Small and Mighty Grants Program 2023/2024: Focusing on Advancing Professional Media Capacity

Colombo, October 18, 2023 — The Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF) is delighted to announce its collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka for the implementation of the Small and Mighty Grants Program 2023/2024. This initiative invites qualified organizations and individuals to submit proposals for innovative projects aimed at advancing peace, reconciliation, economic empowerment, and the rule of law. This year's program places a special emphasis on enhancing the professional capacity of Sri Lankan media to provide accurate, unbiased, objective, and reliable news coverage.

As the prime implementing partner for this project, SDJF will play a pivotal role in managing the small grants under the program. Additionally, SDJF will be responsible for the vital functions of monitoring and evaluation, as well as providing technical support for local partners.

The Small and Mighty Grants Program encompasses four distinct categories:

CATEGORY 1 - Programs Promoting Peace, Democracy, and Human Rights: The U.S. Embassy encourages projects that foster peace, democracy, reconciliation, and human rights, with a focus on enhancing social integration within all communities in Sri Lanka. Initiatives that strengthen democratic values, promote awareness and protection of religious freedom, gender equality, disability rights, and human rights principles are especially welcome.

CATEGORY 2 - Programs Promoting Economic Empowerment: Projects supporting economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, especially among women and minorities, are highly encouraged. These initiatives are viewed as essential components of a healthy economy and pathways for regional economic integration.

CATEGORY 3 - Programs Promoting Good Governance and the Rule of Law: The U.S. Embassy supports initiatives that promote good governance and the rule of law, including efforts to enhance transparency, the right to information, and anti-corruption measures.

CATEGORY 4 - Programs Promoting the Professional Capacity and Accuracy of Sri Lanka’s Media Sector: The program values projects that aim to enhance professionalism within the media sector and promote verified, responsible, fact-based, and unbiased media coverage.

The grant is open for applications from non-profit organizations, non-governmental entities, and individual applicants throughout Sri Lanka. However, government entities and for-profit companies are not eligible to apply for grants.

Individual projects submitted under the Small and Mighty Grants Program should have a total timeline of four to six months. Three rounds of calls for proposals will be conducted throughout the calendar year, with the deadline for the first round of applications set for November 10, 2023.

For further information on the application process, eligibility criteria, and other details, interested parties are encouraged to visit the official website of SDJF at www.grants.ldjf.org.