MVA Forward supports independent media to find new sustainable revenue, grow and thrive

The MVA Forward program supports independent media outlets around the world to compete more effectively for audiences and revenues, through direct support and funding, as well as partnership and collaboration with a range of media support organizations.

Annual program statement

Please note, the MVA is not accepting, reviewing, processing or advancing any subgrant applications at this time. We will let you know as soon as this changes.

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Funding categories

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Independent media outlets

MVA Forward will provide direct funding to as many local and Independent Media outlets in the global majority as possible – reaching a diverse geography, language, audience, etc. Media will use these funds to help them reach new audiences and find new revenues. We’re looking for organizations that are actively using the MVA Platform to identify viability strategies, and are ready to take creative steps to improve. Independent media outlets should be users of the MVA platform.

Please note that capacity has now been reached for funding applications from Brazil. The MVA is therefore unable to offer more funding under the June 4 2024 – June 3 2025 APS. 

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Media support organizations

To help this platform reach a diverse, global audience of media outlets, this APS seeks to identify Media Support Organizations that wish to coordinate with the project and incorporate the platform into their own programs that assist Independent Media. For this category, applicants should maximize their support to the types of organizations that fall into Category A.
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Solution providers

The MVA platform will also support media outlets to access assistance by creating an online ‘marketplace’ of services, tools, technologies and support. To make a wide variety of these services available, this APS seeks to identify ‘Solution Providers’ that are interested in developing, adapting and offering these tools via the platform. The proposed Solutions will be evaluated primarily on how well they address the needs of Category A organizations.
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It is possible to apply in more than one category. Also, organizations may move from one category to another in subsequent applications. For example, a Category A organization could take the lessons they learned from one subgrant and use those lessons to develop a Solution under Category C under the next round of funding.

Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to apply for more than one of the funding categories?
It is possible to apply in more than one category. Also, organizations may move from one category to another in subsequent applications. For example, a Category A organization could take the lessons they learned from one subgrant and use those lessons to develop a Solution under Category C under the next round of funding.

As more online information sessions on the MVA platform and MVA Forward funding and partnerships opportunities are scheduled, we will publish information and the registration links for these sessions on our website and social media platforms. These sessions will generally be run in English.

If you wish to send in a question regarding grants and partnerships in another language, please write to [email protected] and we will endeavour to respond to you. We will also post the question and answer anonymously on this page.

Please note that capacity has now been reached for funding applications from Brazil and the MVA will therefore be unable to offer more funding under the June 4 2024 – June 3 2025 APS. 

As per the APS, you must be registered in a target country. There is one exception for media registered in a non-target country, and that is for those operating in exile from a target country where they cannot register. By “Target Country” we mean any country categorized by the World Bank as a low, lower middle, or upper middle income country according to its gross national income per capita. A current list of these countries is available here. Target countries also include countries receiving USAID assistance, through a bilateral, nonpresence or regional program. Greater weight will be given towards media in countries with greater challenges maintaining an independent media sector.

We are not able to provide Category A subgrants to outlets registered in high income countries (such as US, UK Germany, etc) (with the exception of those operating in exile from a target country). Organizations registered in high income countries such as these can, however, apply for support from Category B and/or C (as long as those being supported in turn by them fall within our target countries). However, if they apply for subgrants of more than $25,000, they must acquire a UEI number.
Please note that this only applies to organizations applying for funding in Categories B & C. Organizations applying in Category A have a ceiling of $25,000 in funding and therefore do not need a UEI. For those Category B & C that are applying for more than $25,000, any such “entity” can apply to receive a UEI number from www.sam.gov. As indicated here, an entity can include (but is not limited to): individuals, corporations, non-profits, partnerships, sole proprietors, joint ventures, local governments, and institutions of higher education. Entities can be located in the U.S. or in other countries. Further guidance on how to get a UEI can be found here.
Funding applications must be submitted in English.
The APS went live on June 4 2024 and will run until June 3 2025. You are encouraged to submit your proposal as soon as possible.
In your initial application, you are required to only complete the concept note section of the APS Word document. If you are invited to the next stage of the application process, you will be sent a budget template to complete, by a representative of the MVA team.
Work under the subgrant should be completed by June 3 2025.
In order to apply for funding, an outlet should be registered. However it is not necessary for the outlet to be registered in the country of the news that it covers.