Podcast Training for Quilombolas – “These Brazilian Lives” | BRAZIL PRESS 0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for BRAZIL PRESS 0001

The grant opportunity "Podcast Training for Quilombolas - These Brazilian Lives" (Funding Opportunity Number: BRAZIL PRESS 0001) is a U.S. Department of State program run through the U.S. Mission to Brazil, focused on strengthening the ability of Quilombola community representatives to tell their own stories through podcasting. It is structured as an open competition inviting an implementing organization, typically an education, media, or journalism training group, to design and deliver a skills-based program for 30 participants drawn from Quilombola communities across different regions of Brazil. The overall purpose is to expand Quilombola voices in Brazilian and international communications spaces by teaching participants how to create, produce, monetize, and distribute podcasts that are compelling, sustainable, and widely accessible.

The program is framed around the idea that podcasts have become one of the most influential and fastest-growing media formats in Brazil, making them a practical tool for public storytelling, community visibility, and civic participation. The project connects to the U.S. Embassy and Consulates' broader initiative launched around the bicentennial of Brazilian independence (September 7, 2022), supporting a series called "These Brazilian Lives" that highlights Quilombola history, collective memory, and cultural heritage. The opportunity also explicitly links to Biden-Harris administration policy priorities on advancing racial equity and supporting underserved communities, referencing Executive Order 13985 (January 20, 2021). In other words, the grant is not only about technical training; it is also meant to address long-standing underrepresentation and the information gaps surrounding Quilombola communities, which number 3,447 nationwide according to the Palmares Cultural Foundation.

In terms of design, the funded project is expected to run mostly online for at least three months and combine structured instruction with hands-on practice and mentorship. A key component is the inclusion of both Brazilian and U.S. podcast producers to share techniques and real-world experience, helping participants understand how to move from an idea to a polished episode and then to a consistent series. The online portion is paired with a required three-day in-person event in Brasilia, where participants will finalize, edit, and present their first podcasts. Those initial podcast products are intended to be incorporated into a nationwide database made available to media outlets and individual users, which is a built-in dissemination pathway designed to extend reach beyond the training cohort itself.

The implementing organization is responsible for a wide range of practical deliverables. These include building a comprehensive curriculum, choosing and managing the online delivery platform, and developing participants' technical capacity so they can produce diverse programming that is informative and financially viable. Promotion is treated as a core skill area, so the project must also cover strategies to market and distribute podcasts and produce supporting promotional materials, including graphics. The organization must also handle recruitment logistics by screening and pre-selecting candidates, then coordinating guest workshops and exchanges with Brazilian and U.S. presenters. Because the program may involve bilingual participation or international presenters, the implementer must arrange simultaneous interpretation and any technical support needed to run the online sessions smoothly.

The in-person event in Brasilia adds another operational layer: the implementing partner must propose or identify the event location, organize the agenda, and manage end-to-end logistics. That includes arranging and purchasing in-country travel for participants, booking hotels and venues, securing catering, and providing travel insurance coverage during the event. The grant also requires a COVID-19 mitigation plan with specific measures, reflecting continued health-risk planning expectations for convenings. Beyond training delivery, the project is expected to intentionally create interaction and networking among Quilombola participants from different regions, building relationships that can support collaboration and long-term continuity after the program ends. The implementer is also expected to provide advice and support as participants move from training to real-world implementation of their podcasts.

Finally, the opportunity includes an incentive mechanism to encourage ongoing production: the implementer must develop criteria to select the best five podcasts, with winners receiving high-quality mobile phones and studio-quality microphones. This element is meant to reduce equipment barriers and reward strong early outcomes, increasing the odds that the newly launched shows continue after the formal training period.

Administratively, this is a discretionary award with an "Other" funding instrument type under CFDA 19.040, with a single expected award. The award ceiling is $60,000. The opportunity was created on August 19, 2022, with an original closing date of September 19, 2022. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with further clarification referenced in the full announcement, signaling that a range of capable organizations may apply if they can credibly deliver training, logistics, and production support at the required scale and quality.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Brazil in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Podcast Training for Quilombolas – “These Brazilian Lives”" 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 Aug 19, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 19, 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 $60,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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