U.S. Department of State: Empowering Civil Society Advocacy in the MENA Region

The U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is offering grants to support civil society organizations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to advocate for more pluralistic, participatory, and prosperous societies. Projects should focus on enhancing advocacy skills, promoting political freedoms, and facilitating legislative change. Applicants are encouraged to involve local CSOs and activists, with an emphasis on engaging youth and women. International partners can apply but must demonstrate significant involvement of local partners in the region. The deadline for applications is February 16, 2012.

Opportunity ID: 138413

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General Information

Document Type::	Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number::	NEAPI-12-AW-040-MENA-011712
Funding Opportunity Title::	Supporting Civil Society Advocacy Efforts
Opportunity Category::	Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation::
Funding Instrument Type::
Category of Funding Activity::	Community Development
Category Explanation::
Expected Number of Awards::	6
Assistance Listings Number(s)::	19.500 — Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI)
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement::	No
Version::	Synopsis 3
Posted Date::	Jan 17, 2012
Last Updated Date::	Feb 13, 2012
Original Closing Date for Applications::	Feb 16, 2012
Current Closing Date for Applications::	Feb 16, 2012
Archive Date::	Mar 17, 2012
Estimated Total Program Funding::	$ 4,500,000
Award Ceiling::	$1,000,000
Award Floor::	$200,000

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants::

Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)

Additional Information on Eligibility::

Eligible applicants include any registered U.S. or foreign non-profit organizations; non-governmental organizations; private institutions; and institutions of higher education (non-profit or for-profit). The Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative strongly encourages applications from civil society organizations in the Middle East and North Africa region. International partners (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.

Additional Information

Agency Name::	Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative
Description::	The Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), located within the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for applications that support civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to effectively advocate for causes that build more pluralistic, participatory, and prosperous societies. In the wake of the Arab Spring, MEPI seeks to fund projects that will support civil societys advocacy efforts across the region, responding to citizens demands for change and reform and for holding their governments accountable. Applications should focus in the following areas: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and Syria: Proposed projects should assist activists and organizations to advocate more effectively, with intent to improve political freedoms, effect legislative change, and ensure the implementation of promised reforms and legislation. Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen: Proposed projects should help amplify the voice of civil society in political transition processes, specifically assisting CSOs to fulfill their role of channeling citizens demands for change into government decisions and new laws and constitutions, where applicable. Algeria, Oman, Qatar, and UAE: Proposed projects should address gaps in advocacy skills for nascent or moderately experienced civil society organizations to become more effective voices for the populace.Applications should assist CSOs in the design, development, and implementation of effective, issue-based advocacy campaigns that enable them to better respond to government or other decision-makers with persuasive arguments and successful reform strategies. Proposed activities should engage participants in the application of practical skills rather than provide general training directed toward basic organizational capacity. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider the provision of sub-awards to community activists or organizations, which will be selected in consultation with U.S. Embassies. Proposed projects should also consider motivating organizations to work collectively on public policy issues in order to make a greater impact, as well as to improve the publics understanding of and confidence in civil societys important role in policy development. We strongly encourage applications from experienced CSOs in the MENA region. International partners (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. All applicants should demonstrate the experience and capacity to work with local CSOs and activists in the MENA region. In all projects, local ownership of activities is essential and should include youth and/or women as organizers and participants. Proposed projects may support one or more organizations, working on one or more advocacy campaigns, in a single country or across multiple countries to foster networks and to leverage different experiences and lessons learned. In addition, applicants may submit more than one application. Proposed projects should not already be addressed by current donor funding. Please Note: Applications that support CSO advocacy in countries other than those discussed above will not be considered.
Link to Additional Information::
Grantor Contact Information::	If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Version History

Version	Modification Description	Updated Date
Synopsis 3	There is a new email address (MEPI-CS1@state.gov) for submitting inquiries and email submissions for this opportunity.	Feb 13, 2012
Synopsis 2	Provided Clarification on Eligible Applicants.
Synopsis 1

Package Status

Below are CLOSED Opportunity Package(s) no longer available for this Funding Opportunity:

Package No: 1

Assistance Listings:	19.500
Competition ID:	CIVILSOCIETY1-US
Competition Title:	Civil Society 1 – U.S. Based Applicants
Opportunity Package ID:	PKG00092010
Opening Date:	Jan 17, 2012
Closing Date:	Feb 16, 2012
Agency Contact Information::	Jessica Baker
Who Can Apply::	Organization Applicants
mendatory_forms	Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) [V2.1] Budget Narrative Attachment Form [V1.1] Project Narrative Attachment Form [V1.1] Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) [V1.0] Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B) [V1.1]
optional_forms	Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) [V1.1] Attachments [V1.1]

Package No: 2