Opportunity Information: Apply for AF PDPA FY21 03
The U.S. Department of State, Africa Regional Services, offered a cooperative agreement called "Podcast to Radio: Bringing Global Issues Home to Sub-Sahara Africa" to support the creation and wide distribution of a multilingual audio series focused on international issues that many audiences in Sub-Saharan Africa may only know at a surface level. The project is designed to translate complex global topics into engaging, relatable stories that connect big-picture developments to everyday life, while also helping listeners understand how the United States relates to and contributes to these issues. The award was structured as a 12-month effort, with a maximum funding level of up to $400,000 and an expectation of one award.
At the core of the grant is the production of 30 audio episodes, each about 15 to 30 minutes long. All 30 episodes must be produced in English, French, and Portuguese, and 10 of those episodes must also be produced in Kinyarwanda. The emphasis is on programs that are lively and enjoyable to listen to, not academic lectures. Each episode is expected to move from theory to the personal level, making the topic feel real and relevant through practical examples, real-world implications, and human-centered storytelling. A key content requirement is the use of guest experts with varied perspectives and backgrounds, ranging from people with on-the-ground experience to highly credentialed specialists, so that the discussion blends lived experience with deeper context and analysis.
The grant places strong expectations on editorial framing and educational impact. Episodes should explain the topic clearly, place it in global context, and spell out why it matters to listeners day-to-day, including social, economic, governance, health, security, or environmental effects. Programs must also include tangible connections to the United States and highlight U.S. contributions related to the subject matter. In addition, the series should promote better understanding of U.S. policy viewpoints connected to the topics being discussed. Beyond simply informing listeners, the opportunity aims for programming that sparks conversation and action, ideally motivating people to share what they learn in their communities and potentially use that knowledge to take constructive social action.
Dissemination is treated as a major deliverable, not an afterthought, and it has two required tracks. First, the podcasts must be hosted online in a way that is publicly accessible, such as on the grantee's website, server, or another digital platform. Second, and critically for reach, the grantee must distribute the episodes to community or national radio stations in target countries so they can be broadcast over the air. The grant expects the recipient to handle the practical logistics of radio distribution, which can include providing content via USB keys, downloadable MP3 files, or internet links, depending on what is most feasible for the stations involved.
To make the distribution strategy credible, the grantee is required to develop a marketing plan and associated budget. This implies outreach to stations, audience promotion, and a clear plan for how the content will actually be picked up, aired, and discovered by listeners across different markets and languages. Overall, the opportunity supports public-facing media that strengthens understanding of global issues in ways that align with broader goals such as supporting a rules-based international order and multilateral cooperation, encouraging democratic progress and respect for human rights, expanding mutually beneficial economic growth and trade, advancing peace and stability through capable and accountable security institutions, strengthening health security, improving environmental sustainability, and engaging Africa's growing youth population as a driver of economic dynamism.Apply for AF PDPA FY21 03
- The Department of State, Africa Regional Services in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Podcast to Radio- Bringing Global Issues Home to Sub-Sahara Africa" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 27, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 26, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The cooperative agreement is titled "Podcast to Radio: Bringing Global Issues Home to Sub-Sahara Africa."
Which U.S. government office is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State, Africa Regional Services.
What type of funding mechanism is this?
It is a cooperative agreement.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project supports the creation and wide distribution of a multilingual audio series that helps audiences in Sub-Saharan Africa understand international issues beyond surface-level awareness. The series is expected to translate complex global topics into engaging, relatable stories that connect global developments to everyday life, while also explaining how the United States relates to and contributes to these issues.
How long is the project period?
The award is structured as a 12-month effort.
What is the maximum funding amount?
The maximum funding level is up to $400,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity includes an expectation of one award.
How many audio episodes are required?
The core production requirement is 30 audio episodes.
How long should each episode be?
Each episode is expected to be about 15 to 30 minutes long.
In which languages must the episodes be produced?
All 30 episodes must be produced in English, French, and Portuguese.
Are any additional languages required beyond English, French, and Portuguese?
Yes. Ten of the episodes must also be produced in Kinyarwanda.
Does the opportunity specify what style or tone the episodes should have?
Yes. The emphasis is on programs that are lively and enjoyable to listen to, not academic lectures.
What does "bringing global issues home" mean in practice for episode content?
Each episode is expected to move from theory to the personal level, making the topic feel real and relevant through practical examples, real-world implications, and human-centered storytelling.
Are guest speakers or experts required?
Yes. A key content requirement is the use of guest experts with varied perspectives and backgrounds, including people with on-the-ground experience and highly credentialed specialists, so that episodes blend lived experience with deeper context and analysis.
What editorial expectations are mentioned for the series?
Episodes should explain the topic clearly, place it in global context, and spell out why it matters to listeners day-to-day, including possible social, economic, governance, health, security, or environmental effects.
Is there a requirement to connect the topics to the United States?
Yes. Programs must include tangible connections to the United States and highlight U.S. contributions related to the subject matter.
Does the series need to address U.S. policy perspectives?
Yes. The opportunity states that the series should promote better understanding of U.S. policy viewpoints connected to the topics being discussed.
Is the goal only to inform listeners, or is there an expected outcome beyond awareness?
The project is intended to go beyond information. The programming is expected to spark conversation and action, ideally motivating people to share what they learn in their communities and potentially use that knowledge to take constructive social action.
How important is distribution in this grant?
Distribution is treated as a major deliverable, not an afterthought, with two required dissemination tracks: public online hosting and distribution to radio stations for over-the-air broadcast.
What are the required dissemination tracks?
First, the podcasts must be hosted online in a publicly accessible way (such as on the grantee's website, server, or another digital platform). Second, the grantee must distribute the episodes to community or national radio stations in target countries so they can be broadcast over the air.
Does the grantee have to handle radio distribution logistics?
Yes. The grant expects the recipient to handle practical logistics of radio distribution.
What delivery formats are mentioned for providing episodes to radio stations?
Examples mentioned include providing content via USB keys, downloadable MP3 files, or internet links, depending on what is most feasible for the stations involved.
Is online hosting alone sufficient to meet the distribution requirement?
No. Online hosting is required, but the opportunity also requires distribution to community or national radio stations for broadcast.
Is a marketing plan required?
Yes. The grantee is required to develop a marketing plan and an associated budget.
What does the marketing plan need to support?
The marketing plan is intended to make the distribution strategy credible, implying outreach to stations, audience promotion, and a clear plan for how the content will be picked up, aired, and discovered by listeners across different markets and languages.
What kinds of topics or thematic goals does the opportunity highlight?
The opportunity supports public-facing media that strengthens understanding of global issues in ways that align with broader goals such as supporting a rules-based international order and multilateral cooperation; encouraging democratic progress and respect for human rights; expanding mutually beneficial economic growth and trade; advancing peace and stability through capable and accountable security institutions; strengthening health security; improving environmental sustainability; and engaging Africa's growing youth population as a driver of economic dynamism.
Who is the intended audience region for the series?
The opportunity is focused on audiences in Sub-Saharan Africa.
What is the expected balance between storytelling and analysis?
The series is expected to be engaging and story-driven rather than lecture-like, while still providing deeper context and analysis through guest experts and clear editorial framing.
What does "multilingual audio series" mean for deliverables?
It means the same set of episodes must be produced in multiple languages: all episodes in English, French, and Portuguese, plus an additional Kinyarwanda version for 10 episodes.
Does the opportunity indicate whether the content should be publicly accessible?
Yes. The online hosting requirement specifies that the podcasts must be hosted in a way that is publicly accessible.
Does the opportunity specify the intended listening experience?
Yes. It emphasizes content that is lively and enjoyable, uses practical examples and human-centered storytelling, and clearly explains why each topic matters in everyday life.
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