Middle East and North Africa Regional Freedom of Expression Program

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DRL?s objective is to increase and expand freedom of expression and the media in the Middle Eastern and North African region within the following countries: Morocco, W. Sahara, Algeria, Jordan, Tunisia, and Egypt. DRL seeks proposals that will expand the space for freedom of expression (FOE) and media for traditional journalists, bloggers, and citizen journalists through an improved legal and professional enabling environment. Program activities may include support for:?facilitating the creation of legal and regulatory frameworks for media that are consistent with international standards of press freedom or the analysis of existing and draft codified or proposed laws and regulations to ensure their consistency with international standards; ?advocacy for FOE and media reforms, especially through joint action and collective advocacy; and/or ?media professionalization that will strengthen the ability of journalists and media outlets to ?self-regulate.? Competitive proposals must:? engage a wide array of stakeholders in government and civil society;? include partnerships with local media advocacy groups and civil society who monitor the state of media freedoms in the selected countries, including the implementation of any laws regulating freedom of expression and the media. The program may address the following categories of legislation: freedom of information; freedom of expression; freedom of assembly; copyright laws; information and communication technology; laws regulating journalism or journalists; and laws, regulations and non-legislated industry standards governing the relevant media organizations.

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