specifically, applicants needed to show they could engage effectively with the Government of Iraq (GOI) and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), as well as with relevant committees in Iraq's Council of Representatives (COR) and the Kurdistan Parliament of Iraq (KPI). Engagement was also expected with media outlets and journalists themselves, along with media advocacy organizations and broader civil society groups. In practical terms, this meant the project was expected to operate as a convening and coordinating effort across political institutions and independent actors, rather than functioning as a standalone NGO activity.
Funding for a single award was set between $1,200,000 (floor) and $1,500,000 (ceiling) for the two-year period, with no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Collaboration was explicitly allowed, and organizations could apply as a consortium, which suggests DRL anticipated the project might require multiple partners combining legal expertise, advocacy experience, local networks, and monitoring capacity.
Eligibility covered U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that category), as well as private and public institutions of higher education, and also comparable internationally headquartered organizations or international organizations. The opportunity was posted May 15, 2012, created May 16, 2012, and closed June 21, 2012, with an archive date of July 21, 2012. For technical access issues, the announcement directed applicants to the Grants.gov Contact Center (support@grants.gov).
Overall, this grant opportunity focused on strengthening media freedom in Iraq by improving the rules of the game: updating and aligning key laws and regulations with international press freedom standards, building stakeholder buy-in for reforms, and partnering with local watchdog groups to track whether the legal environment is actually improving for journalists and the public once reforms are introduced.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Improving the Legal and Regulatory Environment for Iraqi Media (DRL, Iraq Assistance Program)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The discretionary grant opportunity is titled "Improving the Legal and Regulatory Environment for Iraqi Media."
Which U.S. government office offered this grant?
The opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL).
What program and CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity falls under the Iraq Assistance Program and is identified as CFDA 19.016.
What is the overall goal of the project?
The goal is to help build a stronger legal and regulatory foundation for a free, independent, and diverse press in Iraq by improving and aligning media-related laws and regulations with international standards on press freedom.
How long is the project period?
The initiative is designed as a two-year project.
What problem approach does the opportunity emphasize?
The opportunity emphasizes that lasting improvements in media freedom require more than training journalists or directly supporting outlets. It focuses on modern, rights-respecting laws and regulators that align with international standards, supported by practical reform work and stakeholder engagement.
What kind of work were applicants expected to carry out?
Applicants were expected to organize a broad-based process that brings together government actors and civil society to examine existing Iraqi media-related laws and regulations, review draft laws under consideration, identify gaps versus international norms, and advocate for reforms through coalition-building and engagement with decision-makers.
Does the opportunity focus only on legal analysis?
No. The opportunity explicitly emphasized advocacy for reforms. That includes building coalitions, developing persuasive policy recommendations, and engaging decision-makers so that reforms can move through legislative or regulatory channels.
What legal and regulatory categories had to be addressed by the project?
The project was required to cover a defined set of legal categories, including:
- Freedom of information
- Freedom of expression
- Freedom of assembly
- Copyright law
- Information and communication technology (ICT) laws
- Laws regulating journalism or journalists (for example: licensing, accreditation, professional restrictions, penalties, or press offenses)
- Laws and regulations governing the Communications and Media Commission (CMC)
Why are freedom of information, expression, and assembly included?
These rights shape whether citizens and journalists can access information, speak openly, and gather or protest without undue interference, which directly affects the day-to-day reality of media freedom.
Why are copyright and ICT laws included?
Copyright law affects media content creation and distribution. ICT laws influence online expression, digital publishing, and platform regulation. Together, they shape both traditional and digital media operating environments.
What is the Communications and Media Commission (CMC) and why is it included?
The Communications and Media Commission (CMC) is a body with significant authority over broadcasting and media regulation. The opportunity required the project to address the laws and regulations governing the CMC because regulatory structures and oversight can strongly affect press freedom.
Was monitoring and accountability a required part of the project?
Yes. A core element of the opportunity was implementation monitoring and accountability over the life of the program.
What partnerships were required for monitoring?
DRL required partnership with local media advocacy groups to track how laws and regulations are applied in practice and to monitor the broader state of media freedom in Iraq during the project period.
What kinds of real-world developments were implied to be tracked during monitoring?
The opportunity implied ongoing data collection and documentation that could include tracking enforcement actions, censorship attempts, licensing decisions, arrests or lawsuits against journalists, and restrictions on assembly, along with public reporting and engagement focused on whether reforms create real-world change.
Which Iraqi stakeholders were applicants expected to engage?
Applicants had to demonstrate the ability to work with a wide range of Iraqi stakeholders, including government actors and civil society, media outlets, journalists, media advocacy organizations, and broader civil society groups.
Which specific government bodies were emphasized?
The opportunity specifically called for engagement with:
- The Government of Iraq (GOI)
- The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
- Relevant committees in Iraq's Council of Representatives (COR)
- The Kurdistan Parliament of Iraq (KPI)
Was the project expected to operate only in one area of Iraq?
No. Proposals had to show an ability to work across both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region.
What role did convening and coordination play in this opportunity?
The project was expected to function as a convening and coordinating effort across political institutions and independent actors, not as a standalone NGO activity.
How much funding was available?
Funding for a single award was set between $1,200,000 (floor) and $1,500,000 (ceiling) for the full two-year period.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity described funding for a single award.
Was cost-sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Was collaboration or consortium applying allowed?
Yes. Collaboration was explicitly allowed, and organizations could apply as a consortium.
Why might a consortium be appropriate for this project?
The opportunity suggested the work could require multiple partners combining legal expertise, advocacy experience, local networks, and monitoring capacity.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility included:
- U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that category)
- Private and public institutions of higher education
- Comparable internationally headquartered organizations or international organizations
Were institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes, private and public institutions of higher education were eligible. The eligibility description also notes that U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status were eligible, excluding institutions of higher education in that specific 501(c)(3) category.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on May 15, 2012, created on May 16, 2012, and closed on June 21, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was July 21, 2012.
Where were applicants directed for technical access issues?
For technical access issues, applicants were directed to the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov.
What is the main theory of change behind the grant?
The opportunity is based on the idea that improving press freedom in Iraq depends on strengthening the overall legal ecosystem: updating and aligning key laws and regulations with international standards, building stakeholder buy-in and momentum for reform, and tracking whether the legal environment improves in practice for journalists and the public.
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