Opportunity Information: Apply for MEPI MEPICA 13 018
Apply for MEPI MEPICA 13 018
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Accountability and Transparency Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.500 Middle East Partnership Initiative.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 18, 2013 and posted on Jul 18, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 2013 Applications must be time stamped before 235959 eastern time (ET) on August 14, 2013. There will be no grace period, and any application not received by the application deadline will not advance to the Technical Review stage.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Please note Only U.S. non profit and for profit organizations are eligible for this announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Accountability and Transparency Initiative is a discretionary cooperative agreement designed to fund one lead organization to build and run a regional consortium that can quickly design, manage, and implement citizen-led accountability and transparency projects across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). MEPI is looking for a single grantee to serve as the consortium lead, working alongside at least three additional partner organizations (which may be U.S. or foreign-based partners). The lead grantee is expected to function as the central coordinator and manager of a regional "umbrella mechanism" that can identify opportunities as they arise, develop project responses, award and oversee sub-grants or contracts, and ensure strong monitoring, evaluation, and financial oversight across the whole portfolio. Because this is a cooperative agreement, MEPI anticipates substantial involvement in the program, meaning the grantee should expect close collaboration with MEPI on which activities move forward, how sub-awards are structured, and how work plans and objectives are finalized.
At its core, the initiative is meant to strengthen citizen participation in governance by improving transparency, increasing access to information, and building practical accountability tools and networks that help communities engage government decision-making and performance. The program is explicitly framed as responsive and opportunity-driven, with an emphasis on being able to act quickly when openings emerge. Examples of the kinds of triggers that might prompt new activities include new government transparency or accountability initiatives, national citizen-government dialogue processes, corruption incidents, public neglect or inefficient use of resources, legislative debates affecting fundamental freedoms, parliamentary votes with high stakes for marginalized or geographically isolated populations, gaps in municipal services, low trust between citizens and local or national authorities, and widespread concerns about how a policy or public service is being implemented. MEPI also notes that, where possible, projects should connect to transition-related opportunities and to international or multilateral commitments that governments have already made, which signals an interest in leveraging existing reform promises and accountability frameworks rather than working in isolation.
MEPI envisions a consortium with demonstrated regional experience and a track record across a broad set of accountability and transparency approaches. Priority capability areas highlighted in the announcement include access to information efforts, use of new media, building and linking accountability networks, and expanding citizen participation in monitoring government decisions and performance. In practical terms, the consortium is expected to generate project concepts proactively based on what it sees on the ground, and also to be able to develop activities based on proposals or priorities generated by MEPI. Applicants may include sample activities in their application, but those examples are mainly meant to illustrate the consortium's approach and capacity; specific projects are expected to be proposed, reviewed, and approved after the consortium and umbrella mechanism are formally established.
Geographically, once the mechanism is in place the consortium may propose country-specific or regional projects in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen. Iraq is treated differently: regional or multi-country activities may include Iraqi participants, but MEPI states it does not fund Iraq-specific projects under this mechanism. This suggests MEPI wants flexibility for regional engagement that includes Iraqis while keeping the formal project footprint focused elsewhere.
From an operational standpoint, the lead grantee carries the main responsibility for program performance. That includes coordinating the consortium's work, managing and tracking results, conducting monitoring and evaluation, and overseeing any sub-grants or contracts issued under the umbrella. MEPI emphasizes that the grantee must ensure the complementarity of different efforts (so projects do not duplicate or undermine each other), the completion and quality of activities, institutional strengthening outcomes, and strong financial propriety. Applicants are therefore expected to show they have mature grants management systems, the ability to run competitive and transparent sub-award processes when needed, and the technical capacity to supervise multiple partners working in different countries and political contexts.
In the application, MEPI expects a clear consortium management plan and a concrete division of labor among members. Applicants should describe the organizational capacity and functional expertise of each partner, provide examples of past successful activities that align with the initiative's goals (such as transparency reforms, civic tech and media for accountability, citizen monitoring, or access to information work), and demonstrate existing networks and experience in the MENA region. Another key expectation is the ability to carry out assessments at regional, national, and local levels, since the umbrella mechanism is intended to be needs-driven and responsive. In other words, MEPI is not simply buying a fixed project plan; it is funding an adaptive platform that can diagnose needs, propose timely interventions, and manage a pipeline of activities under close collaboration with the funder.
In terms of funding and basic grant facts, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number MEPI-MEPICA-13-018 and was posted July 18, 2013. MEPI anticipated making one award, with an estimated total funding amount of $3.5 million, and both the award floor and ceiling set at $3.5 million (indicating a single fixed-size award). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Only U.S. nonprofit and for-profit organizations are eligible to apply, although partners in the required consortium may be U.S. or foreign-based. The application deadline required submissions to be time-stamped before 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on August 14, 2013 (with no grace period), even though the listing references August 15, 2013 as the closing date. The grant is administered by MEPI under CFDA 19.500, and the contact listed for support is MEPI Customer Support via nea-grants@state.gov, with an additional phone contact for accessing the full announcement.
FAQs: MEPI Accountability and Transparency Initiative (MEPI-MEPICA-13-018)
What is the MEPI Accountability and Transparency Initiative?
It is a discretionary cooperative agreement under the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) designed to fund one lead organization to build and operate a regional consortium that can quickly design, manage, and implement citizen-led accountability and transparency projects across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
What is the main goal of this opportunity?
The initiative aims to strengthen citizen participation in governance by improving transparency, increasing access to information, and building practical accountability tools and networks that help communities engage government decision-making and performance.
How many awards does MEPI expect to make?
MEPI anticipated making one award.
What is the total funding amount for the award?
The estimated total funding amount is $3.5 million, and both the award floor and ceiling are set at $3.5 million (indicating a single fixed-size award).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed.
What type of funding instrument is this?
This opportunity is a cooperative agreement, which means MEPI anticipates substantial involvement in the program and close collaboration with the grantee on activities, sub-awards, work plans, and objectives.
What does MEPI mean by a "regional consortium" and "umbrella mechanism"?
MEPI is seeking a lead grantee to serve as the central coordinator and manager of a regional umbrella mechanism that can identify opportunities as they arise, develop project responses, award and oversee sub-grants or contracts, and ensure strong monitoring, evaluation, and financial oversight across the full portfolio of activities.
Who is eligible to apply as the lead organization?
Only U.S. nonprofit and U.S. for-profit organizations are eligible to apply as the lead applicant.
How many partners are required in the consortium?
The lead organization must work alongside at least three additional partner organizations.
Can consortium partners be based outside the United States?
Yes. Partners may be U.S.-based or foreign-based, even though the lead applicant must be a U.S. nonprofit or for-profit organization.
What are the lead grantee's core responsibilities?
The lead grantee is expected to coordinate and manage the consortium, track results, conduct monitoring and evaluation, oversee sub-grants or contracts, ensure complementarity among activities, support completion and quality of activities, deliver institutional strengthening outcomes, and maintain strong financial propriety and oversight.
What does "substantial involvement" from MEPI imply in practice?
Because this is a cooperative agreement, the grantee should expect close collaboration with MEPI on which activities move forward, how sub-awards are structured, and how work plans and objectives are finalized.
What types of activities does MEPI prioritize?
Priority capability areas include access to information efforts, use of new media, building and linking accountability networks, and expanding citizen participation in monitoring government decisions and performance.
Does the consortium need to be able to act quickly?
Yes. The initiative is explicitly described as responsive and opportunity-driven, emphasizing the ability to act quickly when openings emerge.
What kinds of events or conditions might trigger new activities under this mechanism?
Examples include new government transparency or accountability initiatives, national citizen-government dialogue processes, corruption incidents, public neglect or inefficient use of resources, legislative debates affecting fundamental freedoms, high-stakes parliamentary votes affecting marginalized or geographically isolated populations, gaps in municipal services, low trust between citizens and authorities, and widespread concerns about policy or public service implementation.
Does MEPI want projects connected to existing government or international commitments?
Yes. Where possible, MEPI indicates that projects should connect to transition-related opportunities and to international or multilateral commitments governments have already made, suggesting an interest in leveraging existing reform promises and accountability frameworks.
Are applicants expected to propose a fixed set of projects in the application?
No. Applicants may include sample activities to illustrate approach and capacity, but specific projects are expected to be proposed, reviewed, and approved after the consortium and umbrella mechanism are established.
Can MEPI generate project ideas for the consortium to implement?
Yes. The consortium is expected to generate project concepts proactively based on conditions on the ground and also be able to develop activities based on proposals or priorities generated by MEPI.
Which countries or areas may be included in country-specific or regional projects?
Once established, the mechanism may propose country-specific or regional projects in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen.
Is Iraq eligible for Iraq-specific projects under this mechanism?
No. MEPI states it does not fund Iraq-specific projects under this mechanism.
Can Iraqi participants be included in activities?
Yes. Regional or multi-country activities may include Iraqi participants, even though Iraq-specific projects are not funded under this mechanism.
What operational systems does MEPI expect the lead applicant to have?
MEPI emphasizes mature grants management systems, the ability to run competitive and transparent sub-award processes when needed, and the technical capacity to supervise multiple partners working across different countries and political contexts.
What should be included in the consortium management plan?
MEPI expects a clear management plan and a concrete division of labor among consortium members, including the organizational capacity and functional expertise of each partner.
What kinds of past experience should applicants highlight?
Applicants are expected to provide examples of past successful activities aligned with the initiative, such as transparency reforms, civic tech and media for accountability, citizen monitoring, and access to information work, along with demonstrated regional networks and MENA experience.
Is the consortium expected to conduct assessments?
Yes. MEPI expects the ability to carry out assessments at regional, national, and local levels so that the umbrella mechanism can be needs-driven and responsive.
What is the funding opportunity number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is MEPI-MEPICA-13-018.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date listed is July 18, 2013.
What is the application deadline and how strict is it?
Applications were required to be time-stamped before 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on August 14, 2013, with no grace period noted. The listing also references August 15, 2013 as the closing date.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The grant is administered under CFDA 19.500.
Who can applicants contact for support or questions?
The contact listed is MEPI Customer Support at nea-grants@state.gov. The listing also notes an additional phone contact for accessing the full announcement.
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