Opportunity Information: Apply for 72052318RFA00001
USAID Mexico issued a discretionary funding opportunity called "Investigative Journalism" (Funding Opportunity Number 72052318RFA00001) to support stronger, more effective investigative reporting in Mexico, with a particular focus on state and municipal levels where access to reliable public information is often weakest. The grant is designed around a core problem: even though the Government of Mexico has released large amounts of public data at the federal level, the quality and usability of that information can be uneven, and at subnational levels information that should be public is frequently hard to locate, hard to obtain, or presented in ways that make it difficult for ordinary people to understand. When citizens and civil society groups cannot easily access or interpret public information, they are less able to engage in policy debates, push for transparency, or advocate for legal and regulatory reforms that reduce impunity.
The opportunity positions journalists as a key link between raw public information and meaningful public accountability. It emphasizes that journalists do more than publish stories: they help the public access information, translate complex datasets into understandable findings, and expose wrongdoing that might otherwise remain hidden. USAID notes that to do this work well, journalists need a mix of legal knowledge (for example, understanding access-to-information frameworks and legal risks), technical skills (including data analysis and other specialized methods), familiarity with modern investigative techniques, and practical resources that allow them to carry out deeper investigations rather than relying only on surface-level reporting.
The stated purpose of the activity is to deter corruption and strengthen transparency by improving journalists' ability to investigate corruption-related issues in targeted Mexican states and municipalities. In practice, this implies building capacity and support systems that make it more feasible for reporters and outlets to pursue complex, document-heavy investigations, particularly outside the federal capital where institutional capacity and public data access are often more limited. While the notice does not spell out a detailed workplan in the text provided, the emphasis on subnational information barriers and the need for legal and technical expertise suggests activities like training, mentorship, tools and resources for investigations, and support that helps journalists obtain, analyze, and present evidence in a credible, fact-based way.
From an administrative standpoint, the award instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning USAID would typically expect to remain substantially involved during implementation compared to a standard grant. Eligibility is unrestricted (open to any qualified organization, subject to any additional eligibility details in the full announcement). USAID expected to make one award with a ceiling of up to $6,000,000. The opportunity was created on May 4, 2018, with an original closing date of June 29, 2018, and it falls under the funding activity category of Law, Justice and Legal Services (CFDA 98.001).Apply for 72052318RFA00001
- The Agency for International Development, Mexico USAID-Mexico City in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Investigative Journalism" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 04, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 29, 2018. (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 $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): USAID Mexico "Investigative Journalism" (72052318RFA00001)
1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The discretionary funding opportunity is titled "Investigative Journalism."
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 72052318RFA00001.
3) Who is the issuing agency?
The opportunity was issued by USAID Mexico.
4) What is the main goal of the grant?
The stated purpose is to deter corruption and strengthen transparency by improving journalists' ability to investigate corruption-related issues in targeted Mexican states and municipalities.
5) Why does this opportunity focus on investigative journalism?
USAID frames journalists as a key link between raw public information and real public accountability. Journalists help the public access information, translate complex datasets into understandable findings, and expose wrongdoing that might otherwise remain hidden.
6) What core problem is this opportunity designed to address?
The opportunity is designed around barriers to public information in Mexico. While large amounts of public data have been released at the federal level, the quality and usability can be uneven. At state and municipal levels, information that should be public is often hard to locate, hard to obtain, or presented in ways that are difficult for ordinary people to understand.
7) Why is there a particular focus on state and municipal levels?
The opportunity specifically highlights that access to reliable public information is often weakest at subnational levels (state and municipal). This can limit citizens' and civil society groups' ability to participate in policy debates, push for transparency, and advocate for reforms that reduce impunity.
8) What kinds of issues or topics are expected to be investigated?
The notice emphasizes investigation of corruption-related issues, especially where public information barriers make it difficult to document or prove wrongdoing at the state and municipal level.
9) What outcomes does USAID associate with improved investigative reporting?
USAID links stronger investigative reporting to greater transparency and accountability, deterrence of corruption, and improved public ability to engage in debates and advocacy related to legal and regulatory reforms that reduce impunity.
10) What types of journalist skills does the opportunity emphasize?
USAID notes that effective investigative reporting requires a mix of:
- Legal knowledge (such as understanding access-to-information frameworks and legal risks)
- Technical skills (including data analysis and other specialized methods)
- Familiarity with modern investigative techniques
- Practical resources to support deeper, document-heavy investigations
11) Does the opportunity mention training or capacity building?
Yes in concept. While the provided text does not list a detailed workplan, it emphasizes the need for legal and technical expertise and for practical resources, which suggests activities such as training, mentorship, tools, and investigative support mechanisms.
12) Does the opportunity specify a detailed workplan?
Not in the information provided here. The description highlights goals and constraints (subnational information barriers and the need for legal and technical expertise), but it does not spell out a detailed implementation plan in the provided excerpt.
13) What is the award instrument type?
The award instrument is a cooperative agreement.
14) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally means USAID would expect to remain substantially involved during implementation compared to a standard grant.
15) How many awards did USAID expect to make?
USAID expected to make one award.
16) What is the maximum funding amount (ceiling) for this opportunity?
The ceiling is up to $6,000,000.
17) Is the opportunity competitive or discretionary?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
18) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is unrestricted, meaning it is open to any qualified organization, subject to any additional eligibility details in the full announcement.
19) Does the opportunity restrict eligibility to Mexico-based organizations?
That is not stated in the information provided. The excerpt only notes that eligibility is unrestricted and may be subject to additional details in the full announcement.
20) What geographic area does the activity target?
The activity targets Mexico, with a particular emphasis on targeted Mexican states and municipalities rather than only the federal level.
21) What is the broader development rationale behind this activity?
The rationale described is that when citizens and civil society groups cannot access or interpret public information, they are less able to engage in policy debates, push for transparency, or advocate for legal and regulatory reforms that reduce impunity. Strengthening investigative journalism is positioned as a way to bridge that gap.
22) What funding activity category and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services, and the CFDA number is 98.001.
23) When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on May 4, 2018.
24) What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was June 29, 2018.
25) Does the opportunity emphasize data use and public information?
Yes. It highlights both the uneven quality/usability of federal public data and the significant challenges in locating, obtaining, and interpreting public information at state and municipal levels. It also stresses the need for journalists to translate complex datasets into understandable findings.
26) What kinds of constraints does the opportunity mention for journalists working outside the federal capital?
It notes that outside the federal capital, institutional capacity and public data access are often more limited, which can make complex, document-heavy investigations harder to pursue without additional support and resources.
27) What role does USAID suggest journalists play beyond publishing stories?
USAID emphasizes that journalists help the public access information, interpret and translate complex datasets, and expose wrongdoing in ways that support accountability.
28) Does the opportunity connect investigative journalism to anti-corruption and transparency goals?
Yes. The stated purpose explicitly links the activity to deterring corruption and strengthening transparency through improved investigative capacity focused on corruption-related issues.
29) Does the opportunity mention legal risk and access-to-information frameworks?
Yes. USAID highlights legal knowledge as important, including understanding access-to-information frameworks and legal risks associated with investigative reporting.
30) What practical support does the opportunity imply journalists may need?
It indicates journalists need practical resources that allow them to conduct deeper investigations rather than relying only on surface-level reporting, particularly for document-heavy investigations at the subnational level.
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