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STRENGTHENING MEDIA-CIVIL SOCIETY COLLABORATION(S) FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIVENESS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNANCE Eligible organisations: � Registered Ghanaian media houses, including rural, community, public, commercial and internet-based media; � Registered media associations; � Media organizationsand institutions providing media and communications training; � Journalists and other media practitioners with a proven track record in promoting accountability, transparency and responsiveness particularly around STAR-Ghana�s priority sectors Background STAR-Ghana is a multi-donor pooled funding mechanism funded by the European Union, DANIDA, USAID and DfID, which aims to increase the influence of civil society and Parliament in the governance of public goods and service delivery. It provides project grants, technical capacity building, organizational development and knowledge brokering support to civil society organizations and Parliament. STAR-Ghana�s work is focused around the following sectors: Basic Education, Health, Oil & Gas and Food Security and Agri-business development in northern Ghana. The media has been identified by STAR-Ghana as an important stakeholder in achieving transparent, accountable and responsive governance of public goods and services. One of the constraints of effective pro-poor policy development and social accountability in Ghana has been the generally weak relationships among non-state actors, particularly between the media and civil society organizations (CSOs). STAR-Ghana therefore seeks to strengthen linkages and other collaborations between the media and other non-state actors for pro-poor policy development and implementation outcomes through a Call targeting the media. The purpose of the call is to support the media to work more effectively with other CSOs to enable citizens to advocate for greater transparency, responsiveness and accountability (including anti-corruption and public financial management) in service delivery, particularly around STAR-Ghana�s priority sectors. This call is also aimed at improving media access and voice to all citizens, particularly the poor, socially marginalized/excluded groups and those living in deprived areas of the country. Interested and eligible organizations and individuals are invited to design and implement projects aimed at achieving the purpose of this call. The proposed projects can have a maximum duration of two years but could be of shorter duration. They may either be new initiatives or build on on-going/previous actions to achieve greater results and impacts. Expressions of Interest (EOIs) EOIs should seek (i) to build innovative partnerships between CSOs, the media and/or private sector, (ii) link actions across levels of governance (community, district, regional and national) and/or (iii) enable collaborations between actors working on complementary issues. EOIs which aim to achieve the following results are particularly encouraged: � Build innovative and strategic partnerships between the media and civil society organizations (CSOs) and/or private sector to improve and sustain coverage on issues that promote transparent, accountable and responsive governance of public goods and service delivery, particularly in the thematic priorities identified by STAR-Ghana. � Generate critical and high quality evidence and coverage for policy advocacy and influencing, particularly around STAR-Ghana�s thematic priorities. � Increase and provide high quality coverage and analysis to enhance Parliament�s effectiveness in fulfilling its oversight, legislative and representative mandates. � Provide platforms that raise and amplify the voices of vulnerable, marginalized and deprived communities and groups, and enable them to define and articulate issues of importance to them. � Deepen and increase media capacity, including local language media, to generate and circulate quality information with which citizens can make informed decisions and choices and hold duty bearers accountable for their actions. � Strengthen the ability of media to expand and improve coverage and public discussions relating to policy, tracking of government expenditure and timely delivery of public goods particularly around STAR-Ghana�s thematic priorities. � Build/strengthen media networks that enhance the effectiveness of media influence in promoting accountable and transparent public governance. � Link media-led actions across levels of governance (community, district, regional and national) to promote accountability, transparency and responsiveness on the part of government, the private sector and traditional authorities in the delivery of public goods and services. � Enable collaboration between different types of media (print, radio, television, Internet, commercial, community, public) working on complementary issues. Eligibility Criteria The applying organization must be able to: 1. State clearly the results and outcomes that will be achieved from the project; 2. Provide evidence of a track record in delivering results and timely reports; 3. Provide evidence of good organizational governance; 4. Provide evidence of commitment to high standards of professionalism; 5. Demonstrate real and actual inclusion/diversity and gender sensitivity in the organization. The organization should also: � Be legally registered in Ghana; � Have appropriate procedures for financial/administrative management, monitoring and reporting; � Show at least two previous annual statements of accounts audited by a suitably certified person(s) or body. For Individuals: � Demonstrate a track record of using the media to promote accountability, transparency and responsiveness in public governance; � Provide evidence of access to suitable media to disseminate/publish articles or other material generated. STAR-Ghana will not fund proposals that seek to promote partisan political and or sectarian interests How to Apply: � Interested organisations should visit www.star-ghana.org and complete the online Expression of Interest (EOI) form; � Deadline for submission of completed EOIs: 17hours GMT on November 12, 2012 � Shortlisted EOIs will be invited by November 30, 2012, to submit full proposals using a template provided online. For further reference information relating to this call, please visit our website (www.star-ghana.org/Resources) for a report on STAR-Ghana's Media Analysis and other reference material. Please visit our website, www.star-ghana.org, for more information on STAR-Ghana and its grant processes. For enquiries, please contact [email protected] or call (0302) 774488/7012404 between 9am and 5pm on week days.