Joint Request for Statements of Interest: Internet Freedom ProgramsThe Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) and the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) announce a Joint Request for Statements of Interest (SOI) from organizations interested in submitting proposals for projects that support Internet freedom under the “Governing Justly and Democratically” Foreign Assistance program objective. This solicitation does not constitute a formal Request for Proposals: DRL and/or NEA will invite select organizations that submit SOIs to expand on their ideas via full proposal at a later date.DRL and NEA invite organizations to submit statements of interest outlining program concepts and capacity to manage projects that will foster freedom of expression and the free flow of information on the Internet and other connection technologies in East Asia, including China and Burma; the Near East, including Iran; Southeast Asia; the South Caucasus; Eurasia, including Russia; Central Asia; Latin America, including Cuba and Venezuela; and Africa. Programming may support activities in Farsi, Chinese, Russian, Burmese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, French, and other languages spoken in acutely hostile Internet environments. Concepts may be global in nature, regional or country-specific.PLEASE NOTE: DRL and NEA strongly urge applicants to access immediately www.grants.gov in order to obtain a username and password.Department of StateDOS_62826d8e-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2aBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) ApplicantsOrganizations submitting SOIs must meet the following criteria:Be a U.S. non-profit organization meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Applicants in the process of registration must submit proof that they are seeking non-profit status from the Internal Revenue Service at the time of SOI submission. Should the applicant be selected for a grant award, funding will be contingent upon 501(c)(3) status; or Be a U.S. university or research institution meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3); and Have demonstrated experience administering successful projects, preferably targeting the requested country and/or region, or similarly challenging program environment. DRL and NEA reserve the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards. These applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis; and Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with organization(s) in the target country and/or region. Organizations may form consortia and submit a combined SOI. However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant. China BurmaNear EastIranSoutheast AsiaSouth CaucasusEurasiaRussiaCentral AsiaLatin AmericaCubaVenezuelaAfrica_62827040-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2aTo outline program concepts and capacity to manage projects that will foster freedom of expression and the free flow of information on the Internet and other connection technologies in East Asia._6282718a-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2aFreedom of ExpressionFree Flow of InformationFreedom of Expression and InformationSupport digital activists and civil society organizations in exercising their right to freedom of expression and the free flow of information in acutely hostile Internet environments._62827284-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2aaDigital ActivistsCivil Society OrganizationsCounter-Censorship TechnologyDevelop and support web-based circumvention technology to enable users in closed societies to get around firewalls and filters in acutely hostile Internet environments. _6282734c-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2a1DRL and NEA will consider projects that support the deployment of individual technologies in specific environments, as well as projects that identify a lead organization to provide sub-grant and contractual support to non-profit organizations and for-profit companies that develop and maintain circumvention technologies. Statements of interest proposing a consortium of technologies under a lead organization should clearly identify potential technology partners and include an indication of those organizations’ interest in participating in the proposed project. In all cases, preference will be given to peer-reviewed technologies.Secure Mobile CommunicationsDevelop technologies, techniques, and training to enhance the security of mobile communications._62827414-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2a2Projects may include components to 1) increase user privacy and security, 2) enhance secure communications, networking, and data storage among advocacy groups, and 3) provide increased access to the uncensored Internet via mobile devices. Digital Safety TrainingDevelop a curriculum and training program to build a network of digital safety instructors to deliver trainings in multiple languages and regions where digital activists and civil society organizations are under threat. _628274dc-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2a3Proposed projects should include curriculum and training components to develop a network of instructors on digital safety, as well as a proposed schedule of trainings on digital safety targeting civil society organizations and individuals in acutely hostile Internet environments in the regions and languages listed above. Near East.Building the Technology Capacity of Digital Activists and Civil Society in Hostile Internet Environments in the Near East._628275b8-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2a4Digital Activists in the Near EastCivil Society in the Near EastTraining on and access to communication platforms to share electronic information securely; training for activists, bloggers, citizen journalists, and civil society organizations to allow them to safely and anonymously participate in online forums; and promotion of peer-to-peer data sharing between mobile devices. Virtual Open Internet CentersEstablish country- or region-specific centers that follow online dialogue and culture in hostile Internet environments; identify and archive censored content, and creatively reintroduce content and counter-censorship tools into those online environments. _6282769e-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2a5Programs should facilitate network-building and support for online civil society, human rights and journalism communities. Competitive proposals will include centers focused on two or more of the following languages: Farsi, Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Russian, Spanish, and Burmese, in addition to languages of other countries with hostile Internet environments.Emergency FundingEstablish an emergency fund for netizens under threat because of their web-based activism._62827784-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2a6Netizens under ThreatThe fund would provide funding to cover costs associated with living expenses or legal fees, in addition to a rapid-response fund to provide short-term funding for civil society organizations that have been targeted by severe hacking or cyber intrusion incidents (such as Distributed Denial of Service attacks) to keep their online operations up and running.Internet Public PolicySupport projects focused on media law reform in countries where changing legal and regulatory frameworks for the Internet have the potential to create acutely hostile Internet environments. _62827888-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2a7Projects should include outreach to both civil society and the business community. Evaluation and ResearchSupport ongoing evaluation and research to enhance global Internet freedom policy and diplomacy._6282798c-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2abEvaluationConduct outcome-based evaluations of existing U.S. Government-funded Internet freedom programs, including measuring the effectiveness of circumvention technologies, efforts to propagate those technologies, and the impact of digital safety trainings._62827a9a-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2a1Internet Freedom Fact BaseCompile, publish, and distribute an expanded annual study of Internet freedom around the world for five years. _62827bb2-1dc0-11e0-91db-255f7a64ea2a2Projects should include a five-year plan to cover a significant percentage of countries around the world. Competitive proposals will identify sources of additional funding support for the study beyond U.S. Government funding.2011-01-032011-01-11OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net