Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 10 CA 025 MENA 061810
Apply for NEAPI 10 CA 025 MENA 061810
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the community development education law, justice and legal services regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Leaders for Democracy Fellowship II" 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 Jun 21, 2010 and posted on Jun 18, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 30, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 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 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 to LDF II U.S. component are accredited institutes of higher education that have schools of public policy. Eligible applicants to the LDF II MENA component are accredited public policy institutions in the Middle East and North Africa.
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Opportunity Summary:
Leaders for Democracy Fellowship II (LDF II) is a Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) grant opportunity run through the U.S. Department of State office NEA/PI. The program is designed to support political reform and strengthen civil society across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by investing directly in emerging democracy and human rights leaders. The core idea is to pair structured academic learning about democratic governance with hands-on professional experience and then keep those participants connected through an active alumni network. The fellowship builds on earlier LDF cohorts (2007 to 2010) that emphasized regional networking among like-minded civil society, democracy, and human rights activists.
The opportunity is offered as a single cooperative agreement, meaning the awardee is expected to work closely with the U.S. government during implementation rather than operating completely independently. The total estimated funding is $1,000,000, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 and a floor of $300,000, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Only one award is expected. The funding was posted June 18, 2010, and applications were due July 30, 2010 (with the program archived August 29, 2010). The activity areas tied to the funding include community development, education, law/justice/legal services, and regional development (CFDA 19.500).
Applicants can propose to run either the U.S.-based component, the MENA-based component, or submit a combined proposal that covers both. Eligibility depends on which component is being proposed. For the U.S. component, eligible applicants are accredited U.S. higher education institutions that have schools of public policy. For the MENA component, eligible applicants are accredited public policy institutions located within the Middle East and North Africa. The broader eligibility list also references for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, but the component-specific requirements clarify the intended host institution types for implementation.
The U.S. component funds one cohort of about 20 to 25 mid-career democratic reform leaders from across MENA, generally ages 25 to 40. Participants would complete academic coursework at a U.S. public policy school and also undertake a skill-building internship aligned with their professional interests. The implementing organization is responsible for building an academic curriculum that supports the fellowship goals, arranging internships for each participant, and actively monitoring and supporting those placements. In addition, the awardee must handle pre-program preparation, program administration and participant support, and structured alumni engagement. A major expectation is connecting the new cohort with graduates from the first four cohorts (2007 to 2010) using a mix of virtual and in-person networking, communication, and meetings to sustain long-term collaboration and regional ties.
The MENA component funds one cohort of about 15 to 20 younger, aspiring or emerging reform leaders, typically ages 22 to 30. This track mirrors the U.S. model but is specifically tailored for participants who may have limited exposure to comparative democratization theory or practical reform work. All parts of the MENA component are conducted in Arabic, with participants training at a public policy host institution in the region and completing internships with relevant organizations. A notable feature is the preference for internships that include mentorship by more senior LDF alumni, strengthening the program’s internal pipeline of leadership and peer support. As with the U.S. track, the implementer must design an appropriate academic component, secure and supervise internships for each fellow, and manage pre-program planning, program delivery, administration, and alumni activities.
Overall, LDF II is essentially a capacity-building and network-building fellowship program aimed at developing democratic governance expertise and practical reform skills among two different career stages of activists in the MENA region. It combines coursework, supervised internships, and sustained alumni networking as a strategy to create a connected cadre of reform-minded professionals who can collaborate across borders and continue civic and democracy-oriented work over time.
Leaders for Democracy Fellowship II (LDF II) - FAQs
What is the Leaders for Democracy Fellowship II (LDF II)?
LDF II is a Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) grant opportunity run through the U.S. Department of State office NEA/PI. The program supports political reform and strengthens civil society across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by investing in emerging democracy and human rights leaders through academic training, professional experience, and long-term alumni networking.
What is the main goal of LDF II?
The core goal is to develop democratic governance expertise and practical reform skills among MENA leaders by combining structured academic learning with hands-on internships, then sustaining collaboration through an active alumni network that connects participants across borders and across fellowship cohorts.
Who is running and funding this opportunity?
This is a MEPI grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of State, specifically through the NEA/PI office.
What type of award is this?
It is a single cooperative agreement. This means the awardee is expected to work closely with the U.S. government during implementation rather than operating fully independently.
How much funding is available?
The total estimated funding is $1,000,000, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 and an award floor of $300,000.
How many awards will be made?
Only one award is expected under this opportunity.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.
When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?
The opportunity was posted on June 18, 2010. Applications were due on July 30, 2010. The program was archived on August 29, 2010.
What are the activity areas associated with this grant?
The activity areas tied to the funding include community development, education, law/justice/legal services, and regional development. The listing references CFDA 19.500.
What are the program components applicants can propose?
Applicants may propose to run: (1) the U.S.-based component, (2) the MENA-based component, or (3) a combined proposal that covers both components.
Who is eligible to apply for the U.S.-based component?
For the U.S. component, eligible applicants are accredited U.S. higher education institutions that have schools of public policy.
Who is eligible to apply for the MENA-based component?
For the MENA component, eligible applicants are accredited public policy institutions located within the Middle East and North Africa.
Are other organization types mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The broader eligibility list references for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status. However, the component-specific eligibility language clarifies the intended host institution types for implementation (public policy schools/institutions in the U.S. or in MENA, depending on the track).
What does the U.S.-based component include?
The U.S. component funds one cohort of about 20 to 25 mid-career democratic reform leaders from across MENA (generally ages 25 to 40). Fellows complete academic coursework at a U.S. public policy school and undertake a skill-building internship aligned with their professional interests.
What does the MENA-based component include?
The MENA component funds one cohort of about 15 to 20 younger, aspiring or emerging reform leaders (typically ages 22 to 30). This track mirrors the U.S. model, with academic training at a regional public policy host institution and internships with relevant organizations, but is tailored for participants who may have limited exposure to comparative democratization theory or practical reform work.
What language is the MENA-based component conducted in?
All parts of the MENA component are conducted in Arabic.
What is the expected age range for fellows in each component?
The U.S. component generally targets mid-career leaders ages 25 to 40. The MENA component typically targets younger emerging leaders ages 22 to 30.
How large are the cohorts?
The U.S. component cohort is expected to include about 20 to 25 fellows. The MENA component cohort is expected to include about 15 to 20 fellows.
What is the expected balance between academic learning and practical experience?
Both components intentionally combine structured academic coursework on democratic governance with hands-on professional experience through internships. The implementer is expected to ensure these pieces work together to support the fellowship goals.
What responsibilities does the implementing organization have for the academic portion?
The implementer is responsible for building an academic curriculum that supports the fellowship goals, whether the program is hosted in the U.S. (at a public policy school) or in MENA (at a public policy host institution).
What responsibilities does the implementing organization have for internships?
The implementer must arrange internships for each participant, actively monitor and support those placements, and ensure internships align with fellows' professional interests and the fellowship's skill-building objectives.
Is alumni engagement required?
Yes. Structured alumni engagement is a major expectation. The awardee must keep participants connected through an active alumni network and facilitate ongoing communication and collaboration.
How does LDF II connect new participants to earlier fellowship cohorts?
A central expectation is connecting the new cohort with graduates from the first four LDF cohorts (2007 to 2010) using a mix of virtual and in-person networking, communication, and meetings to sustain long-term collaboration and regional ties.
Is mentorship by alumni emphasized in the MENA component?
Yes. The MENA component notes a preference for internships that include mentorship by more senior LDF alumni, strengthening leadership development and peer support within the program pipeline.
What types of participants is the fellowship intended to support?
The fellowship is designed for democracy, civil society, and human rights leaders from across MENA, with two tracks: mid-career democratic reform leaders (U.S. component) and younger aspiring or emerging reform leaders (MENA component).
What program administration and participant support are expected from the awardee?
The awardee is expected to handle pre-program preparation, program administration, participant support, program delivery, and ongoing alumni activities. In the U.S. component, this includes supporting participants through coursework and internships; in the MENA component, it includes delivering the program in Arabic and overseeing regional academic and internship elements.
What is the overall strategy behind LDF II?
LDF II uses a capacity-building and network-building strategy: developing knowledge through coursework, building practical skills through supervised internships, and sustaining long-term collaboration through an alumni network that connects reform-minded professionals across borders and over time.
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