Bureau of NEA/AC and U.S. Embassy Tunis Assistance Unit seeking Applications for Tunisia Civil Society Accelerator (EXCEL)

Deadline: 21 June 2019

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) and the United States Embassy in Tunisia, Assistance Unit have announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity to strengthen the capacity of Tunisian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) to become sustainable entities by encouraging them to seek diverse funding sources and implement best practices related to ethical standards and accountability principles.

This opportunity aims to advance U.S. foreign policy by bolstering the role and impact of civil society in supporting democratic governance and economic growth in Tunisia.

Achievable Objectives

A successful project will result in Tunisian CSOs:

Adopting professional standards of ethics and accountability including financial and governing principles as well as monitoring & evaluation.
Improving their ability to attract and develop sustainable funding.
Increasing their potential to strategically develop organizational capacity and financial stability.

Priority Areas

Priority Area 1: Selection, Training, and Business Development.
Priority Area 2: Sub-award Competition, Mentoring, & Implementation.

Award Information

Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,913,000
Estimated Award Ceiling: $1,913,000
Estimated Award Floor: $1,500,000

Eligible Countries and Territories:

In this announcement, they seek to support projects in Tunisia. Please note: Applications that focus on activities in countries and territories other than Tunisia will NOT be considered.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include:
- U.S. or foreign
  - Non-profit organizations;
  - For-profit organizations;
  - Public or state institutions of higher education;
  - Private institutions of higher education;
  - Public International Organizations; and
  - Small businesses with function and regional experience in the areas of economic growth, capacity building, leadership training, and organizational development in the MENA region.
NEA/AC and Embassy Tunis Assistance Unit strongly encourage 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 and Embassy Tunis Assistance Unit are committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities. NEA/AC and Embassy Tunis Assistance Unit welcome 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.