Regional Conference on Online Media and Disaster Management | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Regional Conference on Online Media and Disaster Management" grant opportunity?

It is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: M NOFO 16 101), administered through DOS-IND, to support a regional conference focused on how online media and mobile technology can improve preparedness, response, and coordination during natural disasters.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to convene Indian and regional stakeholders for structured, education-focused discussions that examine real disaster cases, identify what worked and what failed in digital communication and coordination, and use those lessons to develop more informed, regionally relevant best practices for disaster communication and digital coordination.

Is this opportunity meant to build new technology tools or apps?

Based on the description provided, the activity is framed as an education-focused initiative rather than a technical development project. The emphasis is on convening, learning, and structured dialogue around operational lessons and best practices.

What funding mechanism is being used?

Funding was offered as a cooperative agreement. This indicates the government expected substantial involvement in shaping or overseeing the project during implementation, rather than providing a grant with minimal engagement.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The program anticipated making a single award.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling was $85,000. Proposals were expected to deliver a focused, high-impact regional conference within that budget.

Is this a competitive opportunity?

Yes. The opportunity was described as discretionary, which means awards would be competitive and based on proposal strength and alignment with program objectives.

Which government office ran or administered the program?

The program was a U.S. Department of State initiative administered through DOS-IND.

What is the Funding Activity Category and CFDA number?

The Funding Activity Category is Education, and the CFDA listing provided is 19.040.

What kinds of disasters and real-world examples are referenced as learning material?

The program concept was grounded in recent real-world crises where digital tools played a visible operational role, specifically referencing the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, and the 2015 floods in Chennai.

How did online platforms factor into the Chennai floods example?

The announcement highlighted that Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms became tools for requesting rescue, matching needs with resources, and crowd-sourcing solutions, while also underscoring complications such as misinformation, uneven access, and coordination challenges.

What types of issues and themes would the conference be expected to address?

Based on the opportunity description, the conference discussions would logically cover topics such as verifying online reports, coordinating between volunteers and official responders, strategies for effective public messaging during emergencies, and integrating citizen-generated information into formal response systems without creating confusion or duplication.

Who was the intended audience or participants for the conference?

The opportunity emphasized convening Indian and regional stakeholders involved in disaster preparedness, response, communication, and coordination, especially those working with or affected by online media and mobile technology during emergencies.

What problem was this program trying to solve?

It aimed to overcome common challenges that emerge during emergencies when information moves quickly and uncertainty is high, including misinformation, uneven access to digital platforms, and coordination problems between official responders, volunteers, and the public.

What organizations were eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants included: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding nonprofits that are themselves institutions of higher education under that specific eligibility line).

When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?

The posting and creation dates were May 12, 2016, and the application deadline was July 12, 2016.

What does it mean that the award was a cooperative agreement?

It means the government expected to be substantially involved during the project, such as shaping, guiding, or overseeing aspects of implementation, rather than simply issuing funds with limited interaction.

What does "regionally relevant best practices" mean in the context of this opportunity?

It refers to guidance and lessons tailored to the realities of the region referenced in the opportunity (including India and regional partners), using experiences from recent Asian disasters to inform practical approaches to online communication and digital coordination during emergencies.

What overall outcomes was the program designed to support?

The opportunity was designed to strengthen regional capacity and shared understanding around the use of online media in disasters, using practical lessons from recent events to improve future preparedness and response outcomes.