Call for Applications: MEPI Local Grants Program 2024

Deadline: 18-Jun-2024

The MEPI Local Grants Program seeks projects that build links between and among citizens, civil society, government, and the private sector, and are responsive to emerging opportunities at the local level in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Local Grants Program’s mission is to sustain the United States’ commitment to strengthen direct partnerships with local actors to promote prosperity and participatory governance.

The program supports projects that align with U.S. foreign policy goals and promote U.S. interests in the region, enhancing stability and increasing prosperity across MENA.

These grants are designed to support two priority areas of the MEPI Strategic Framework:

Participatory Governance: Enable citizens and civil society to effectively engage with government officials to increase responsiveness to citizen needs. Enhance citizens’ ability to actively participate in their governments and develop a more informed citizenry. Enable government officials’ engagement with, and responsiveness to, their citizens to resolve issues of shared concern.
Economic Reform: Enable citizens, policy makers, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector with the skills and resources to provide economic opportunity, foster economic growth, and promote improved business enabling environments.

Objectives

A key objective of the Local Grants Program is developing the capacity of local civil society organizations (CSOs) to effectively and efficiently manage U.S. federal assistance. Applications to this NOFO should address and clearly demonstrate how project-specific objectives and activities contribute to the program objectives outlined below. Working primarily on the local level, and using an evidence-based approach, at least one of the following objectives must be achieved:
- Develop and promote locally designed solutions to environmental, economic, or social problems.
- Foster inclusive economic growth that reaches marginalized communities, youth, and women.
- Encourage citizens’ engagement in participatory governance and decision-makers’ willingness to work with citizen groups and civil society organizations.
- Increase civil society’s ability to represent the needs of citizens through collective action on the local level.
- Work towards gender parity in politics and/or economics.
- Increase youth engagement in meaningful economic and civic activities.
- Foster innovative approaches and solutions.

Project Design

In addition to the overarching MEPI objectives and requirements identified above, projects must meet country/territory-specific project priority areas as outlined below:
- Algeria
  - Estimated Award Ceiling: $200,000
  - Estimated Award Floor: $100,000
  - Estimated Length of Project Period: 12-18 months
  - Priorities:
    - Post supports economic diversification, open markets, and growth in the Algerian private sector providing more employment opportunities for Algerians leading to greater economic stability. Women have significantly lower rates of participation in the labor force, undercutting innovation, diversification, and maximization of resources in Algeria. Economic diversification remains a focus of the Algerian government, and developing non-hydrocarbon sectors while improving youth and women economic empowerment will be essential to maintaining shared prosperity. To achieve these objectives, Post seeks projects that:
      - Increase the human and institutional capacities of Algeria’s economic and business sectors and strengthen the ecosystem for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
      - Engage employers, labor officials, and women’s organizations to increase women’s access and outcomes in the job sector and increase opportunities and support for women entrepreneurs.
  - Geographic/Thematic Focus:
    - Priority will be given to proposals that target regions from southern Algeria and other regions with limited access to economic opportunities.
    - Priority will be given to proposals that target the participation of women.
    - Priority will be given to proposals that promote climate-smart, sustainable economic practices and growth.
- Bahrain:
  - Estimated Award Ceiling: $200,000
  - Estimated Award Floor: $100,000
  - Estimated Length of Project Period: 12-18 months
  - Priorities:
    - Post will utilize MEPI programs to equip youth, people with disabilities, and women, from economically underserved communities, with knowledge and technical tools to build leadership skills to effectively engage with the government and with the private sectors. Post encourages economic reform in Bahrain and supports business-enabling environments. Post supports government initiatives to:
      - Improve its policies and procedures to expand opportunities for entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly from marginalized groups, to achieve economic growth and job creation.
      - Increase workforce employability and skill level among citizens – including youth, people with disabilities, and those from underserved communities – and access higher value opportunities through demand-driven vocational training and job placement, primarily in the private sector.
      - Promote economic growth through increasing the participation of youth, people with disabilities, and women from underserved communities in economic activities. Pilot projects in emerging markets which diversify the economy to create jobs while reducing vulnerability to external shocks such as changes in commodities markets.
  - Geographic/Thematic Focus:
    - Youth, people with disabilities, and women from economically-vulnerable communities are the target audience.
  - Specific eligibility requirements:
    - Post will target applicants with established local offices which are formally registered to operate in Bahrain. Applicants with strong government or private sector connections are encouraged to apply.
- Israel
  - Estimated Award Ceiling: $200,000
  - Estimated Award Floor: $100,000
  - Estimated Length of Project Period: 18-24 months
  - Priorities:
    - Economic empowerment of disadvantaged groups through advocacy, skills training that leads to job placement, integration into advanced industries and entrepreneurial ecosystem, regional cooperation, and industrial/tech zones.
    - Working towards gender parity by enhancing access to resources, skills development, and networking opportunities.
    - Strengthening cross-sector partnerships with government agencies, civil society, private entities, and academia to develop innovative solutions and leverage resources effectively in advancing gender parity and economic growth objectives.
  - Geographic/Thematic Focus:
    - Target beneficiaries will be from periphery communities and disadvantaged groups, as well as relevant key policy figures.
  - Specific eligibility requirements:
    - NGOs or non-profit institutions including academia with operations in Israel.
    - Must be registered with the Israeli Ministry of Justice.
    - Priority will be given to applicants with at least 8 years of experience.
    - Applicants are encouraged to have existing private sector or government partnerships when relevant.
- Jordan
  - Estimated Award Ceiling: $200,000
  - Estimated Award Floor: $100,000
  - Estimated Length of Project Period: 12-18 months
  - Priority:
    - MEPI’s cross-cutting and economic reform goals align with the problem statement highlighted above, as well as post’s current efforts to advance economic growth by creating inclusive opportunities for Jordanian youth. Jordan offers one of the region’s most vibrant environments for innovation, research, and development. Post engagement includes providing professional and transferable skills (in English language, entrepreneurship, the creative economy, or promising ICT sectors such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence) to empower individual and career growth, civic engagement, and leadership among Jordan’s young people. By meeting labor market demands and fostering a shift in Jordanian job creation away from the public sector, post can help advance innovation and growth and help diverse cohorts of young, rising influencers in Jordan engage constructively in civil society, government, and the private sector.
  - Geographic/Thematic Focus:
    - Post seeks to increase engagement beyond Amman. The dearth of easily accessible resources and training for Jordanian youth outside of Amman results in key audiences with limited information about USG commitment to inclusive economic growth in Jordan.
    - Fast-growing sectors in Jordan include tourism, ICT fields (e.g. cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, gaming, etc.), and the creative economy. Jordan is home to a vibrant and growing community of innovators, giving it the potential to create an environment for new ideas, emerging technologies, and a flourishing startup ecosystem.
  - Specific eligibility requirements:
    - Eligible organizations should be registered, not-for-profit organizations, including but not limited to think tanks, civil society/non-governmental organizations, and governmental educational institutions with prior programming experience. In order to receive foreign funds, civil society organizations must obtain approval from the Government of Jordan.
- Kuwait
  - Estimated Award Ceiling: $200,000
  - Estimated Award Floor: $75,000
  - Estimated Length of Project Period: 12-18 months
  - Priorities:
    - Increased engagement with Kuwaiti youth, especially through participation in civil society, will encourage younger Kuwaitis to contribute to meaningful economic and civic activities and political discourse.
    - Through these funds, the embassy encourages applications that:
      - Support Kuwait’s youth as a powerful driver for development by creating opportunities for growth and prosperity:
        
        Educate them on emerging technologies and develop their potential to come up with innovative and creative solutions for socioeconomic concerns.
        
        Expand their social role as peacemakers and conflict mediators.
        
        Make them more competitive nationally and across the region by improving education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
        
        Empower their sense of leadership and educate them to communicate effectively with their government.
        
        Build capacity to advocate effectively for the rights of women and marginalized populations in Kuwait and advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility to help communities thrive locally and globally.
      - Develop green economy knowledge and skills among Kuwait’s youth to boost their role as economic players. Create and implement environmental initiatives to advance Kuwait’s efforts to tackle the impacts of climate change.
  - Geographic/Thematic Focus:
    - Proposals should target Kuwaiti youth, women, marginalized groups, and civil society organizations and focus on engagement and collaboration with municipal and national government to find solutions to longstanding problems.
  - Specific eligibility requirements:
    - Registered nonprofit companies, registered, or unregistered civil society organizations, and societies can all apply for local grants.
    - It is preferred that applicants have existing private and government sector partnerships, like MOUs or ongoing partnerships.
- Lebanon
  - Estimated Award Ceiling:
    - $200,000 for one-year awards;
    - $300,000 for two-year awards
  - Estimated Award Floor:
    - $150,000 for one-year awards;
    - $200,000 for two-year awards
  - Estimated Length of Project Period: 12-24 months
  - Priorities:
    - Foster inclusive economic growth: Reduce poverty and help the private sector recover from the deteriorating financial environment in order to help stabilize the Lebanese economy.
    - Encourage citizens’ engagement in participatory governance and decision-makers’ willingness to work with citizen groups and civil society organizations to advance needed reforms: A public informed about peaceful political participation and civic action is better prepared to engage with Lebanon’s government and/or political parties, including new ones, and to advocate for and implement reforms that will forestall total collapse, spur recovery, and put the country on a stronger footing for the future.
  - Geographic/Thematic Focus:
    - Priority will be given to proposals that include regions outside the greater Beirut area. Successful proposals should focus on one or both of the following areas of priority:
      - Foster inclusive economic growth: Examples could include, but are not limited to:
        
        Business incubation centers or other direct assistance to micro and small business start-ups, and expansion of existing businesses;
        
        Providing training, coaching, and mentoring to the country’s youth to enable them to be economically productive and self-sustaining;
      - Encourage citizens’ engagement in participatory governance and decision-makers’ willingness to work with citizen groups and civil society organizations to advance needed reforms: Examples could include, but are not limited to:
        
        Programs that identify and empower new civil society organizations or politically-oriented groups that can compete nationally to influence electoral outcomes;
        
        Educate Lebanese civil society organizations so they can build stronger coalitions to support shared causes and political goals;
  - Specific eligibility requirements:
    - Registered civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), registered community groups/movements, professional or educational organizations, or other for[1]profit or non-profit groups are eligible. Priority will be given to organizations with demonstrated competence in the areas of focus of their proposed activities.
- Libya
  - Estimated Award Ceiling: $200,000
  - Estimated Award Floor: $50,000
  - Estimated Length of Project Period: 24 months
  - Priorities:
    - As Libya moves beyond a state of crisis and conflict, citizens must have faith to rebuild a sovereign, unified, and prosperous state. Libya remains fractured politically with militias actively seeking to recruit young Libyans for various militant groups and criminal operations across the country.
    - Post supports positive engagements with youth, women, and Libyans representing traditionally marginalized communities to raise public awareness about the benefits of social cohesion, national unity, reconciliation, and women and girls’ empowerment.
    - Empowering diverse Libyan stakeholders and communities to have active buy-in during the political transition process will advance community cohesion and reconciliation, promote accountable and inclusive governance, and mitigate drivers of instability.
  - Geographic/Thematic Focus:
    - Libya was selected as a priority country for the newly launched U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. Working under the provisions of the Global Fragility Act, this 10-year strategy would support Libya’s political transition to democracy and good governance, efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth and secure its border, among other shared priorities. Many Libyans have responded positively to this plan for long-term U.S. engagement in Libya.
    - Post would particularly like to encourage individuals and organizations from the southern geographic region of Libya, as well as persons and organizations representing marginalized communities, including women, to apply. These align with Posts’ priorities as determined by the Global Fragility Act (GFA).
    - Themes of interest include reconciliation, entrepreneurship, and English language learning.
- Morocco
  - Estimated Award Ceiling: $200,000
  - Estimated Award Floor: $100,000
  - Estimated Length of Project Period: 18-24 months
  - Priorities:
    - Foster inclusive economic growth: Proposals must focus on creating jobs, promoting economic advancement, and bridging the gap between the education system and the job market. Activities could include but are not limited to:
      - Promoting the creation of small- and medium-size businesses by providing technical assistance to address challenges to private sector development, including legal procedures, and difficulties in accessing finance. For example: Supporting startups, social enterprises, and handicraft and agricultural cooperatives in rural areas to develop initiatives and build capacities to better market their products.
      - Improving job seekers’ skills and employability through technical and skills training that lead to placement in internships and employment opportunities.
    - Develop and promote locally-designed solutions to environmental, economic, or social problems, with a focus on water management and climate adaptation. MEPI could partner with local associations working on climate challenges and support projects promoting green entrepreneurship, recycling, and innovative high tech startups finding solutions to water management and improved agricultural practices.
  - Geographic/Thematic Focus:
    - Priority will be given to proposals that focus on the Marrakech-Safi, Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Al Haouz, Rif, and Oriental regions, plus other regions with limited access to economic opportunities.
    - Priority will be given to proposals that concentrate on women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship.
    - Priority will be given to proposals that promote climate-smart, sustainable economic practices and growth, including in the eco-tourism sector and the digital market.
  - Specific eligibility requirements:
    - Applicants must be registered with the Government of Morocco.
    - Applicants must have an office in Morocco.
    - Applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration.
    - Applicants are encouraged to have existing private sector or government partnerships, when relevant.
    - Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that actively contribute to women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, and economic growth, and that foster diversity and inclusivity in project implementation.
    - Eligible applicants include:
      - Non-profit organizations;
      - For-profit organizations;
      - Private institutions of higher education; and
      - Public international organizations.
- Saudi Arabia
  - Estimated Award Ceiling: $150,000
  - Estimated Award Floor: $50,000
  - Estimated Length of Project Period: 12 months
  - Priorities:
    - Projects should be aimed at fostering inclusive economic growth, particularly those centered on development of skills critical to economic and social advancement among Saudi youth, women, or underserved groups (including the disabled and people living outside major cities). These are groups that have traditionally had fewer opportunities and would benefit the most from MEPI local grants.
  - Geographic/Thematic Focus:
    - Proposals should target Saudi youth, particularly women or underserved groups. A majority of Saudi citizens are under the age of 30, so programs aimed at youth have a higher chance of reaching disadvantaged groups. Women have achieved impressive gains, moving from 17 percent of the workforce in 2017 to 36 percent of the workforce by the end of 2023. However, retention in the workforce and women’s employment in the creative economy remains limited.
    - Proposals should target the creative fields (such as media, comedy, film/television, music, sound engineering, the visual arts, sports entertainment and management, and e-gaming), environmental protection, and/or cultural heritage. These are all areas where the Saudi government and Saudi youth have been increasingly active and proposals in these areas would be beneficial to disadvantaged groups.
  - Specific eligibility requirements:
    - Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience.
    - Individuals
    - Non-profit or governmental educational institutions
    - Public and private universities and research institutions
    - Governmental institutions
- Tunisia
  - Estimated Award Ceiling: $200,000
  - Estimated Award Floor: $50,000
  - Estimated Length of Project Period: 12 months
  - Priorities:
    - This project seeks to foster inclusive economic growth for youth as related to the ICS Mission Objective 1.3: Tunisian citizens, particularly youth, women, and other geographically marginalized populations have equal access to government services and fully benefit from economic development.
  - Geographic/Thematic Focus:
    - The project should focus on young Tunisian student entrepreneurs as defined below:
      - Participants must be aged 18-30 and enrolled in university seeking a bachelors, masters, or doctorate degree; and
      - Participants should be split 50 percent men, 50 percent women.
    - The project should select participants from different governorates and or regions within Tunisia. Applicants should justify the selection of governorates. Final selection must receive approval from the USG.
    - Proposals should target one of the following fields including environmental protection, agriculture, climate change, cultural heritage, sports entertainment, and management, and/or e-gaming.
- West Bank and Gaza
  - Estimated Award Ceiling: $200,000
  - Estimated Award Floor: $50,000
  - Estimated Length of Project Period: 12-24 months
  - Priorities:
    - Increasing civil society’s representation of the needs of citizens through collective action at the local level aligns with Post’s ICS Goal #2: Building Palestinian institutions, both governmental and non-governmental, that effectively address the needs and aspirations of the Palestinian people.
    - Developing and promoting locally-led solutions aligns with Post’s ICS Goal #3: Building a prosperous Palestinian economy, led by a thriving private sector, that provides equitable and inclusive economic opportunities and improves daily life for Palestinians, as well as Goal 2 above.
  - Geographic/Thematic Focus:
    - Priority will be given to applications that clearly demonstrate the impact of the project on local communities in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.
    - Increase civil society’s representation of the needs of citizens through collective action on the local level:
      - Empower and enhance rights of marginalized groups including youth, women, people with disabilities, rural communities, and vulnerable communities.
      - Increase transparency, accountability, and citizen oversight of services provided by authorities.
      - Strengthen women’s many and varied roles as community leaders.
      - Build CSO capacity to articulate and advocate for the rights of the Palestinian people.
    - Develop and promote locally-designed solutions to environmental, economic, or social problems:
      - Support economic empowerment for marginalized groups including youth, women, people with disabilities, rural communities, and vulnerable communities.
      - Strengthen women’s participation and/or decrease gender gaps in the private sector (especially leadership positions)
  - Specific eligibility requirements:
    - Awardees must be operating/have offices in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and/or Gaza.

Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,100,000
Estimated Number of Awards: 7 – 30
Estimated Length of Project Period: 12-36 Month

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants include local civil society organizations, non-profit organizations, community groups, non-governmental organizations, professional associations, private sector organizations, and universities based in the Middle East and North Africa region, specifically Algeria, Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and West Bank and Gaza.
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, including women, people with disabilities, and youth.
All applicants should meet the following minimum eligibility requirements, in addition to specific eligibility requirements detailed per country/territory:
- Location Requirement: Only organizations that have an established local office in the country/territory they propose to implement their project will be eligible to apply. Awards will be issued to the local office and not any partner or affiliate office that may be located outside of the country/territory of implementation.
- Formal Registration: Only organizations that formally operate in the country/territory for which they are applying will be eligible.
- Organizational Capacity: Applicants must be able to demonstrate meeting the following criteria:
  - Established for at least one (1) year; and
  - Managed at least one (1) project/initiative with donor funding (governmental, private, etc.).
NEA/AC will consider the following special considerations when reviewing applications:
- Previous MEPI Connections: They value the alumni of the many MEPI-sponsored projects and programs and would like to enhance the connection between ongoing initiatives of the implementing partners and the ever-growing base of alumni and those detailed under country/territory-specific information detailed above. Therefore, they will give priority to projects that include and detail MEPI alumni engagement in activities and project components. For the purposes of this evaluation criteria, MEPI alumni are considered as former participants of MEPI exchange projects; or beneficiaries in previous MEPI training projects lasting more than five weeks; or previous recipients of a MEPI Local Grant. Alumni of other USG exchanges will also be considered.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.