Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 10 AW 027 MENA 101810
Apply for NEAPI 10 AW 027 MENA 101810
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the community development other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Political Process Strengthening" 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 Oct 22, 2010 and posted on Oct 18, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 17, 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 $12,000,000.00 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 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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 Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses.
- U.S. or foreign non profit organization non governmental organization private institution institutions of higher education (non profit or for profit) commercial entity or small business
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Opportunity Summary:
The Political Process Strengthening grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NEAPI 10 AW 027 MENA 101810) is a Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funding call designed to support projects that expand participatory governance across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The central idea is to help build societies where people have consistent, practical opportunities to take part in public decision-making and to hold public institutions accountable. The opportunity frames this work as closely tied to the broader view expressed by U.S. leadership at the time: that durable progress depends on capable, reliable, and transparent institutions, such as strong legislatures, fair courts, honest security services, an independent media, a vibrant private sector, and an active civil society. In short, the program is aimed at strengthening democratic practice not as an abstract ideal, but as something that affects everyday life through institutions people can trust and influence.
MEPI is looking for proposals that directly strengthen democratic practices and political systems, especially efforts related to elections, political parties, and government transparency. The solicitation highlights two outcomes as particularly important: first, free, open, and fair elections that reflect the will of the electorate; and second, political parties that function as real vehicles for meaningful public participation rather than closed or purely elite institutions. Within that broader direction, applicants are asked to develop programs that reinforce political processes and institutions that encourage effective participation, with emphasis falling into either governance, transparency, and accountability or political process strengthening. Political process strengthening explicitly includes womens political development and activities that build public confidence in the electoral process, signaling that credible elections and inclusive participation are core themes.
Proposals are expected to be concrete about where and how the work will happen. Applicants need to specify the country or countries where activities will take place, identify the priority area their project addresses, and name partner organizations. A major expectation is that projects will build the capacity of MENA-based partners, not just deliver short-term trainings or events. The call also pushes applicants to meaningfully engage youth in political processes and institutions, treating youth participation as an asset to be developed rather than an optional add-on. Womens roles are similarly treated as central, with applicants encouraged to reflect womens contributions as change makers and to include purposeful approaches to womens political development where relevant.
A recurring requirement throughout the announcement is that proposals must show a clear line from activities to policy impact and measurable political change. Applicants are asked to explain, in practical terms, how their programs will influence policy or governance outcomes and how they will measure progress, whether through shifts in institutional behavior, improvements in transparency, increased participation, stronger party-constituent links, or greater confidence in electoral processes. The opportunity also stresses feasibility and durability: proposals should include a realistic timeline and a plan for sustaining impact after the award ends, so that benefits continue beyond the grant period rather than ending when funding stops. Local leadership is described as essential, reinforcing the expectation that projects should be shaped and driven by local actors rather than run as externally managed interventions.
The opportunity provides illustrative examples of activities that have previously been considered impactful, while making clear these examples are not meant to restrict new ideas. Examples include training and professional enrichment for young and emerging leaders; public monitoring of parliamentary and legislative budget processes; initiatives that increase transparency in public institutions and public affairs; youth internships in local and national government; and local efforts to make political parties more responsive to constituents. In evaluation, MEPI notes that proposals will be judged in part on their ability to help local organizations and institutions recruit and mobilize constituents for collective action and/or work together with government to shape future policies. That emphasis signals a preference for projects that connect citizens to institutions in a sustained way, strengthen channels for representation, and translate civic engagement into real participation in governance.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument is listed as cooperative agreement and grant, under a discretionary opportunity category. The total estimated funding for the call is 12,000,000, with an expected 15 awards. Individual awards are anticipated to range from 400,000 (award floor) to 1,000,000 (award ceiling). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated. The CFDA number is 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative). Key dates show the opportunity was posted on October 18, 2010, with an application closing date of November 17, 2010, and an archive date of December 17, 2010.
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. or foreign non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations, private institutions, institutions of higher education (non-profit or for-profit), commercial entities, and small businesses. The eligible applicant categories listed also include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. Applicants are required to submit a separate application for each priority area they apply under, and each application must clearly state which priority area it addresses, which indicates MEPI expects focused proposals rather than one package trying to cover multiple tracks at once.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a targeted democracy and governance grant call focused on strengthening the mechanics of political participation in MENA: improving election integrity and confidence, building more representative and responsive political parties, expanding transparency and accountability, and developing the leadership pipeline especially among youth and women. The strongest proposals under this call would be country-specific, partner-driven, measurable, and designed to leave behind stronger local institutions and capabilities after the grant period ends.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Political Process Strengthening (MEPI)
1. What is the Political Process Strengthening grant opportunity?
It is a Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funding call titled "Political Process Strengthening" (Funding Opportunity Number NEAPI 10 AW 027 MENA 101810). It is designed to support projects that expand participatory governance across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by strengthening democratic practices and political systems in practical, measurable ways.
2. What is the main goal of this opportunity?
The main goal is to build societies where people have consistent, practical opportunities to participate in public decision-making and hold public institutions accountable. The opportunity emphasizes strengthening democratic practice through trustworthy and influenceable institutions rather than treating democracy as an abstract concept.
3. Which region does this program focus on?
The program focuses on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Proposals are expected to specify the country or countries where activities will take place.
4. What types of outcomes does MEPI prioritize?
The solicitation highlights two outcomes as particularly important:
- Free, open, and fair elections that reflect the will of the electorate.
- Political parties that function as meaningful vehicles for public participation (not closed or purely elite institutions).
5. What priority areas are emphasized in the call?
Applicants are asked to develop programs that reinforce political processes and institutions that encourage effective participation, with emphasis falling into either:
- Governance, transparency, and accountability, or
- Political process strengthening.
6. What does "political process strengthening" include?
Political process strengthening explicitly includes women's political development and activities that build public confidence in the electoral process. The call frames credible elections and inclusive participation as core themes.
7. Are youth engagement and participation required elements?
The announcement strongly pushes applicants to meaningfully engage youth in political processes and institutions. Youth participation is treated as a core component to be developed, not an optional add-on.
8. How does the opportunity address women's participation?
Women's roles are treated as central. Applicants are encouraged to reflect women as change makers and to include purposeful approaches to women's political development where relevant.
9. What does MEPI expect regarding local partners and local leadership?
Proposals must identify partner organizations and are expected to build the capacity of MENA-based partners. Local leadership is described as essential, signaling that projects should be shaped and driven by local actors rather than run as externally managed interventions.
10. What does MEPI mean by "capacity building" in this context?
The call indicates it is not looking only for short-term trainings or one-off events. A major expectation is that projects will strengthen the capabilities of MENA-based partners and leave behind stronger local institutions and skills after the grant period ends.
11. What does the solicitation require in terms of impact and measurement?
A recurring requirement is a clear line from activities to policy impact and measurable political change. Applicants are asked to explain how the program will influence policy or governance outcomes and how progress will be measured (for example, shifts in institutional behavior, improvements in transparency, increased participation, stronger party-constituent links, or greater confidence in electoral processes).
12. What does MEPI expect regarding feasibility and sustainability?
Proposals should include a realistic timeline and a plan for sustaining impact after the award ends. The announcement emphasizes durability so benefits continue beyond the grant period rather than ending when funding stops.
13. Does the opportunity provide examples of eligible activities?
Yes. The opportunity provides illustrative examples of activities considered impactful, while noting the examples are not intended to restrict new ideas.
14. What are some example activities mentioned in the announcement?
The examples listed include:
- Training and professional enrichment for young and emerging leaders.
- Public monitoring of parliamentary and legislative budget processes.
- Initiatives that increase transparency in public institutions and public affairs.
- Youth internships in local and national government.
- Local efforts to make political parties more responsive to constituents.
15. What kinds of project approaches appear to be especially valued in evaluation?
MEPI notes that proposals will be judged in part on their ability to help local organizations and institutions recruit and mobilize constituents for collective action and/or work together with government to shape future policies. This signals a preference for projects that connect citizens to institutions in sustained ways and translate civic engagement into real participation in governance.
16. What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is listed as cooperative agreement and grant, under a discretionary opportunity category.
17. What is the total estimated funding amount?
The total estimated funding for the call is 12,000,000.
18. How many awards are expected?
The opportunity anticipates approximately 15 awards.
19. What is the anticipated award size?
Individual awards are anticipated to range from 400,000 (award floor) to 1,000,000 (award ceiling).
20. Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the information provided.
21. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. or foreign entities such as:
- Non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Private institutions
- Institutions of higher education (non-profit or for-profit)
- Commercial entities
- Small businesses
The listed categories also include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
22. Can an applicant apply under multiple priority areas with one application?
No. Applicants are required to submit a separate application for each priority area they apply under, and each application must clearly state which priority area it addresses. This indicates MEPI expects focused proposals rather than one package attempting to cover multiple tracks at once.
23. What identifying information is associated with the opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NEAPI 10 AW 027 MENA 101810, and the CFDA number is 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
24. What were the key dates for this funding opportunity?
The opportunity was posted on October 18, 2010. The application closing date was November 17, 2010. The archive date was December 17, 2010.
25. What does MEPI appear to want most from a strong proposal?
Based on the announcement, the strongest proposals would be country-specific, partner-driven, measurable, and designed to leave behind stronger local institutions and capabilities. They should show a practical pathway from activities to policy impact and political change, and include meaningful engagement of youth and (where relevant) purposeful approaches to women's political development.
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