Strengthening Transparency and Accountability through Investigative Reporting (STAIR) Program | 7200AA22RFA00016

Opportunity Information: Apply for 7200AA22RFA00016

The Strengthening Transparency and Accountability through Investigative Reporting (STAIR) Program is a USAID/Europe and Eurasia (EE) Bureau funding opportunity designed to reinforce investigative journalism across the Europe and Eurasia region as a practical way to improve government accountability, public transparency, and democratic resilience. The program is framed around several major U.S. policy priorities laid out in the Department of State and USAID Joint Regional Strategy for Europe and Eurasia, the Interim National Security Strategy, and the U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption. In plain terms, USAID is treating strong investigative reporting as a frontline defense against corruption and authoritarian or malign influence, while also supporting broader goals tied to democracy, human rights, inclusive development, and a healthier climate for legitimate investment.

USAID expects to make one award using a cooperative agreement mechanism, with a total ceiling of up to USD 20,000,000 over a five-year period, subject to availability of funds. Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, applicants should anticipate substantial engagement from USAID during implementation compared with a standard grant, including coordination on priorities, deliverables, and learning. The opportunity is listed as discretionary regional development funding under CFDA 98.001, and eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), with the caveat that applicants must follow any additional eligibility clarifications included in the full Request for Applications (RFA).

Geographically, STAIR is intended to operate across Europe and Eurasia, building on USAID support to investigative reporting in the region dating back to 2007. The solicitation lists a set of indicative countries where activities may take place, including Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Hungary, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine. The final country coverage is not locked in at the time of posting and will be confirmed when the award is made, which signals that USAID may refine priorities based on evolving political contexts, media conditions, or operational constraints.

The program is organized around three core objectives that collectively aim to strengthen both the production of high-impact investigative work and the ecosystem that allows that work to continue safely and sustainably. Objective 1 focuses on collaborative journalism, specifically supporting investigative journalism networks that can work across borders and across newsrooms to expose crime, corruption, and corrosive capital. A notable emphasis is placed on cultivating the next generation of investigative reporters and editors, suggesting that STAIR is not only about funding investigations, but also about building durable human capital through mentorship, training pipelines, editorial leadership development, and networked collaboration that can outlast the life of the award.

Objective 2 centers on capacity, with the goal of improving the organizational and financial viability of investigative outlets. This reflects a common problem in the sector: even when journalists have the skills to produce strong investigations, outlets often struggle with revenue models, business planning, audience strategies, legal readiness, governance, and operational systems that keep a newsroom stable. Under this objective, applicants would typically be expected to support stronger management practices, diversified funding strategies, and institutional systems that reduce dependence on single donors and help investigative organizations remain credible, independent, and operationally resilient.

Objective 3 addresses security, calling for proactive and holistic safety and security support for investigative journalists. This is a broad category that usually spans physical safety (risk assessments, field safety protocols, emergency support), digital security (secure communications, device hardening, data protection), legal defense and preparedness (libel and defamation risk, strategic lawsuits, access-to-information disputes), psychosocial support (stress and trauma mitigation), and organizational security planning. The language signals that USAID is looking for more than ad hoc crisis response; it is seeking preventative systems and coordinated support structures that anticipate threats and reduce journalists' exposure to intimidation, harassment, surveillance, and retaliation.

From an applicant perspective, the opportunity is positioned as a partnership with relevant stakeholders, which implies an expectation of coalition-building across the investigative journalism ecosystem. That can include investigative nonprofits, newsroom networks, press freedom and legal defense groups, training and research organizations, technologists focused on digital safety, and regional or international investigative consortia. Because the aim includes both accountability outcomes (exposing corruption and illicit finance) and sector durability (sustainability and safety), competitive approaches would typically connect editorial collaboration with practical institutional support, while also being sensitive to political risk and differing media environments across the region.

Key administrative details in the posting include the funding opportunity number 7200AA22RFA00016, an original closing date of May 18, 2022, and a question deadline of April 18, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. EDT, with instructions to consult the full RFA in the "Related Documents" section for complete requirements. The posting also notes an expected award count of one, meaning the selected implementer is likely to serve as the prime partner responsible for coordinating a regional platform and, where appropriate, managing subawards or partnerships across multiple countries and organizations.

• The Agency for International Development in the regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Transparency and Accountability through Investigative Reporting (STAIR) Program" 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 Apr 08, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 18, 2022. (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 $20,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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