Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAKAB 12 AW 021 SCA 08152012
Apply for SCAKAB 12 AW 021 SCA 08152012
- The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Media Information Centers" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.501 Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 15, 2012 and posted on Aug 15, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 13, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 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).
- Eligibility is open to all U.S., Afghan, and international organizations or companies with direct experience of Afghanistan s media environment and a proven track record of success implementing projects in Afghanistan.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Regional Media Information Centers grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SCAKAB-12-AW-021) is a U.S. Department of State initiative run through the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs and administered by the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. It was posted on August 15, 2012, with a closing date of September 13, 2012 (originally September 15), and it offered up to $1,000,000 in total funding for a single anticipated award. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means the U.S. government expects to remain actively involved in the project’s direction and oversight rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant.
The purpose of the program is to strengthen provincial-level government communications in Afghanistan by creating a regional network of Media Information Centers housed in governors’ offices in three provinces: Herat, Balkh, and Nangarhar. These new centers are meant to work in a coordinated, regional way and to be supported by Kandahar’s already-established media center, creating a four-center structure that can serve not only the host provinces but also surrounding provinces in their regions. The core idea is to improve how provincial governments share news with the public by organizing communications capacity closer to local communities, rather than relying on a purely centralized approach.
Strategically, the centers are intended to build public trust in Afghan government institutions and reinforce democratic stability by ensuring citizens receive timely, accurate, and forthright information. The opportunity explicitly links improved official communication to broader public diplomacy and stabilization goals, including building people-to-people ties and countering extremist messaging. A key emphasis is on proactive outreach, meaning the provincial governments are expected to communicate regularly and effectively rather than only responding after events occur. Another emphasis is truthfulness and credibility, reflecting a belief that trustworthy information from government sources can reduce the influence of misinformation and propaganda.
Applicants are expected to propose a complete operational model for establishing and running these centers. The scope includes staffing plans, training programs, and day-to-day operations, along with physical and technical upgrades where needed. This includes renovating a news conference facility and providing media-related and other necessary equipment to enable provinces to disseminate information effectively. The communications outputs are not limited to security-related messaging; in fact, the program highlights the importance of elevating “success stories” and broadening the narrative about Afghanistan beyond security issues, implying a focus on governance achievements, public services, development outcomes, and other civic progress that can resonate with local audiences.
Eligibility is open to U.S., Afghan, and international organizations and companies, but applicants must demonstrate direct experience with Afghanistan’s media environment and a proven track record of successfully implementing projects in Afghanistan. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers barriers for qualified organizations that can deliver the technical expertise, training capacity, and operational support needed for a multi-province communications initiative. The funding is listed under CFDA 19.501, Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan, signaling that the program is framed as a public diplomacy and communications capacity-building effort rather than a purely infrastructure or security program.
In practical terms, a competitive proposal would need to show how the centers will be structured, staffed, and trained; how they will coordinate with Kandahar’s existing center; how information will be gathered, verified, and released; how engagement with local and regional media will be handled; and how the centers will sustain a steady cadence of credible public information. The opportunity also implicitly calls for plans to support press engagement through press conferences and media briefings, enabled by renovated facilities and essential equipment, so provincial governments can communicate directly and consistently with journalists and the public.
For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact is Pedro Palugyai, Grants Manager, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Kabul.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Regional Media Information Centers (SCAKAB-12-AW-021)
What is the Regional Media Information Centers grant opportunity?
The Regional Media Information Centers opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SCAKAB-12-AW-021) is a U.S. Department of State initiative intended to strengthen provincial-level government communications in Afghanistan by establishing a coordinated network of Media Information Centers.
Which U.S. government office is responsible for this opportunity?
The initiative is run through the U.S. Department of State Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs and administered by the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on August 15, 2012. The closing date was September 13, 2012 (originally listed as September 15).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SCAKAB-12-AW-021.
How much funding was available under this opportunity?
The opportunity offered up to $1,000,000 in total funding.
How many awards were anticipated?
A single anticipated award was expected under this opportunity.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
Based on the opportunity description, a cooperative agreement typically indicates the U.S. government expects to remain actively involved in the project’s direction and oversight rather than issuing a hands-off grant.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program’s purpose is to strengthen provincial-level government communications in Afghanistan by creating a regional network of Media Information Centers located in governors’ offices and designed to share timely, accurate, and forthright information with the public.
Which provinces were targeted for the new Media Information Centers?
The program calls for new centers housed in governors’ offices in three provinces: Herat, Balkh, and Nangarhar.
How does Kandahar fit into the program design?
Kandahar’s already-established media center is intended to support the new centers, forming a four-center structure that can serve the host provinces and surrounding provinces in their regions.
Is the program meant to serve only the host provinces?
No. The centers are designed to serve not only Herat, Balkh, and Nangarhar, but also surrounding provinces in their regions through a coordinated regional approach supported by Kandahar.
What problem is this program trying to address?
The program aims to improve how provincial governments share news with the public by building communications capacity closer to local communities rather than relying on a purely centralized approach.
What are the strategic goals behind these centers?
The opportunity links improved provincial communications to building public trust in Afghan government institutions, reinforcing democratic stability, supporting public diplomacy goals, strengthening people-to-people ties, and countering extremist messaging.
What communication approach does the program emphasize?
A key emphasis is proactive outreach, meaning provincial governments are expected to communicate regularly and effectively rather than only responding after events occur.
How important are accuracy and credibility in this program?
Truthfulness and credibility are explicitly emphasized. The opportunity reflects the idea that trustworthy information from government sources can help reduce the influence of misinformation and propaganda.
Are communications outputs limited to security-related topics?
No. The opportunity specifically notes that outputs are not limited to security-related messaging and emphasizes elevating provincial and governmental "success stories" and broadening the narrative beyond security issues.
What kinds of stories or messages does the opportunity encourage?
Based on the description, encouraged content includes governance achievements, public services, development outcomes, and other civic progress that can resonate with local audiences.
What is applicants expected to propose?
Applicants are expected to propose a complete operational model for establishing and running the centers, including staffing plans, training programs, and day-to-day operations, as well as physical and technical upgrades where needed.
Does the scope include renovations and equipment?
Yes. The scope includes renovating a news conference facility and providing media-related and other necessary equipment to enable provinces to disseminate information effectively.
What operational elements should a competitive proposal address?
From the opportunity description, competitive proposals would be expected to explain how centers will be structured, staffed, and trained; how they will coordinate with Kandahar’s existing center; how information will be gathered, verified, and released; how engagement with local and regional media will be handled; and how the centers will sustain a steady cadence of credible public information.
Does the opportunity imply press engagement activities?
Yes. It implicitly calls for plans to support press engagement through press conferences and media briefings, supported by renovated facilities and essential equipment.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is open to U.S., Afghan, and international organizations and companies.
Are there experience requirements for applicants?
Yes. Applicants must demonstrate direct experience with Afghanistan’s media environment and a proven track record of successfully implementing projects in Afghanistan.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The funding is listed under CFDA 19.501, Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
How is this program framed in terms of grant category or purpose?
Based on the CFDA listing and the program description, it is framed as a public diplomacy and communications capacity-building effort.
Where are the Media Information Centers intended to be located?
The new centers are intended to be housed in governors’ offices in Herat, Balkh, and Nangarhar.
Is coordination across provinces part of the design?
Yes. The centers are intended to work in a coordinated, regional way, supported by Kandahar’s existing center.
Who should be contacted for access issues related to the full announcement?
The listed point of contact for access issues is Pedro Palugyai, Grants Manager, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Kabul.
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