Building Community Cohesion through Radio

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Through this cooperative agreement, U.S. Embassy Abidjan seeks to support Ivoirian projects that help open dialogue among diverse communities, security forces, and government through up to two cooperative agreements for up to $250,000 each. This program aims to foster peace and build community cohesion through creating and transmitting radio programming in one of the primary languages native to northern Côte d’Ivoire (i.e., Senoufo, Dioula, Peuhl). Radio programming will include a minimum of three hours of broadcast time per week, at set times each week, for 52 weeks. Programming should include peace-building conversations with and among relevant and influential religious leaders, government officials, security forces, civil society members, community leaders, or other influential proponents of community cohesion in the region. Programming should also include educational content related to government assistance and other resources, including but not limited to information related to registering to vote in local and national elections, registering for schools, receiving healthcare, vaccinating livestock, reporting criminality, and filing legal proceedings. Project resources may also be dedicated to targeted media training for government officials, religious leaders, and other community influencers participating in radio programming. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to transmit the messages to broad audiences throughout areas of northern Côte d’Ivoire at risk of violent extremism. In addition, applicants must be able to provide proof of message transmission in the required monthly reports. U.S. Embassy Abidjan intends to issue 1-2 awards. for a period of 12 months. The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

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