Opportunity Information: Apply for MEPI MEPICA 13 003
Apply for MEPI MEPICA 13 003
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Economic Advocacy throughout the MENA Region" 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 1, 2013 and posted on Feb 1, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 5, 2013 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses 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 Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- All organizations must have functional and regional experience in the areas of regulatory policies and reform, economic governance, organization strengthening, and entrepreneurship in the MENA region.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Economic Advocacy throughout the MENA Region" (Funding Opportunity Number MEPI MEPICA 13 003) invites proposals focused on practical, policy-oriented advocacy aimed at improving the business enabling environment across the Middle East and North Africa. The core purpose is to support legal and regulatory reforms that make it easier for people to start, operate, and sustain businesses, while also pushing for more transparent and open government practices that support long-term, broad-based economic growth. MEPI is specifically interested in efforts that strengthen how private-sector actors and non-governmental organizations engage with and influence policymaking so that laws and regulations better reflect the needs of employers, entrepreneurs, and labor, and so that the rules are applied in clearer, more predictable ways.
The program highlights three main reform areas. First, it seeks initiatives that help countries create faster, simpler, more efficient, and more transparent business registration processes, recognizing that complicated or opaque registration systems can discourage entrepreneurship and keep economic activity informal. Second, it targets improvements to bankruptcy and insolvency laws, with the idea that fair and modern insolvency systems reduce risk, encourage responsible lending and investment, and give viable businesses a chance to restructure instead of collapsing outright. Third, MEPI calls for more open government policies and procedures, emphasizing transparency as a foundation for economic confidence, reduced corruption risk, and a healthier investment climate.
MEPI makes clear that projects should go beyond general awareness-raising and instead pursue concrete changes in local or national policies, processes, or institutional structures. The advocacy approach can be tailored to each country context, but the expectation is that applicants will propose strategies that directly support measurable reforms and create or expand economic opportunities that benefit society broadly rather than a narrow set of stakeholders. In practice, this framing favors proposals that combine policy analysis, coalition building, stakeholder engagement, and sustained advocacy efforts that can credibly influence government decisions and implementation.
This opportunity was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning awardees should expect active involvement and collaboration with the funder during implementation rather than operating with complete independence. MEPI anticipated making around six awards under this announcement, with total estimated funding of $5.5 million. Individual awards were expected to range from $500,000 to $2,000,000, and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the barrier for organizations that may not have access to large unrestricted funds.
Eligibility was broad and included small businesses, other for-profit organizations, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories), and both private and public/state-controlled institutions of higher education. However, the announcement also sets a clear capability threshold: organizations needed functional and regional experience in the MENA region in areas such as regulatory policy and reform, economic governance, organizational strengthening, and entrepreneurship. In other words, the program was designed for applicants who can demonstrate credible technical expertise and on-the-ground regional familiarity, not for groups new to economic reform work in MENA.
Administratively, the announcement was posted on February 1, 2013, with an application deadline of March 5, 2013, and it was archived on April 4, 2013. The CFDA number associated with the program is 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative). For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Olwyn Staples, Program Analyst, reachable via nea-grants@state.gov, with the MEPI Contact Center also referenced for support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Strengthening Economic Advocacy throughout the MENA Region."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is MEPI MEPICA 13 003.
Who is offering this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is offered under the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).
What is the main goal of the program?
The core goal is to support practical, policy-oriented advocacy that improves the business enabling environment across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This includes supporting legal and regulatory reforms that make it easier to start, operate, and sustain businesses, and promoting more transparent and open government practices that support long-term, broad-based economic growth.
What kinds of reforms is MEPI trying to achieve through this opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes reforms that improve how laws and regulations are designed and applied so they better reflect the needs of employers, entrepreneurs, and labor, and so rules are implemented in clearer, more predictable ways.
What are the three main reform areas highlighted in the announcement?
The program highlights three main reform areas:
- Faster, simpler, more efficient, and more transparent business registration processes
- Improving bankruptcy and insolvency laws and systems
- Advancing open government policies and procedures, with an emphasis on transparency
What does the program mean by improving business registration processes?
It refers to supporting initiatives that help countries create business registration systems that are quicker, simpler, more efficient, and more transparent, based on the recognition that complicated or opaque registration can discourage entrepreneurship and keep economic activity informal.
Why does the program focus on bankruptcy and insolvency reform?
The announcement frames modern insolvency systems as a way to reduce risk, encourage responsible lending and investment, and give viable businesses a chance to restructure rather than collapse outright.
What does "open government" mean in the context of this program?
In this opportunity, open government is presented as improving government policies and procedures related to transparency, since transparency is described as foundational to economic confidence, reduced corruption risk, and a healthier investment climate.
Are proposals focused only on awareness-raising activities eligible?
The announcement makes clear that projects should go beyond general awareness-raising and should instead pursue concrete changes in local or national policies, processes, or institutional structures.
What type of activities does MEPI expect strong proposals to include?
While the advocacy approach can be tailored to each country context, the opportunity suggests proposals will be more competitive when they credibly support measurable reforms and may combine elements such as policy analysis, coalition building, stakeholder engagement, and sustained advocacy designed to influence government decisions and implementation.
What does the program mean by "practical, policy-oriented advocacy"?
Based on the description, it means advocacy that is aimed at specific, concrete policy or regulatory changes (or changes in processes or institutional structures), rather than broad messaging alone.
Does the program require that benefits be broad-based?
Yes. The opportunity indicates that reforms should create or expand economic opportunities that benefit society broadly rather than a narrow set of stakeholders.
What award instrument will be used for this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
The announcement explains that awardees should expect active involvement and collaboration with the funder during implementation rather than operating with complete independence.
How many awards did MEPI anticipate making?
MEPI anticipated making around six awards under this announcement.
What is the total estimated funding for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding is $5.5 million.
What is the expected size of individual awards?
Individual awards were expected to range from $500,000 to $2,000,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad and includes:
- Small businesses
- Other for-profit organizations
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories)
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
Are nonprofits that are institutions of higher education eligible under the nonprofit category?
No. The eligibility description specifies nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories. Higher education institutions are referenced separately as eligible if they are private or public/state-controlled institutions of higher education.
What capability or experience does MEPI expect from applicants?
The announcement sets a capability threshold, indicating organizations needed functional and regional experience in the MENA region in areas such as regulatory policy and reform, economic governance, organizational strengthening, and entrepreneurship.
Is this opportunity intended for organizations new to economic reform work in MENA?
The description indicates it was designed for applicants able to demonstrate credible technical expertise and on-the-ground regional familiarity, rather than groups new to economic reform work in MENA.
What region does this opportunity focus on?
It focuses on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
When was the announcement posted?
The announcement was posted on February 1, 2013.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was March 5, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on April 4, 2013.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number is 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
Who can applicants contact for access issues related to the full announcement?
For access issues, the announcement lists Olwyn Staples, Program Analyst, reachable via nea-grants@state.gov, and it also references the MEPI Contact Center for support.
What kinds of outcomes is MEPI trying to support through these reforms?
As described, the reforms are intended to make it easier to start and sustain businesses, encourage entrepreneurship and formal economic activity, reduce risk through better insolvency systems, and improve transparency to support economic confidence, lower corruption risk, and strengthen the investment climate.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Business and Commerce
Next opportunity: BLM OR WA CESU Data Recovery, Studies and Analysis from Archaeological Site LS 1
Previous opportunity: CMM Reconciliation Fund Annual Program Statement (APS)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for MEPI MEPICA 13 003
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (MEPI MEPICA 13 003) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Womens Business Center Renewal Grant Apply for OWBO 2013 02 Funding Number: OWBO 2013 02 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $115,262 |
| Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) Apply for DLA AMD007 20130304 Funding Number: DLA AMD007 20130304 Agency: Defense Logistics Agency Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) Apply for DLA 20130412A Funding Number: DLA 20130412A Agency: Defense Logistics Agency Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Small Business Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Apply for OED 2013 002 Funding Number: OED 2013 002 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $6,191,000 |
| Federal and State Technology Partnership Program Apply for FAST 2013 R 0007 Funding Number: FAST 2013 R 0007 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $95,000 |
| Office of Small Business Development Centers Program Announcement Apply for OSBDC 2014 01 Funding Number: OSBDC 2014 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $6,500,000 |
| Office of Small Business Development Centers Program Announcement Apply for OSBDC 2014 02 Funding Number: OSBDC 2014 02 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $6,500,000 |
| Small Business Development Center Clearinghouse Apply for OSBDC 2014 04 Funding Number: OSBDC 2014 04 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Portable Assistance Program Apply for OSBDC 2013 05 Funding Number: OSBDC 2013 05 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| MBDA Business Center Apply for MBDA OBD 2013 2003764 Funding Number: MBDA OBD 2013 2003764 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| MBDA Business Center American Indian and Alaska Native Program Apply for MBDA OBD 2013 2003740 Funding Number: MBDA OBD 2013 2003740 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $255,000 |
| Womens Business Center Program Initial Grant Apply for OWBO 2013 01 Funding Number: OWBO 2013 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $136,514 |
| Office of Small Business Development Centers Rhode Island FY14 Apply for OSBDC 2014 05 Funding Number: OSBDC 2014 05 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 7j Management and Technical Assistance Services Apply for GCBD 7J 2011 01 13 O Funding Number: GCBD 7J 2011 01 13 O Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $254,622 |
| Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) Apply for DLA 20130412B Funding Number: DLA 20130412B Agency: Defense Logistics Agency Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Friends Grant and Nature of Learning Program Apply for F11AC01469 Funding Number: F11AC01469 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs) Region IX ONLY Arizona California Guam Hawaii Nevada Apply for VBOC 2014 01 Funding Number: VBOC 2014 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Grants to Manufacturers of Certain Worsted Wool Fabrics 2013 Apply for ITA IA OTEXA 2013 2003859 Funding Number: ITA IA OTEXA 2013 2003859 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $2,530,034 |
| Office of Small Business Development Centers Program Announcement for the State of Rhode Island Apply for OSBDC 2014 05A Funding Number: OSBDC 2014 05A Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $199,999 |
| Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Program Apply for VWISE 2014 01 Funding Number: VWISE 2014 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $1,300,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "MEPI MEPICA 13 003", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.