Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0008992
The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of Global Public Affairs, offered a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Countering Threats to Freedom of Expression in Academia" (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0008992). The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the recipient would carry out the project with substantial involvement from the U.S. government rather than operating entirely independently as in a standard grant. The program is funded using Economic Support Funds (ESF) appropriated in FY2021 under the authority of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and it was posted on June 10, 2022 with an original application deadline of July 15, 2022.
The core purpose of the project is to design and implement a global campaign focused on protecting academic freedom and freedom of expression. A central emphasis is building shared understanding of challenges linked to the People's Republic of China (PRC) that affect core academic values, and promoting responses that are consensus-based. In practical terms, the opportunity is oriented toward international messaging, coordination, and public engagement that helps academic communities and stakeholders recognize and address PRC-linked pressures or influence efforts that may constrain open inquiry, debate, research integrity, or institutional independence. The framing suggests the campaign should not only describe the problem but also build agreement across partners on how to respond in ways that uphold academic and expression rights.
The funding ceiling for the single anticipated award is up to $1,500,000, and the Department of State expected to make one award. The initial period of performance is 24 months, which signals an effort large enough to develop a campaign strategy, produce and disseminate content, engage audiences across regions, and measure results over time rather than a short, one-off event series. The funding activity category is listed as "Other," which often indicates a communications, policy, or public diplomacy style effort that may not fit neatly into categories like education, health, or humanitarian assistance.
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with further details referenced in the opportunity's additional eligibility information section (not included in the excerpt). In similar State Department public diplomacy cooperative agreements, this can include non-profit organizations, NGOs, educational or research organizations, think tanks, and other entities with demonstrated capacity to run international campaigns, convene partners, and deliver communications products. Because it is a cooperative agreement, applicants would typically need to be comfortable collaborating closely with the Department on planning, milestones, and execution.
Overall, this opportunity funded a two-year, globally oriented public diplomacy campaign aimed at strengthening protections for academic freedom and freedom of expression by aligning stakeholders around a common understanding of PRC-linked challenges and promoting coordinated, widely supported responses that reinforce core academic values.Apply for SFOP0008992
- The Department of State, Bureau of Global Public Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Countering Threats to Freedom of Expression in Academia" 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 Jun 10, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 2022. (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 $1,500,000.00 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 official title of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Countering Threats to Freedom of Expression in Academia.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0008992.
Which U.S. government agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of State.
Which office within the Department of State is associated with the opportunity?
The opportunity is offered through the Bureau of Global Public Affairs.
What type of award is being offered (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The award is a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant.
What does "cooperative agreement" mean for how the project is run?
A cooperative agreement means the recipient would carry out the project with substantial involvement from the U.S. government, rather than operating fully independently as is typical under a standard grant.
What is the overall purpose of the project?
The purpose is to design and implement a global campaign focused on protecting academic freedom and freedom of expression.
What is the central thematic emphasis of the campaign described in the opportunity?
A central emphasis is building shared understanding of challenges linked to the People's Republic of China (PRC) that affect core academic values, and promoting responses that are consensus-based.
What kinds of issues is the campaign meant to address?
The opportunity is oriented toward helping academic communities and stakeholders recognize and address PRC-linked pressures or influence efforts that may constrain open inquiry, debate, research integrity, or institutional independence.
Is the campaign only meant to raise awareness, or also to drive coordination?
Based on the framing provided, the campaign is expected to do both: describe the problem and also build agreement across partners on how to respond in ways that uphold academic and expression rights.
What kind of activities does this opportunity appear to support?
The description suggests activities such as international messaging, coordination, and public engagement, including developing campaign strategy, producing and disseminating content, engaging audiences across regions, and measuring results over time.
What is the funding source and legal authority mentioned?
The program is funded using Economic Support Funds (ESF) appropriated in FY2021 under the authority of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The funding ceiling for the single anticipated award is up to $1,500,000.
How many awards did the Department of State expect to make?
The Department of State expected to make one award.
What is the period of performance for the project?
The initial period of performance is 24 months.
What does a 24-month period of performance imply about the project scope?
The stated 24-month timeframe signals an effort large enough to develop a campaign strategy, produce and disseminate content, engage audiences across regions, and measure results over time, rather than a short, one-off series of events.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is listed as Other.
What does the "Other" activity category suggest about the nature of the project?
In the context provided, "Other" is described as often indicating a communications, policy, or public diplomacy style effort that does not fit neatly into categories like education, health, or humanitarian assistance.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on June 10, 2022.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was July 15, 2022.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the information provided?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others", with further details referenced in an additional eligibility information section that is not included in the excerpt.
Are there examples of the types of organizations that might fit the eligibility description?
The excerpt notes that, in similar State Department public diplomacy cooperative agreements, eligible applicants can include non-profit organizations, NGOs, educational or research organizations, think tanks, and other entities with demonstrated capacity to run international campaigns, convene partners, and deliver communications products.
What kind of relationship with the Department of State should an applicant expect?
Because it is a cooperative agreement, applicants would typically need to be comfortable collaborating closely with the Department on planning, milestones, and execution.
Is this opportunity national or global in scope?
The opportunity is described as global in scope and oriented toward a globally focused campaign.
What is the primary intended outcome described in the opportunity summary?
The summary frames the intended outcome as strengthening protections for academic freedom and freedom of expression by aligning stakeholders around a common understanding of PRC-linked challenges and promoting coordinated, widely supported responses that reinforce core academic values.
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