Women Shaping the Narrative in Media and Entertainment | C NOFO 18 101

Opportunity Information: Apply for C NOFO 18 101

The grant opportunity titled "Women Shaping the Narrative in Media and Entertainment" (Funding Opportunity Number: C NOFO 18 101) is a discretionary U.S. Department of State program administered through the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai, under the U.S. Mission to India. It supports an education-focused project designed to strengthen women's participation and leadership in the media and entertainment industry in South India by funding a series of structured workshops and training programs.

At the center of the project is a workshop and training series described as "Women First, Prosperity for All - Opportunities for Women in the Media and Entertainment Industry in South India." The proposed activities are expected to do more than simply build individual skills; they are intended to surface and directly address the barriers that prevent women from reaching their full potential in this sector. This includes identifying the practical, real-world issues that keep women from advancing, whether those challenges are related to workplace culture, hiring and promotion practices, professional networks, safety and harassment concerns, access to mentorship and financing, or unequal opportunities to gain credits, leadership roles, and creative control. A key expectation is that the project will not only discuss these challenges but also work toward practical solutions that participants and stakeholders can apply in their institutions and professional environments.

The opportunity also emphasizes the broader value of gender inclusion in the industry. In addition to focusing on fairness and access, the project is meant to highlight the economic and creative benefits of increasing women's participation in the media and entertainment workforce. In practical terms, that means drawing a clear link between women being better represented in production, writing, direction, editing, journalism, digital content creation, and other roles, and the resulting gains for the industry: stronger storytelling, more diverse perspectives, expanded audiences, improved innovation, and a healthier talent pipeline that can contribute to growth and competitiveness in the sector.

Funding is provided as a grant, with an award ceiling of $35,000 and an expectation of one award being made. The program falls under CFDA 19.040, reflecting its placement within U.S. public diplomacy and educational programming. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions). The opportunity was posted on April 11, 2018, with an original closing date of June 11, 2018, indicating it was a time-bound competition for organizations capable of designing and delivering a targeted workshop series and related training activities in South India aligned with the program's goals.

Overall, this funding opportunity is aimed at supporting a focused, practical program that convenes participants, builds skills and professional readiness, examines the systemic challenges women face in the media and entertainment field, and produces actionable approaches that can help increase women's advancement and influence in the industry while making the case that the sector benefits creatively and economically when women have equal opportunities to contribute and lead.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Women Shaping the Narrative in Media and Entertainment" 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 Apr 11, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 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 $35,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for C NOFO 18 101

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