Human Rights and Xinjiang Awareness

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The Department of State announces an open competition for organizations and individuals to submit applications to create a digital story highlighting the ongoing human rights crackdown in Xinjiang and its effects on the Uighur and Kazakh diaspora, including those living in Germany. 1. Program Objectives Part A: Creation of a short documentary digital story and additional oral testimonial library. This program will provide funding to create a short documentary story. The digital story/video would focus on individual testimonies from members of the Uighur and Kazakh diaspora in Germany, particularly those who have escaped persecution in Xinjiang or whose family members are currently in or have previously been in detention. The grant recipient would work with human rights NGOs and Uighur and other diaspora groups, to solicit and record oral testimonies. These oral testimonies would serve as the basis for the documentary digital story, but the raw footage of the oral testimonies would also be preserved and shared with the Department of State’s Bureau of Global Public Affairs for potential use in additional public diplomacy content. The final product will be posted online for public viewing and the U.S. Department of State will help promote the digital story with partners and provide separate travel grants for the filmmakers/content creators to present their digital story and meet with audiences throughout Germany. 2. Participants and Audiences The primary audience is the broader German public, particularly non-elite and non-expert audiences outside of Berlin. A secondary audience is members of the German federal and state parliaments. With that in mind, the digital story should be targeted to the general public and include English subtitles. 3. Recipient Responsibilities - The implementing partner will measure both outputs and outcomes through all phases of this project. - The implementing partner will review public responses to the digital story and measure public engagement, including by monitoring views and online engagement with the online video and at outreach events 4. Q&A Q: Generally are you looking to work with an already established filmmaker or video production company/organization for this grant? A: We will assess each applicant based on the merit of their individual application, which should include evidence of their suitability for the given project. Q: Are you considering extending the deadline until after the weekend (9/1) or after Labor Day (9/2)? We will observe a grace period of three days. Q: Can you clarify who the Implementing partner is? The Department of State or those applying? The applicant will be the implementing partner. Q:  Why is this program taking place in Germany as opposed to the US or any other countries where there is a Uyghur/Kazakh Diaspora? As this program has been devised by U.S. Mission Germany, its outreach dimension is targeted towards German audiences. Q:  Is there plan to implement this grant in other parts of the world? Not to our knowledge. Q: Are the interviewees to be chosen exclusively living in Germany, with either citizenship, refugee status or somewhere in between? Individuals featured in the film should be residing in Germany. Q: Is there an approximate target number of interviewees you would like to see for this short Documentary? No. Q: Do you imagine a short being between 10 and 20 minutes? The length is up to the applicant to determine. Q: Would you prefer the raw footage of the oral testimonies to be shot with video (video portraits) or can they be auditory/oral? This is in understanding that you plan to preserve and share with the Department of State’s Bureau of Global Public Affairs for potential use in additional public diplomacy content. This is up to the applicant to determine. Q: Are individuals exempt from obtaining a Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet),or a valid registration on www.SAM.gov .? Individuals are exempt from SAM.gov and DUNS registrations. We are not considering splitting the grant to multiple individuals. Q:  What are the parameters for submissions by individuals? Individuals can submit proposals as long as profit is not a line item in the cost proposal.  There are no other requirements to comply with except the ones outlined in the eligible entities guidance. Q:  Is the grant for the production alone or is it also for the dissemination and conversations around raising awareness both online and in person screenings with small audiences? The initial grant is centered on production, but also includes dissemination elements, as outreach is the key program motive. Q:  Can you say more about the measurability of the success of this work? Is this specifically around the creation of the short documentary or does it include the dissemination of the work and the measurement of its affect on audiences and raising awareness? This is an audience-focused project; success of the project is evaluated in regards to audience engagement and reach. Q:  Does the state department have plans around the dissemination of the short documentary in addition to an online presence? Or is that inclusive in the grant? We will evaluate further dissemination scenarios upon completion of the project.

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