Deadline: 1-Aug-21
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) offers Federal assistance to groups and individuals striving to bring about positive change in the Middle East-North Africa region.
The Middle East Partnership Initiative (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 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.
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 local grants 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 representation of 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.
Country-Specific Projects
In addition to the overarching MEPI objectives and requirements identified above, projects must meet country-specific project priority areas as outlined below:
- Algeria
- Country Problem Statement: The official youth unemployment rate in Algeria again exceeded 29 percent in 2020. Combined with the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and ongoing political and economic transition, the situation will likely worsen absent economic reform as the number of those under 30 (who already comprise nearly 70 percent of the Algerian population) increases.
- Country Priorities
- Support for Civil Society: Enable CSOs to reach out to both constituents and local and national government counterparts in order to increase citizen participation in decision making processes and governance.
- Economic Growth: Increase youth employability through job placements and/or the creation of effective and sustainable businesses. Applicants should have business sustainability plans and established relationships with employers, demonstrated through a letter of intent or formal partnership.
- Funding Information
- Estimated Number of Awards Five to Ten (5-10)
- Estimated Total Funding $500,000
- Estimated Award Ceiling $100,000
- Estimated Award Floor $50,000
- Estimated Length of Project Period 12-36 months
- Eligibility Requirements
- Eligible applicants include: Local civil society organizations, non-profit organizations, community groups, non-governmental organizations, professional associations, private sector organizations, and universities based in Algeria, which have obtained all required registrations.
- Priority will be given to applicants who have previously implemented or managed international awards in an amount of at least $50,000.
- Bahrain
- Country Problem Statement: A country with a young National Assembly and civil society, Bahrain’s CSOs are building experience and credibility, but need assistance in strengthening the role CSOs play in addressing environmental, social, and economic issues. Current economic and fiscal challenges may limit access to social programs and economic growth opportunities, particularly for youth, and could inhibit future job growth.
- Country Priorities: As civil society matures in Bahrain, CSOs need support for new approaches and solutions to solving Bahrain’s development challenges. CSOs currently operate in environmental, social, and economic fields, but could benefit from additional support.
- Funding Information
- Estimated Number of Awards Two to three (2-3)
- Estimated Total Funding $200,000
- Estimated Award Ceiling $100,000
- Estimated Award Floor $50,000
- Estimated Length of Project Period 12-36 months
- Eligibility Requirements: Partnerships will be made with officially registered organizations, professional associations, private sector organizations, or academic institutions.
- Jordan
- Country Problem Statement: Jordan continues to face both external and internal challenges, including regional geopolitical instability, rising unemployment rates, and the ongoing COVID19 pandemic, which impacted the economy through business closures and restrictions, and put pressure on the country’s stressed healthcare, and educational sectors.
- Country Priorities
- Inclusive Economic Growth. This goal is in line with Post’s Integrated Country Strategy (ICS) goal of increasing self-reliance through broad-based inclusive economic growth, which contributes to long-term stability.
- Cross-Cutting: Youth. This priority is in line with Post’s ICS goal of promoting stability and security through inclusive economic growth and employment. To improve economic opportunities for youth and help more women enter the workforce, there is a need to change attitudes surrounding what are and are not “acceptable” jobs, and cultivate innovative solutions for the digital age.
- Funding Information
- Estimated Number of Awards Two to five (2-5)
- Estimated Total Funding $500,000
- Estimated Award Ceiling $200,000
- Estimated Award Floor $100,000
- Estimated Length of Project Period 12-36 months
- Kuwait
- Country Problem Statement: Kuwaiti women are highly educated and enjoy many aspects of constitutional and civil rights; however, they are not widely represented in government or private sector leadership and are not treated equally under the law, such as citizenship transmission to children.
- Country Priorities: The Embassy encourages applications that target building the CSOs capacity to effectively interact with government officials to promote the following goals:
- Kuwait citizens, and particularly Kuwaiti women, develop greater civil participation in government and increase confidence in political institutions.
- Civil society organizations and/or private sector organizations to help develop local solutions to labor rights violations and trafficking-in-persons, marginalized populations in Kuwait, and/or gender equality
- Funding Information
- Estimated Number of Awards Two to three (2-3)
- Estimated Total Funding $200,000
- Estimated Award Ceiling $100,000
- Estimated Award Floor $50,000
- Estimated Length of Project Period 12-36 months
- Eligibility Requirements
- Registered nonprofit companies, registered or unregistered civil society organizations, and societies can all apply to MEPI local grants.
- It is preferred that applicants have existing private and government sector partnerships, like MOU’s or ongoing partnerships.
- Lebanon
- Country Problem Statement: Enduring continued misgovernance and a severe economic crisis, the Lebanese people are disillusioned by their government’s inability to respond to the multiple challenges that fuel the crisis and undermine the country’s stability.
- Country Priorities:
- Foster inclusive economic growth: Reduce poverty and help the private sector recover from the deteriorating financial environment 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.
- Funding Information
- Estimated Number of Awards Two to five (2-5)
- Estimated Total Funding $500,000
- Estimated Award Ceiling $150,000 for one-year awards; $300,000 for two-year awards
- Estimated Award Floor $50,000 for one-year awards; $100,000 for two-year awards
- Estimated Length of Project Period 12-24 months
- Eligibility Requirements: Registered civil society organizations (CSOs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), community groups, professional or educational organizations, or other for-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.
- Morocco
- Country Problem Statement: Historically heavily dependent on the strength of its agricultural sector and its key trading partners in Europe, Morocco is diversifying its industrial base and its export partners and working to make the country a financial hub and trade gateway to Africa for its Western trading partners.
- Country 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.
- Encourage citizens’ engagement in the electoral process or participatory governance and decision-makers’ willingness to work with citizen groups and civil society organizations: Proposals must be innovative, sustainable, and actively support increased dialogue between citizens, civil society, and local government with the goal of effectively addressing the needs of the community.
- Funding Information
- Estimated Number of Awards Three to five (3-5)
- Estimated Total Funding $500,000
- Estimated Award Ceiling $150,000
- Estimated Award Floor $50,000
- Estimated Length of Project Period 12-36 months
- Eligibility Requirements: Applicant organizations must be registered with the Government of Morocco. Each proposal may not exceed the maximum of $150,000. Projects may be focused on one geographic area or several, and may include the cities of Dakhla and Laayoune and surrounding areas.
- Qatar
- Country Problem Statement: Although highly educated and constitutionally-vetted to enjoy almost all civil rights aspects, Qatari women are not adequately represented in government or private sector leadership.
- Country Priorities
- Strengthening Women’s Political Participation: The anticipated 2021 Shura Council elections present an unprecedented opportunity for Qatari women to become more politically engaged. Proposals should develop innovative programs to engage and strengthen the professional skills of women to participate in the decision-making process and make use of the upcoming elections as an opportunity to partake effectively in political life.
- Strengthening Women and Children’s Protection Against Abuse and TIP: They welcome proposals to professionalize civil society organizations, focused on supporting victims of abuse and/or countering TIP, in order to build organizational and communication capacity to connect effectively with decision makers and citizens.
- Strengthening Women’s Economic Participation: They welcome proposals that promote female entrepreneurship. Proposals should focus on developing innovative programs to engage and strengthen the skills of women to join and sustainably succeed in the business community.
- Funding Information
- Estimated Number of Awards Two to three (2-3)
- Estimated Total Funding $200,000
- Estimated Award Ceiling $100,000
- Estimated Award Floor $50,000
- Estimated Length of Project Period 12-36 months
- Eligibility Requirements: Project applications are open to all Qatari civil society, nongovernmental, and private organizations. Applicants should have prior experience working in Qatar on the issues their projects address.
- Saudi Arabia
- Country Problem Statement: A recent roundtable discussion with several influential women entrepreneurs in Jeddah highlighted the challenges women face as they begin entrepreneurial projects, particularly the need for high-quality, basic information targeted at local conditions, and the need for ongoing mentorships with experienced entrepreneurs.
- Country Priorities: Saudi Arabia plans to continue to develop the talents of young Saudi women, invest in their productive capabilities and enable them to strengthen their future and contribute to the development of the economy.
- Funding Information
- Estimated Number of Awards Two to three (2-3)
- Estimated Total Funding $200,000
- Estimated Award Ceiling $100,000
- Estimated Award Floor $50,000
- Estimated Length of Project Period 12-36 months
- Eligibility Requirements: Post would prefer proposals that include a U.S. and a local partner, include a plan to provide high quality entrepreneurship training in Arabic, attuned to local conditions, provide access to mentorships and exchanges between U.S. and Saudi participants, and have a clear vision for long-term sustainability.
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, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
- 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.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=333626