Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 14 000025
Apply for RFA OAA 14 000025
- The Agency for International Development in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Middle East North Africa Investment Initiative (MENAII)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001 USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 19, 2014 and posted on Feb 10, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 24, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- US and Non US Non governmental Organizations (NGOs)
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Opportunity Summary:
The Middle East North Africa Investment Initiative (MENAII) is a USAID regional grant opportunity designed to expand access to early stage equity finance across the Middle East and North Africa by strengthening how investments are sourced, evaluated, supported, and scaled. Rather than funding startups directly, the initiative is structured to stand up an Investment Management Company, referred to as the Investment Manager (IM). The IM is expected to work through existing early stage market actors such as incubators, angel funds, and venture capital funds. USAID groups these partner entities under the term Qualified Early Stage Investors (QESIs). Through those QESIs, the initiative would help channel capital and support to Qualified Early Stage Businesses (QESBs), using tools like co-funding, partial insurance or risk-sharing mechanisms tied to investment decisions, and other forms of technical support intended to improve the quality and volume of early stage investing.
At a practical level, the opportunity is meant to address a common gap in the region: promising young firms often struggle to access patient equity capital, and investors may hesitate due to perceived risk, limited deal flow, weak business fundamentals, or underdeveloped support systems. By positioning an Investment Manager to collaborate with and reinforce incubators and funds already operating in the ecosystem, USAID is aiming to increase investor confidence, crowd in additional private investment, and improve the overall functioning of the early stage finance pipeline. The larger development rationale is that a healthier equity investment ecosystem can contribute to private sector growth, job creation, innovation, and deeper, more resilient financial systems.
This funding opportunity is issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under Funding Opportunity Number RFA OAA 14 000025 and CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). The award instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by USAID during implementation compared to a standard grant. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary, with the funding activity category listed as “Other” to reflect the specialized investment-ecosystem focus described in the announcement.
Key funding parameters included an award ceiling of up to $300,000,000 and an award floor of $10,000. The posting date was February 10, 2014, with a current closing date of March 24, 2014 (originally March 7, 2014). No cost sharing or matching was required. Eligibility was open to both U.S. and non-U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGOs), indicating USAID was willing to consider a broad range of organizations capable of serving as, or establishing, the Investment Manager and implementing the regional approach.
An important administrative update in the announcement is Amendment Number Five (5). The amendment instructs applicants to replace any prior submission language that referenced menaii@usaid.gov. All applications, including both the technical and cost volumes, were required to be submitted by email to MENAII@USAID.GOV. Applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement were directed to contact the Agreement Officer Contact, Stephanie Fugate, referencing MENAII.
Overall, MENAII is essentially a large-scale, regionally focused effort to professionalize and accelerate early stage equity investing by building an institutional investment management function and partnering with existing investors and startup support organizations. Its core theory is that reducing risk, improving investment readiness, and strengthening intermediaries will unlock more equity capital for early stage firms and help mature the broader investment ecosystem in MENA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Middle East North Africa Investment Initiative (MENAII)
What is the Middle East North Africa Investment Initiative (MENAII)?
MENAII is a USAID regional grant opportunity designed to expand access to early stage equity finance across the Middle East and North Africa. It focuses on strengthening how investments are sourced, evaluated, supported, and scaled by improving the overall early stage investment pipeline and its supporting institutions.
What is the main goal of MENAII?
The initiative aims to increase the quality and volume of early stage equity investing in the region by reinforcing existing market actors (such as incubators and funds), reducing risk, improving investment readiness, and crowding in additional private capital.
Does MENAII provide funding directly to startups?
No. The opportunity is not structured to fund startups directly. Instead, it is designed to stand up an Investment Management Company, referred to as the Investment Manager (IM), which is expected to work through existing early stage market actors to reach eligible businesses.
What is the Investment Manager (IM) in this opportunity?
The Investment Manager (IM) is the Investment Management Company that MENAII is intended to establish or support. The IM is expected to collaborate with existing early stage ecosystem actors to help channel capital and support to early stage businesses across the region.
Who are Qualified Early Stage Investors (QESIs)?
Qualified Early Stage Investors (QESIs) is the term USAID uses for partner entities such as incubators, angel funds, and venture capital funds that already operate in the early stage ecosystem. The Investment Manager is expected to work through these QESIs.
Who are Qualified Early Stage Businesses (QESBs)?
Qualified Early Stage Businesses (QESBs) are the early stage companies that would ultimately receive capital and/or support through the QESIs, supported by the Investment Manager under MENAII.
What kinds of support or financial tools can be used under MENAII?
Based on the announcement, MENAII may use tools such as co-funding, partial insurance or risk-sharing mechanisms tied to investment decisions, and other forms of technical support intended to improve the quality and volume of early stage investing.
What problem is MENAII trying to address in the region?
MENAII targets a common early stage finance gap: promising young firms often struggle to access patient equity capital, and investors may be hesitant due to perceived risk, limited deal flow, weak business fundamentals, or underdeveloped support systems.
How does the initiative expect to increase early stage investing?
The design centers on positioning an Investment Manager to collaborate with and reinforce incubators and funds already active in the ecosystem. By improving sourcing, evaluation, and support, and by reducing risk, USAID intends to increase investor confidence and attract additional private investment.
What is the broader development rationale behind MENAII?
USAID’s rationale is that a healthier equity investment ecosystem can contribute to private sector growth, job creation, innovation, and deeper and more resilient financial systems across the Middle East and North Africa.
Which agency is issuing this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for MENAII?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA OAA 14 000025 and the CFDA is 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
What type of award instrument is MENAII using?
The award instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by USAID during implementation compared to a standard grant.
Is this opportunity discretionary, and what is the activity category?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary. The funding activity category is listed as “Other,” reflecting the specialized investment-ecosystem focus described in the announcement.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling is up to $300,000,000.
What is the minimum (floor) award amount?
The award floor is $10,000.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date was February 10, 2014.
What is the application closing date?
The current closing date listed is March 24, 2014. The original closing date was March 7, 2014.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states that no cost sharing or matching was required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was open to both U.S. and non-U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGOs), indicating USAID was open to a wide range of organizations capable of serving as, or establishing, the Investment Manager and implementing the regional approach.
What is Amendment Number Five (5) and why does it matter?
Amendment Number Five (5) provides an administrative update about application submission instructions. It tells applicants to replace any prior submission language that referenced menaii@usaid.gov with the updated submission email address.
Where must applications be submitted?
All applications, including both the technical and cost volumes, were required to be submitted by email to MENAII@USAID.GOV (per Amendment Number Five).
What email address should applicants avoid using for submission?
The amendment instructs applicants to replace any prior submission language that referenced menaii@usaid.gov. Submissions were required to go to MENAII@USAID.GOV instead.
If someone cannot access the full announcement, who should they contact?
Applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement were directed to contact the Agreement Officer Contact, Stephanie Fugate, referencing MENAII.
What does MENAII mean by working through existing market actors?
It means the Investment Manager is expected to collaborate with organizations already active in early stage finance and support systems, such as incubators, angel funds, and venture capital funds (collectively referred to as QESIs), rather than building an entirely separate pipeline from scratch.
In practical terms, how is MENAII expected to strengthen the investment pipeline?
The announcement describes strengthening the way investments are sourced, evaluated, supported, and scaled, and using mechanisms like co-funding and risk-sharing tied to investment decisions, alongside technical support, to increase both deal quality and investor participation.
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