Equipping Journalists to Counter Anti-American Propaganda

The U.S. Department of State, through U.S. Embassy Panama, announces an open competition for Equipping Journalists to Counter Anti-American Propaganda, funding opportunity PDS-PAN-FY26-02. The program is designed to strengthen Panamanian journalists' English language proficiency, applied artificial intelligence skills, and digital media literacy so they can better identify disinformation, use credible English-language and U.S. government sources, recognize manipulated and AI-generated content, and apply responsible fact-checking and verification methods. The initiative is intended to strengthen the resilience, credibility, and professional capacity of Panama's independent media sector and advance informed public discourse. The intended audience includes working early- and mid-career print, broadcast, and digital journalists in Panama City and outlying provinces, as well as newsroom editors and media managers. The program will integrate advanced English language instruction, applied AI training, and digital media literacy into a sustained one-year curriculum. By the end of the program, at least 80 percent of participants are expected to increase their English proficiency by at least one CEFR level, and at least 75 percent are expected to demonstrate improved digital media literacy through pre- and post-program assessment. At least 75 percent of participating journalists are also expected to improve their ability to identify disinformation, manipulated media, and AI-generated content, including at least a 25 percent increase in accuracy on a media literacy assessment, and apply fact-checking and verification techniques in at least two published or broadcast reporting products. Fact-checking and information-integrity activities must focus on objectively verifiable information, evidence-based investigative methods, and technical identification of manipulated or AI-generated content. The Embassy anticipates one award, with awards ranging from $25,000 to approximately $120,000 and total available funding of $120,000, subject to availability of funds. The proposed project should be completed in 12 months or less, with an anticipated project start date of October 1, 2026. Continuation grants beyond the initial budget period may be considered noncompetitively subject to funding availability, satisfactory progress, and a determination that continued funding is in the Department of State's best interest. Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but not required. Prohibited activities include partisan political activity, direct charitable or social services, construction, specific religious activities, fundraising, lobbying, scientific research or surveys, commercial projects, institutional development, duplicative projects, and illegal activities. Additional restrictions apply to UNRWA funding, mass-migration caravan activities, construction, direct social services, alcoholic beverages, and generally to pre-award costs unless approved in advance. Eligible applicants include U.S. and international not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society or nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and U.S. and international public and private educational institutions. For-profit entities are not eligible. Organizations may subcontract with other entities, but only one nonprofit, nongovernmental entity may serve as the prime recipient, and responsibilities must be clearly defined. Organizations must generally have a Unique Entity Identifier and active SAM.gov registration, subject to permitted case-by-case exemptions. Applicants may submit only one proposal per organization. Applications must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, and required authorized signatures must be provided. Organizational applicants must also provide documentation supporting nonprofit status and registration as applicable. The application includes the applicable SF-424 or SF-424-I, SF-424A, and SF-424B when required, together with a proposal of no more than 10 pages. The proposal must address the proposal summary, applicant background and capacity, problem statement, program methods and design, activities and deliverables, schedule and timeline, key personnel, project partners, sustainability, and a Monitoring and Evaluation Performance Monitoring Plan. The PMP must include If-Then statements connecting activities to intended results and a datasheet identifying activities and indicators. Applicants must also submit a detailed line-item budget and budget justification narrative. Required supporting materials include one-page resumes or position descriptions for key personnel, applicable partner letters, the latest NICRA when relevant, proof of nonprofit status, and proof of registration. Applications must be emailed directly to pancultural@state.gov with the funding opportunity title and number in the subject line. Applications will first undergo a technical eligibility review. Missing required forms or documents can result in an application being found ineligible without review by the grants review committee. Eligible applications are evaluated on Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea for 30 points, Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants for 25 points, Project Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives for 20 points, Budget for 10 points, Monitoring and Evaluation for 10 points, and Sustainability for 5 points. Equivalent scores may be resolved in favor of the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate. The Department also conducts a federal risk review addressing financial stability, management systems, performance history, audits, and implementation capacity. Applicants will generally be notified within 120 days after the deadline. The authoritative submission section states that all applications must be received by September 1, 2026. Although an earlier Basic Information table lists September 13, 2026, the detailed Submission Deadline section expressly states September 1, calls that deadline firm and non-rolling, and the How to Apply section repeats September 1, 2026. Therefore, September 1, 2026 is used as the application close date. Applications received after that deadline are ineligible. Questions about the application process may be directed to pancultural@state.gov. No named individual contact is provided. Most recipients will be required to submit quarterly program and financial reports, generally due 30 days after each reporting period, with final certified programmatic and financial reports due 120 days after the project period closes. No recurring annual or other regular application cycle is stated.

Prioritize quality and feasibility, organizational capacity, detailed project planning, measurable objectives, budget reasonableness, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability because these are the scored review criteria. Ensure every required form and attachment is present because technically incomplete applications are ineligible for committee review. Clearly connect English instruction, applied AI training, and digital media literacy to measurable participant outcomes and the program's information-integrity objectives.