Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 12 AW 045 MENA 030912
Apply for NEAPI 12 AW 045 MENA 030912
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the community development law, justice and legal services regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Citizen Access to the Rule of Law" 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 Mar 9, 2012 and posted on Mar 9, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 9, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Citizen Access to the Rule of Law grant opportunity is a competitive funding call from the Office of the U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), housed in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. The overall goal is to strengthen the rule of law in the Middle East and North Africa by supporting efforts that promote equal standing for all citizens, protect guaranteed rights, and reinforce the role of independent and effective courts. The opportunity is designed for projects that help people understand, claim, and defend their rights in practical ways, while also improving how legal and constitutional systems uphold those rights.
A central theme of the announcement is accountability and citizen empowerment. MEPI is looking for proposals that show how citizens can better hold governments accountable, secure legal protections, and advocate for reforms. This includes initiatives that push for the passage of sound public interest laws or improve the real-world implementation of existing laws, not just on paper but in day-to-day practice. The call also encourages projects that help citizens and civil society participate actively in constitutional and legal reform processes, recognizing that durable reforms often depend on meaningful public engagement and informed advocacy.
The program lays out three specific priority areas, and applicants must clearly choose and identify which one their proposal addresses. The first priority area focuses on increasing public access to justice and legal recourse, which can include efforts that reduce barriers to using courts and legal services, expand legal aid, improve public legal awareness, or strengthen community-based pathways for resolving disputes consistent with rights protections. The second priority area emphasizes supporting legislative reforms or improved implementation related to freedoms of association and expression, which suggests interest in initiatives that defend civic space, support lawful organizing and speech, and help align policies and enforcement practices with recognized freedoms. The third priority area targets constitutional issues, seeking work that helps ensure constitutions reflect and protect the rights and interests of citizens, which may involve technical support, public consultation processes, civic education around constitutional rights, or informed input into drafting and reform efforts.
In addition to reform and access-to-justice work, the announcement highlights professional development for the next generation of legal actors. MEPI specifically notes interest in projects that equip young legal professionals with the skills and training needed to succeed while promoting the protection of human and civil rights. This points to possible support for practical legal training, mentorship, clinical legal education, ethics and rights-based advocacy skills, and other capacity-building approaches that strengthen the legal sector over the long term.
Geographically, the competition is intended to support projects in the following places: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Applicants can submit only one application per priority area, so proposals need to be tightly framed and clearly aligned with one of the three stated priorities rather than trying to cover everything at once.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary opportunity using grants and cooperative agreements, under CFDA 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative). MEPI anticipated making around four awards, with an estimated total funding pool of $5,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $200,000 (floor) to $1,500,000 (ceiling). The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching, which can make it more accessible to organizations that do not have flexible funds to contribute.
A fairly broad set of organizations were eligible to apply, including nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), private and public institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The posting date was March 9, 2012, with an application deadline of April 9, 2012, and an archive date of May 9, 2012. For technical access issues related to the full announcement, the contact listed was Jessica Baker, Senior Competition Specialist, with a phone number (202-776-8524) and a Rule of Law RFA mailbox referenced for correspondence.
Citizen Access to the Rule of Law (MEPI) Grant Opportunity: FAQs
What is the Citizen Access to the Rule of Law grant opportunity?
It is a competitive funding opportunity from the Office of the U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), housed in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. The opportunity supports projects designed to strengthen the rule of law in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
What is the overall goal of this funding opportunity?
The overall goal is to strengthen the rule of law by supporting efforts that promote equal standing for all citizens, protect guaranteed rights, and reinforce the role of independent and effective courts.
What kinds of outcomes is MEPI looking for?
The opportunity emphasizes practical, real-world improvements that help people understand, claim, and defend their rights, while also improving how legal and constitutional systems uphold those rights in everyday practice (not only on paper).
What is the central theme or focus of the announcement?
A central theme is accountability and citizen empowerment, including helping citizens better hold governments accountable, secure legal protections, and advocate for reforms.
Does the program focus only on creating new laws?
No. The announcement highlights both supporting the passage of sound public interest laws and improving the real-world implementation of existing laws so that protections function in day-to-day practice.
Does this opportunity support citizen and civil society participation in reform processes?
Yes. The call encourages projects that help citizens and civil society participate actively in constitutional and legal reform processes, reflecting the view that durable reforms often depend on meaningful public engagement and informed advocacy.
What are the priority areas for proposals?
The program lists three priority areas, and applicants must clearly choose and identify which one their proposal addresses: (1) increasing public access to justice and legal recourse; (2) supporting legislative reforms or improved implementation related to freedoms of association and expression; and (3) addressing constitutional issues to ensure constitutions reflect and protect citizens' rights and interests.
Do applicants have to choose only one priority area?
Yes. Applicants must clearly select and identify which one of the three priority areas their proposal addresses, rather than trying to cover everything at once.
How many applications can an applicant submit?
Applicants can submit only one application per priority area.
What kinds of activities fit Priority Area 1 (public access to justice and legal recourse)?
This priority area can include efforts that reduce barriers to using courts and legal services, expand legal aid, improve public legal awareness, or strengthen community-based pathways for resolving disputes in ways that are consistent with rights protections.
What kinds of activities fit Priority Area 2 (freedoms of association and expression)?
This priority area emphasizes supporting legislative reforms or improved implementation related to freedoms of association and expression, including initiatives that defend civic space, support lawful organizing and speech, and help align policies and enforcement practices with recognized freedoms.
What kinds of activities fit Priority Area 3 (constitutional issues)?
This priority area seeks work that helps ensure constitutions reflect and protect the rights and interests of citizens, which may involve technical support, public consultation processes, civic education around constitutional rights, or informed input into drafting and reform efforts.
Does the opportunity include support for professional development in the legal sector?
Yes. The announcement highlights interest in projects that equip young legal professionals with skills and training needed to succeed while promoting the protection of human and civil rights.
What types of professional development activities are mentioned?
Examples referenced include practical legal training, mentorship, clinical legal education, ethics and rights-based advocacy skills, and other capacity-building approaches that strengthen the legal sector over the long term.
Which countries and locations are eligible for project activities?
The competition is intended to support projects in: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
What funding instrument is used for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary opportunity using grants and cooperative agreements.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity is under CFDA 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
How many awards did MEPI anticipate making?
MEPI anticipated making approximately four awards.
What was the estimated total funding available?
The estimated total funding pool was $5,000,000.
What was the expected award size range?
Individual awards were expected to range from $200,000 (floor) to $1,500,000 (ceiling).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included: nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), private and public institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses.
When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?
The posting date was March 9, 2012. The application deadline was April 9, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was May 9, 2012.
Who should be contacted for technical access issues related to the full announcement?
The contact listed for technical access issues was Jessica Baker, Senior Competition Specialist, at (202) 776-8524, with a Rule of Law RFA mailbox referenced for correspondence.
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