NEA/AC: Lebanon Experiential Partnership- Increasing Economic and Local Governance Opportunities

Deadline: 31 August 2018

The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs’ Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) is seeking projects that involve private sector stakeholders or community members of Lebanese descent in developing, implementing, or expanding e-government solutions to streamline, reform or otherwise address policy, procedural or other inherent challenges facing local business communities in Lebanon.

Objectives

Collaboration and partnerships between private sector stakeholders, community members of Lebanese descent, local government and, if possible, Lebanon’s ICT sector to develop and implement e-government solutions to identified business community challenges.
Enhancing efforts for local governments to be representative of, responsive to, and trusted by their citizens and their economic needs.

Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,000,000
Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
Award Floor: $250,000

Eligible Projects

Facilitate partnerships between private sector stakeholders, diaspora business groups and local Lebanese government stakeholders and, if possible, Lebanon-based ICT groups, to collaboratively address key business challenges in identified Lebanese communities through e-government applications and tools.
Coordinate with other donor efforts to ensure a holistic approach to identified needs.
Work with appointed local officials and their staff to develop feedback mechanisms to address some of the business and economic stressors inherent in the relationship, promoting effective governance by defining responsibilities and powers while increasing awareness about and encouraging transparency and responsiveness. For example, but not limited to: a working group of diaspora mentors or private sector stakeholders advising local authorities (in consultation with national level officials) to establish clear, streamlined steps and transparent processes to obtain a business license in a particular community or district.
Support local officials to establish and use inclusive procedures and feedback when establishing policy priorities or exploring solutions to identified challenges.
Engage partners in Lebanon’s ICT sector to improve communities’ long-term capacity to address e-government needs and opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants include: –
- U.S. or foreign:
  - Non-profit organizations;
  - For-profit organizations;
  - Private institutions of higher education;
  - Public or state institutions of higher education;
  - Public international organizations; and
  - Small businesses with functional and regional experience in the areas of participatory governance and economic growth in the MENA region.
NEA/AC strongly encourages applications from organizations headquartered in the Middle East and North Africa region. International non-governmental organizations with principal bases of operations outside the Middle East and North Africa are also encouraged to apply, but the percentage of total budget actually spent in the region through local partners will be among the elements of evaluation for this competition.
NEA/AC is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities.
NEA/AC welcomes applications irrespective of an applicants’ race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
They encourage applications from organizations working with underserved communities throughout Lebanon, including women, people with disabilities, and youth.