Opportunity Information: Apply for MEPI MEPICA 13 007
Apply for MEPI MEPICA 13 007
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the community development employment, labor and training law, justice and legal services other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Expanding Citizen Government Dialogue" 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 4, 2013 and posted on Feb 22, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 21, 2013 All applications must be time stamped before 235959 eastern time (ET) on March 21, 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 $2,000,000.00 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 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education 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 Private institutions of higher education.
- Eligible applicants include registered U.S. or foreign non profit organizations for profit organizations private institutions of higher education, public or state institutions of higher education and public international organizations. Organizations that have participated in the G 8 BMENA Initiative in the past are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be legally registered organizations prior to applying to this announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Expanding Citizen Government Dialogue grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number MEPI MEPICA 13 007) was offered by the U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) to fund projects that strengthen practical, lasting ways for civil society groups and private sector actors to engage their governments on reform. The program is grounded in the principles and goals of the G8 Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative and the Forum for the Future process, and it is meant to move beyond one-time events by building or scaling mechanisms that can keep citizen-government dialogue going over time.
At its core, MEPI was looking for proposals that create or expand sustainable channels where non-governmental organizations, community-based groups, professional associations, business organizations, and other private sector stakeholders can cooperate and communicate productively with public institutions. The reforms supported under this call were framed around three BMENA theme areas for 2012: (1) Economic Governance and Entrepreneurship, (2) Women`s Empowerment, and (3) Freedom of Expression and Association. Projects could focus on political, economic, or social reform, as long as the work clearly improved the ability of citizens and the private sector to engage constructively with government decision-makers and processes in one or more of those themes.
The opportunity emphasized partnerships as a key strategy for impact and long-term viability. MEPI signaled a preference for organizations working together, such as local groups teaming with regional or international partners, or cross-country collaborations among eligible countries. Local and regional or foreign organizations headquartered in eligible countries could apply with partners either in the same country or in another eligible country, and international organizations (whether based inside or outside the Middle East and North Africa) were also encouraged to apply as long as they partnered with organizations in eligible countries. In addition, organizations that had previously participated in the G8 BMENA Initiative were specifically encouraged to apply, and all applicants needed to be legally registered before submitting an application.
Funding was provided through grants and cooperative agreements under CFDA 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative). MEPI anticipated making about 7 awards from an estimated total funding pool of $2,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $300,000 (floor) to $1,500,000 (ceiling). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduced barriers for qualified applicants that might not have had the ability to provide non-federal match.
A wide range of applicant types were eligible, including U.S. or foreign nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and public international organizations. The funding activity categories linked to the announcement included community development, employment/labor and training, law/justice/legal services, and regional development, reflecting the broad reform and governance focus of the program.
The announcement timeline was tight and enforced strictly. It was posted February 22, 2013, with a creation date of March 4, 2013. While the original closing date was March 22, 2013, the updated closing date was moved earlier to March 21, 2013. Applications had to be time-stamped before 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on the deadline date, with no grace period, and late submissions would not proceed to technical review. The opportunity was later archived on April 20, 2013.
For applicant support and access issues related to the full announcement, MEPI provided a point of contact (Ms. Jessica Baker at 202-776-8524) and an email address (nea-grants@state.gov), along with MEPI Customer Support hours (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, 7 days a week, closed on federal holidays).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Expanding Citizen Government Dialogue (MEPI MEPICA 13 007)
1) What is the Expanding Citizen Government Dialogue grant opportunity?
It is a U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number MEPI MEPICA 13 007) intended to support projects that strengthen practical, lasting ways for civil society groups and private sector actors to engage governments on reform. The goal is to build or scale mechanisms that keep citizen-government dialogue going over time, rather than supporting one-time events.
2) What is the main purpose of the program?
The program aims to create or expand sustainable channels for constructive cooperation and communication between non-governmental organizations, community-based groups, professional associations, business organizations, other private sector stakeholders, and public institutions.
3) What principles or initiatives does this opportunity align with?
The opportunity is grounded in the principles and goals of the G8 Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative and the Forum for the Future process.
4) What kinds of reforms or topics can projects address?
Projects could focus on political, economic, or social reform, as long as the work clearly improves the ability of citizens and the private sector to engage constructively with government decision-makers and processes.
5) What are the BMENA theme areas referenced for 2012?
The announcement frames supported reforms around three BMENA theme areas for 2012: (1) Economic Governance and Entrepreneurship, (2) Women`s Empowerment, and (3) Freedom of Expression and Association.
6) Does the program prefer one-time events or longer-term efforts?
The program is meant to move beyond one-time events. It emphasizes building or scaling mechanisms that can sustain citizen-government dialogue over time.
7) What types of organizations are expected to participate in the dialogue mechanisms?
The opportunity specifically mentions non-governmental organizations, community-based groups, professional associations, business organizations, and other private sector stakeholders engaging with public institutions.
8) Are partnerships required or encouraged?
Partnerships are emphasized as a key strategy for impact and long-term viability. MEPI signaled a preference for organizations working together (for example, local groups partnering with regional or international partners, or cross-country collaborations among eligible countries).
9) Can international organizations apply?
Yes. International organizations (based inside or outside the Middle East and North Africa) were encouraged to apply as long as they partnered with organizations in eligible countries.
10) Can organizations apply with partners in another country?
Yes. The opportunity notes that partnerships could be in the same country or in another eligible country, including cross-country collaborations among eligible countries.
11) Were any specific groups especially encouraged to apply?
Organizations that had previously participated in the G8 BMENA Initiative were specifically encouraged to apply.
12) Did applicants need to be legally registered?
Yes. All applicants needed to be legally registered before submitting an application.
13) What kinds of applicants were eligible to apply?
A wide range of applicant types were eligible, including U.S. or foreign nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and public international organizations.
14) Are small businesses eligible?
The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses, indicating small businesses were excluded under the for-profit category described in the announcement.
15) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
Funding was provided through grants and cooperative agreements under CFDA 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
16) What funding instruments were used?
The announcement indicates awards would be made through grants and cooperative agreements.
17) How much total funding was anticipated?
MEPI estimated a total funding pool of $2,000,000 for this opportunity.
18) How many awards were expected?
MEPI anticipated making about 7 awards.
19) What was the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $300,000 (floor) to $1,500,000 (ceiling).
20) Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
21) What funding activity categories were linked to the announcement?
The funding activity categories linked to the announcement included community development, employment/labor and training, law/justice/legal services, and regional development.
22) When was the opportunity posted and created?
The opportunity was posted on February 22, 2013, with a creation date of March 4, 2013.
23) What was the application deadline, and did it change?
The original closing date was March 22, 2013. The updated closing date was moved earlier to March 21, 2013.
24) What time did applications have to be submitted by on the deadline date?
Applications had to be time-stamped before 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on the deadline date.
25) Is there a grace period for late submissions?
No. The announcement states there was no grace period, and late submissions would not proceed to technical review.
26) Was this opportunity later archived?
Yes. The opportunity was archived on April 20, 2013.
27) Who could applicants contact for support related to the full announcement?
MEPI provided a point of contact for applicant support and access issues: Ms. Jessica Baker (202-776-8524) and nea-grants@state.gov.
28) What were the MEPI Customer Support hours?
MEPI Customer Support hours were listed as 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, 7 days a week, closed on federal holidays.
29) What is the program trying to accomplish beyond funding individual projects?
Based on the announcement language, the emphasis is on institutionalizing or scaling practical mechanisms for ongoing citizen-government dialogue so engagement can continue beyond a single event or short-term effort.
30) What kinds of stakeholder relationships does MEPI want to strengthen through this funding?
The opportunity focuses on strengthening the ability of citizens and private sector actors to engage constructively with government decision-makers and processes, using durable channels that facilitate productive cooperation and communication.
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