U.S. Department of State: Promoting U.S. Private Sector Engagement in Emerging MENA Markets

Deadline: 19 June 2018

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) is seeking applications for Promoting U.S. Private Sector Engagement in Emerging MENA Markets to advance U.S. economic interests in the MENA region while improving MENA media and entertainment industry capacity to conclude business deals with the U.S. and other regions, produce innovative and creative content, build the capacity of MENA-based practitioners, and advance positive messaging of the U.S.

Recognizing different levels of opportunity for advancement across the region, this project will prioritize enhancing the capacity of youth, women, and under served communities as well as advancing the aspiring next generation of MENA media and entertainment practitioners.

Through this funding opportunity, NEA/AC seeks to promote U.S. economic interests by testing innovative means to engage in the emerging MENA media and entertainment market. The project(s) funded through this solicitation will encourage the U.S. private sector to invest in and facilitate production of quality local content and improve local productions and regional capacity, while promoting positive messages of interest to the U.S. government.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) offers Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance to groups and individuals striving to bring about positive change in the Middle East-North Africa region. The Assistance Coordination Office works in 20 countries and territories, partnering with governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), community leaders, youth and women activists and private sector groups to advance their efforts.

Focus Areas

It will also advance core NEA/AC focus areas by addressing some issues including but not limited to:

Economic growth,
Participatory governance, entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment and gender issues,
Open governance,
Anti-corruption,
Urban/rural divide,
Youth apathy, and Civic engagement

Funding Information

Award Ceiling: $3,000,000
Award Floor: $1,000,000

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants include:

U.S. or foreign non-profit organizations; profit organizations;
Small businesses with function and regional experience in the areas of media and entertainment.
NEA/AC welcomes applications irrespective of an applicants’ race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
NEA/AC encourage applications from organizations working with undeserved communities, including women, people with disabilities, and youth.
Cost-sharing is required as a component of this NOFO. Cost-sharing is recommended to include at least 60% of the proposed federally requested funds.
Cost-sharing or matching IS an evaluation criteria of this NOFO.
All cost share or matching must be included in detail in the line item budget and noted in the budget narrative.
Proposals offering potential, yet to be determined cost-share sourcing will NOT be considered to have met this requirement, and will be deemed ineligible.
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved agreement.
Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, recipients must maintain written records to support all costs that are claimed as their contribution, as well as costs to be
paid by the Federal government.
Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in accordance with OMB 2 CFR 200.306 – Cost Sharing and Matching.