CFPs: Strengthening Independent Journalism and Countering Disinformation in Moldova

Canal France International (CFI) is inviting applications for a call for projects to strengthen independent journalism and counter disinformation in the Republic of Moldova. Three selected media outlets can receive grants of up to €30,000, with an indicative total call budget of €90,000. The application deadline is 17 October 2026 at 20:00 (UTC). Opportunity at a Glance

- Opportunity name: CALL FOR PROJECTS – Strengthening independent journalism and countering disinformation in Moldova

- Funding organization: Canal France International (CFI)

- Opportunity type: Grants for independent media projects + mandatory technical support

- Eligible location: Republic of Moldova

- Total indicative funding pool: €90,000 (indicative; CFI may allocate less)

- Grant size (per project): €22,000 (minimum) to €30,000 (maximum)

- Number of selected media outlets: 3 selected media outlets

- Project start: No earlier than 1 November 2026

- Project end: No later than 30 June 2027

- Project duration: 5 to 8 months (initial planned duration)

- Publishing date: 10 September 2026

- Closing date: 17 October 2026 at 20:00 (UTC)

- Official opportunity page: CFI Call for Projects – Strengthening independent journalism and countering disinformation in Moldova

About the Opportunity

This call is launched within the framework of CFI’s Strengthening Democratic Media in the Black Sea Region project. It is implemented by CFI and funded from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The call aims to enhance the capacity of independent media in Moldova to deliver accurate, accessible, public-interest information. It responds to an environment where Moldovan audiences have increasingly been exposed to misleading or unverified information, including information related to public policies and Moldova’s closer cooperation with the European Union. CFI also emphasizes that many Moldovan media outlets face limited resources and structural constraints, which can affect their ability to produce high-quality content. This call therefore seeks to reinforce independent journalism through both funding and capacity-building. Funding and Benefits Grant amount - The indicative total available for the call is €90,000, but CFI is not obliged to allocate the full amount and may unilaterally allocate a lower amount. - Each requested grant must be within:

- Minimum: €22,000

- Maximum: €30,000

CFI also notes that the call does not constitute a promise by CFI to award a future grant. Mandatory technical support (in addition to the grant) Selected beneficiaries will receive two complementary and mandatory support programmes, plus reporting support: - Editorial capacity-building programme - Targeted training and expert guidance may include: - fact-checking techniques and verification methodologies - OSINT (open-source intelligence) tools and practices - investigative journalism methods (including advanced sourcing, data analysis, and risk mitigation) - editorial coaching related to accuracy, ethical standards, and public-interest topics (including local governance, community issues, democratic values, and gender equality) - Media viability and independence programme (mandatory for all selected beneficiaries)

- Includes:

- an individual organizational and editorial diagnostic - two in-person training sessions (revenue diversification, business models, audience retention, crisis resilience) - targeted digital-growth support (including SEO/SEA practices and monetisation strategies) - one-to-one coaching to help implement recommendations - Administrative and financial reporting support - An online mandatory session to explain administrative and financial obligations linked to the grant, including: - how to prepare narrative and financial reports - rules on eligible expenses and supporting documents - procurement requirements - key deadlines and compliance expectations Who Is Eligible? CFI states the eligibility criteria are cumulative—if an applicant does not meet one or more criteria, the application will be rejected. Eligible applicant types

Applicants must:

- Be a legally registered media organization, or a legally registered organization whose primary activity is journalism or media production. - Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the proposed project. - Be legally established and registered in the Republic of Moldova. Important exclusion - Media organisations that received a grant under the previous Call for Projects implemented within the framework of this Project are not eligible to apply under this Call. Eligible Activities or Priority Areas Project themes / priorities Projects must relate to one or more of the following themes: - Topics where disinformation is prevalent (e.g., social issues, public policy, international affairs) - Democratic values, accountability, transparency, and anti-corruption - Developments related to Moldova’s cooperation/integration to the European Union - Gender equality, women’s rights, and gendered forms of disinformation - Public-policy developments or local governance issues affecting citizens - Issues affecting local communities, including underserved or rural areas CFI also indicates special attention will be given to projects with: - strong territorial anchoring - clear capacity to respond to information needs of local communities, including minority-language audiences Eligible activity types Projects may include one or more of: - Production of journalistic content - Fact-checking activities (verification of claims in local or online ecosystems) - Investigative journalism (including data-driven or cross-regional investigations) - Development of new journalistic formats - Adaptation or translation of content to reach minority-language audiences - Community-oriented dissemination tied directly to the journalistic output (public debates, discussions, local dialogues) - Editorial coordination and production planning required to carry out the journalistic work Ineligible activities