Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 11 AW 032 MENA 021811
Apply for NEAPI 11 AW 032 MENA 021811
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the community development education regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Establishing Student Councils Phase III" 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 Feb 18, 2011 and posted on Feb 18, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 11, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $900,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Eligible applicants include any registered U.S. or foreign non profit organization non governmental organization private institution and institutions of higher education. All applicants, except local Yemeni organizations, must currently be registered as a foreign organization with Yemen s Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC). Without this registration foreign organizations cannot operate legally in Yemen.
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), housed in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, opened a competitive funding opportunity to bring in one partner organization to help complete Phase III of a national effort in Yemen called Establishing Student Councils. This is described as the final stage of a project that has been running since 2007, and it focuses on moving the student council model from a donor-supported initiative to something Yemeni education authorities adopt and run at both local and national levels. The core purpose is civic education in practice: students learn transparency, democratic decision-making, civic responsibility, and political participation by actually operating representative councils inside their schools. The project also emphasizes participation, respect for diversity, tolerance, and familiarity with political processes through hands-on experience rather than classroom-only instruction.
Phase III is specifically about replication and expansion. The selected applicant is expected to demonstrate the ability to scale an already established high school student council model that is currently being implemented in Yemen. A major operational requirement is that the new awardee does not replace the existing implementer; instead, the awardee must work side by side with the current grantee, the Academy for Educational Development (AED), in a non-financial partnership arrangement to expand the model nationwide. In practical terms, the new partner is expected to help push the program into the remaining governorates and build a "critical mass" of participating schools so the approach becomes normal and sustainable rather than isolated.
Alongside student councils, the grant stresses parent councils as an important piece of school governance. The implementing partner must support the creation of parent councils where they do not exist and strengthen them where they already operate, reflecting the program's view that school-level accountability and participation improves when parents have an organized channel for engagement in administration and community oversight.
Geographically, the expansion is targeted at schools across multiple governorates: Sayoun, Hadhramout, Al Mahrah, Al Baidha, Abyan, Lahj, Aden, Al Dhaleh, Dhamar, Rayma, Al Mahwit, and Hajjah. The announcement notes that Phase III activities had already started, with AED establishing student and parent councils in ten schools in one district of Aden, and the new partner would be expected to reach additional districts within Aden beyond that initial cluster. Two governorates, Saadah and Al Jawf, were not accessible at the time due to security constraints, but MEPI indicates that special consideration will be given to applicants who can credibly demonstrate an ability to expand into those areas despite the challenges.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary award issued as a cooperative agreement, meaning the government anticipates substantial involvement or coordination during implementation. The activity areas are framed broadly as community development, education, and regional development. MEPI planned to make one award only, and the funding amount is fixed in the notice: an estimated total of USD 900,000, with an award floor and ceiling both set at USD 900,000, and no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted February 18, 2011, with an application deadline of March 11, 2011, and an archive date of April 10, 2011.
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. or foreign nonprofit organizations, nongovernmental organizations, private institutions, and institutions of higher education, with the source data also listing for-profit entities (including small businesses) and public/state-controlled higher education institutions among eligible categories. A key compliance detail is Yemen-specific: all applicants except local Yemeni organizations must already be registered as a foreign organization with Yemen's Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC), since without MOPIC registration a foreign organization cannot legally operate in Yemen. For access issues with the full announcement, the notice provides a support contact through a contractor (Quality Support, Inc.) and references the NEA grants mailbox.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the grant opportunity about?
This opportunity is from the U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) to select one partner organization to help complete Phase III of a national Yemen program called Establishing Student Councils. Phase III is described as the final stage of a project that began in 2007 and focuses on expanding and institutionalizing student councils so Yemeni education authorities adopt and run the model at local and national levels.
What is the main goal of the Establishing Student Councils project?
The project is designed as civic education in practice. Students learn transparency, democratic decision-making, civic responsibility, and political participation by operating representative student councils within their schools. The model emphasizes participation, respect for diversity, tolerance, and hands-on familiarity with political processes (not classroom-only instruction).
What is Phase III focused on?
Phase III is focused on replication and expansion. The selected applicant is expected to scale an established high school student council model already being implemented in Yemen, expand it into additional geographic areas, and help build a "critical mass" of participating schools so the approach becomes normal and sustainable rather than isolated.
How many awards does MEPI plan to make?
MEPI planned to make one award only.
What type of award is this?
This is a discretionary award issued as a cooperative agreement. That means the U.S. Government anticipates substantial involvement and/or coordination during implementation.
What is the funding amount for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount is USD 900,000. The award floor is USD 900,000 and the award ceiling is also USD 900,000, meaning the amount is fixed in the notice.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What program areas does the opportunity cover?
The activity areas are framed broadly as community development, education, and regional development.
Who is the current implementer, and will the new awardee replace them?
The current grantee/implementer named in the notice is the Academy for Educational Development (AED). The new awardee is not supposed to replace AED. Instead, the new partner must work side by side with AED in a non-financial partnership arrangement to expand the model nationwide.
What does "non-financial partnership arrangement" mean in this notice?
Based on the notice wording, it means the new awardee is expected to coordinate and collaborate with the existing implementer (AED) operationally to expand the program, but the partnership itself is described as non-financial (i.e., the new awardee does not replace AED as implementer and is expected to work alongside them rather than take over their award).
What specific activities are expected under Phase III?
The notice emphasizes expanding an existing high school student council model into remaining governorates and reaching additional districts in Aden beyond an initial cluster. It also highlights supporting the creation of parent councils where they do not exist and strengthening parent councils where they already operate.
Why are parent councils included in this project?
The grant stresses parent councils as an important part of school governance. The program view reflected in the notice is that school-level accountability and participation improves when parents have an organized channel to engage in administration and community oversight.
Where will the program expansion take place?
The expansion is targeted at schools across multiple governorates listed in the notice: Sayoun, Hadhramout, Al Mahrah, Al Baidha, Abyan, Lahj, Aden, Al Dhaleh, Dhamar, Rayma, Al Mahwit, and Hajjah.
What is the expectation for expansion within Aden?
The notice states Phase III activities had already started, with AED establishing student and parent councils in ten schools in one district of Aden. The new partner is expected to reach additional districts within Aden beyond that initial cluster.
Are any governorates excluded due to security constraints?
Yes. The notice states that Saadah and Al Jawf were not accessible at the time due to security constraints.
Does MEPI offer any preference related to expansion into hard-to-access areas?
Yes. MEPI indicates special consideration will be given to applicants who can credibly demonstrate an ability to expand into Saadah and Al Jawf despite the challenges.
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. or foreign nonprofit organizations, nongovernmental organizations, private institutions, and institutions of higher education. The source categories listed also include for-profit entities (including small businesses) and public/state-controlled higher education institutions.
Is there a Yemen-specific legal or compliance requirement for applicants?
Yes. All applicants except local Yemeni organizations must already be registered as a foreign organization with Yemen's Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC). The notice states that without MOPIC registration, a foreign organization cannot legally operate in Yemen.
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted on February 18, 2011. The application deadline was March 11, 2011. The archive date was April 10, 2011.
Who can applicants contact for help accessing the full announcement?
For access issues with the full announcement, the notice provides a support contact through a contractor (Quality Support, Inc.) and references the NEA grants mailbox.
What is the long-term outcome MEPI is trying to achieve with Phase III?
Phase III is described as moving the student council model from a donor-supported initiative to one that Yemeni education authorities adopt and run at both local and national levels, supported by expansion across multiple governorates and strengthened participation structures (including parent councils).
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