Communities REsilient to DIsinformation Building Local Engagement (CREDIBLE) Addendum to APS 7200AA20APS00007 Youth Power 2 | 7200AA21RFA00016

Opportunity Information: Apply for 7200AA21RFA00016

The Communities Resilient to Disinformation Building Local Engagement (CREDIBLE) opportunity is an addendum to USAID's existing YouthPower 2 (YP2) Annual Program Statement (APS) No. 7200AA20APS00007. Instead of functioning like a typical stand-alone Request for Applications, this addendum operates as a targeted call for concept notes under the broader YP2 APS framework. Applicants are expected to use the specific CREDIBLE addendum guidance and the required concept note template provided in the opportunity's related documents, and USAID will use those concept notes to decide whether to invite select organizations to submit a full application. The activity is authorized under Part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, and it is administered by USAID's Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, Office of Regional Sustainable Development, Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Team (LAC/RSD/DRG).

Programmatically, CREDIBLE is aimed at countering the growing influence of disinformation and the accompanying erosion of democratic norms across Latin America and the Caribbean. The core idea is to strengthen local information environments so communities are less vulnerable to manipulation and more able to rely on fact-based discussion when engaging in civic life. The addendum emphasizes improving digital and media literacy, especially among youth, while also reaching other target populations as appropriate. A major focus is rebuilding trust: trust between youth and their local communities, and trust between communities and local media. USAID is looking for concepts that treat youth not only as beneficiaries, but as active partners and messengers who can help strengthen local media ecosystems and civic culture.

The technical approach USAID is seeking centers on locally grounded strategies that can "inoculate" communities against disinformation. In practice, that means developing and applying media literacy tools, strengthening critical consumption of information, and using social norm change approaches that influence how communities share, verify, and respond to questionable content. The opportunity signals strong interest in efforts that reinforce local media and encourage fact-based discourse, with the broader goal of improving the quality of public participation and helping communities make informed decisions related to political and civic processes. The emphasis on local context is important: applicants are encouraged to work through local networks and youth-serving organizations and to tailor interventions to the specific dynamics of target communities rather than relying on one-size-fits-all messaging.

A distinguishing feature of CREDIBLE is its explicit learning agenda. USAID is not only looking for activities that deliver results in one place, but for approaches designed to generate evidence about what works. Proposals are expected to incorporate learning, testing, and adaptation so that successful models can be scaled up, refined, and replicated in other settings across the LAC region. This makes evaluation, documentation, and practical knowledge-sharing central to the program's purpose, not an afterthought. Concepts that clearly show how they will measure changes in literacy, trust, engagement, and resilience to disinformation, and how they will iterate based on findings, are aligned with the intent described in the notice.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, USAID anticipates, subject to funding availability, making one new award. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally implies substantial involvement by USAID during implementation compared to a standard grant. The ceiling is up to USD 5,000,000, and the anticipated period of performance is five years. The opportunity is listed under a funding activity category of Education and carries CFDA/assistance listing number 98.001. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of applicant types may be able to submit, as long as they meet the broader YP2 APS requirements and any addendum-specific criteria laid out in the related documents. The original closing date for concept notes was May 3, 2021, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of March 30, 2021.

Finally, the notice highlights compliance requirements tied to Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2019 and the related implementing restrictions. As of August 13, 2020, both U.S. and non-U.S. organizations are prohibited from using award funds (including direct and indirect costs, cost share, and program income) to procure certain covered telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment. Applicants are instructed to consult USAID's Section 889 guidance for details. Beyond what is explicitly modified by the CREDIBLE addendum, all other standard terms and conditions of the underlying YouthPower 2 APS apply, reinforcing that this opportunity is a focused extension of YP2 rather than a separate competition.

• The Agency for International Development in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Communities REsilient to DIsinformation Building Local Engagement (CREDIBLE) Addendum to APS 7200AA20APS00007 Youth Power 2" 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 2021-03-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-03. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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