BACKGROUND

Relief International is currently implementing a 2 years long project (2010-2012) titled “The Transparency for Human Rights (THR) in Bangladesh funded by the European Commission. The expected results of the project are objective reporting, stronger capacity of media professionals to defend the right to free expression, increased public access to information, increased public awareness of and public pressure for human rights, and an improvement in the human rights  situation in Bangladesh.

The project comprises of the following components:

• Curriculum on the Media and Human Rights
• Professional Development Workshops on the Media and Human Rights
• Establishment of National Network of Concerned Journalists (NNCJ):
• Capacity Building of NNCJ:
• Peer Training on Reporting Pertaining to Human Rights
• Rural Linkage Initiative (
• Transparency for Human Rights Virtual Community:
• Media Monitoring:
• Development and Dissemination of Media Materials
• Radio Talk Show Series:
• Transparency for Human Rights Mini-Conferences and Awards

The objectives of the mini grants under the component Peer Training on Reporting Pertaining to Human Rights, is to enable selected participating journalists of the THR programme to conduct a series of professional development trainings for their fellow journalist. RI will award 40 competitive mini-grants to individuals or groups of journalists participating in the THR project over a period of two years. 20 grants will be awarded during the first year of the project.

This activity is aimed at developing a core team of Master Trainers whose services are readily available to impart training to media professionals, civil society representatives, and government representatives. This activity will help scale up the capacity building efforts of the proposed programme. While RI will provide support for the implementation of this activity, grantees will be encouraged to seek partnerships with and support from local Civil Society Organizations.

Who can apply for the mini grants:

Participants of the THR programme are eligible to apply for these mini grants.

Eligibility Criteria:

­RI is expecting a large number of applications for the mini grants in its first phase. A total of 20 grants will be awarded. RI will consider the potential and ability of applicants to multiply their newly acquired knowledge and skills gained through participating in the THR project. The applicant should demonstrate uniqueness and innovativeness in carrying out peer training. The peer training can be targeted for a diverse group of media professionals such as , journalists working with traditional media outlets, students in journalism, community journalist, citizen journalists, individuals interested to take up journalism and human rights advocacy as a profession in future. The applicant may also consider including specific target groups who are marginalised and lack access to adequate resources to participate in professional development training in journalism, such as young female journalists, journalists from ethnic minorities, etc. RI’s decision on the selection of the awardees will be considered as final. Grantees will have to sign an agreement with RI to carry out the activities proposed by applicants. RI reserves the rights to make any changes in selection criteria, number of grants, deadlines for submission of the application and size of the grants. All materials developed by the awardees by utilising the grant amount are to be considered products of the THR program and hence the copyrights of the products will remain with Relief International.

Size of the Grants:

Each grant will amount to BDT 35,000.

Deliverables and timeline:

1)      Inception Report (one page) that will state their plan for peer training along with indication of objectives and broader goals, target groups, work plan, methodologies, allocation of funds for activities related to the peer training, etc.

2)      3 peer training , each training should be attended by min 20 individuals; the training should be conducted by 30 May 2011

3)      Monthly progress report ( template will be provided by RI)

4)      Final report ( template will be provided by RI)

5)      Participation in online discussion on human rights hosted by the THR programme website

6)      Contribution to Rights SMS, a mobile based application hosted by the THR programme

Follow up Activities:

The recipients will be expected to establish a network with other professionals and civil society organizations, and continue to communicate with relevant stakeholders to promote respect for human rights.

Submission of Applications:

The following is a list of deadlines for participants from various districts:

Download Application Package for the mini grants for peer training workshops.