Opportunity Information: Apply for MEPI MEPICA 13 011
Apply for MEPI MEPICA 13 011
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Political Leadership Reducing Economic Barriers for Women in 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 Mar 21, 2013 and posted on Mar 21, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 23, 2013 Applications must be time stamped by 235959 on April 22, 2013 to be considered for funding.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,000,000.00 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 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Public and State controlled 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 Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than 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 public international organizations and small businesses with function and regional experience in the MENA region. MEPI strongly encourages applications from civil society organizations headquartered in the Middle East and North Africa region. International non governmental organizations with principal bases of operations outside the Middle East and North Africa are also encouraged to apply, but the percentage of total budget actually spent in the region through local partners will be among the elements of evaluation for this competition. All applicants must be legally registered organizations prior to applying to this announcement.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity "Strengthening Political Leadership - Reducing Economic Barriers for Women in the MENA Region" is a U.S. Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funding announcement designed to expand womens political and economic empowerment across the Middle East and North Africa. The program is built around the idea that while many countries in the region have improved gender equity in education and health, those gains have not translated into comparable increases in womens participation in the economy or in political and public decision-making. Using findings highlighted in the World Bank’s 2013 Gender Equality and Development report as context, MEPI is seeking projects that help close the gap between formal improvements in womens status and real-world outcomes in employment, entrepreneurship, leadership, and representation.
The opportunity is focused on two closely related themes: strengthening womens political participation and leadership, and supporting advocacy that leads to legislative or regulatory reforms that reduce the economic constraints women face. In practical terms, competitive proposals would typically be expected to help women build skills and pathways to influence in political life (for example, preparing women to participate effectively in civic processes, political parties, campaigns, local councils, or parliamentary work) while also tackling rules, policies, or administrative barriers that limit womens economic participation. The announcement emphasizes advocacy for reforms, meaning it is not only about training individuals but also about shifting the structural environment that shapes whether women can fully participate in the workforce and business life.
MEPI also frames the program as a continuation of regional and international commitments made under the 2012 G8 Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative, co-chaired by the United States and Tunisia. The BMENA discussions and the Declaration from the 9th Forum for the Future in Tunis (December 2012) highlighted persistent issues such as gender-based discrimination and low levels of womens engagement in economies, public service, and decision-making bodies including parliaments. This grant competition is positioned as a way to turn those commitments into concrete, measurable progress by supporting targeted initiatives that can improve womens representation and influence and remove practical economic barriers.
From an administrative standpoint, the award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates a closer working relationship with the funding agency during implementation than a standard grant. The opportunity is discretionary and anticipates making up to eight awards. The estimated total funding available is $10,000,000, with individual awards ranging from $250,000 (floor) to $1,500,000 (ceiling). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated for applicants, which can make the opportunity more accessible to organizations that may not have significant unrestricted funds to contribute.
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. or foreign registered nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, public international organizations, and small businesses, provided they have relevant functional and regional experience in the MENA region. MEPI specifically encourages applications from civil society organizations headquartered in the Middle East and North Africa, and it signals a preference for strong local partnership and spending that meaningfully occurs in-country. For international NGOs based outside the region, the share of the total project budget that is actually spent in the region through local partners is identified as an evaluation element, which effectively encourages proposals that are locally grounded rather than externally managed.
The competition has strict submission rules. Applicants are limited to submitting only one application under this announcement, and that application must address only one priority area. Proposals that attempt to address more than one priority area will not move forward to the technical review stage, so applicants are expected to choose a single, clearly defined focus aligned with the announcements priorities. Projects may be designed to work in one or multiple eligible MENA countries, allowing for either country-specific interventions or regional approaches, as long as the proposal remains within one priority area.
Key dates include a posted date of March 21, 2013, and an original closing date of April 23, 2013, with a detailed requirement that applications be time-stamped by 23:59:59 on April 22, 2013 to be considered. MEPI also requested that applicants notify the program by email (nea_grants@state.gov) by April 4, 2013 if they intended to submit a proposal, noting that this was for planning purposes only and did not create any obligation or commitment. The funding opportunity number is MEPI-MEPICA-13-011, and the CFDA program listing is 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative), which can be helpful for organizations tracking U.S. government assistance programs.
For applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement, the notice provides a point of contact: Ms. Jessica Baker at (202) 776-8524 during business hours (9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays). It also references MEPI customer support and the general grants.gov contact pathway (nea_grants@grants.gov), indicating that submissions and support are routed through standard U.S. government grant systems and processes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Strengthening Political Leadership - Reducing Economic Barriers for Women in the MENA Region."
Who is offering this funding?
This is a U.S. Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funding announcement.
What is the purpose of the program?
The program is designed to expand women's political and economic empowerment across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It is based on the idea that improvements in gender equity in areas like education and health have not consistently translated into comparable increases in women's participation in the economy or in political and public decision-making.
What major issues is MEPI trying to address through this opportunity?
MEPI is seeking projects that help close the gap between formal improvements in women's status and real-world outcomes in employment, entrepreneurship, leadership, and representation, using context highlighted in the World Bank's 2013 Gender Equality and Development report.
What are the priority themes or focus areas of the opportunity?
The opportunity focuses on two closely related themes: (1) strengthening women's political participation and leadership, and (2) supporting advocacy that leads to legislative or regulatory reforms that reduce the economic constraints women face.
What kinds of activities are expected in competitive proposals?
Competitive proposals would typically be expected to help women build skills and pathways to influence in political life (for example, preparing women to participate effectively in civic processes, political parties, campaigns, local councils, or parliamentary work) while also tackling rules, policies, or administrative barriers that limit women's economic participation. The announcement emphasizes advocacy for reforms, meaning it is not only about training individuals but also about shifting the structural environment that affects women's ability to participate in the workforce and business life.
Is this program only about training women leaders?
No. While leadership and skills-building may be part of a proposal, the announcement emphasizes advocacy that leads to reforms, including legislative or regulatory changes that reduce economic constraints for women.
How does this opportunity connect to broader regional or international commitments?
MEPI frames the program as a continuation of commitments under the 2012 G8 Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative (co-chaired by the United States and Tunisia). The BMENA discussions and the Declaration from the 9th Forum for the Future in Tunis (December 2012) highlighted persistent issues such as gender-based discrimination and low levels of women's engagement in economies, public service, and decision-making bodies including parliaments. This grant competition is positioned as a way to translate those commitments into concrete, measurable progress.
What is the award type or funding mechanism?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates a closer working relationship with the funding agency during implementation than a standard grant.
How many awards does MEPI expect to make?
The announcement anticipates making up to eight awards.
How much total funding is available?
The estimated total funding available is $10,000,000.
What is the minimum and maximum award size?
Individual awards range from $250,000 (floor) to $1,500,000 (ceiling).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated for applicants.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes U.S. or foreign registered nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, public international organizations, and small businesses, provided they have relevant functional and regional experience in the MENA region.
Are MENA-based organizations encouraged to apply?
Yes. MEPI specifically encourages applications from civil society organizations headquartered in the Middle East and North Africa.
Does the announcement prefer local partnerships or in-country spending?
Yes. The announcement signals a preference for strong local partnership and spending that meaningfully occurs in-country. For international NGOs based outside the region, the share of the total project budget actually spent in the region through local partners is identified as an evaluation element.
Can a project work in more than one country?
Yes. Projects may be designed to work in one or multiple eligible MENA countries, allowing for either country-specific interventions or regional approaches, as long as the proposal stays within one priority area.
How many applications can an organization submit?
Applicants are limited to submitting only one application under this announcement.
Can one application address multiple priority areas?
No. The application must address only one priority area. Proposals that attempt to address more than one priority area will not move forward to the technical review stage.
What are the key dates for this funding opportunity?
The posted date is March 21, 2013. The original closing date is April 23, 2013, with a requirement that applications be time-stamped by 23:59:59 on April 22, 2013 to be considered.
Was there a requested intent-to-apply notice?
Yes. MEPI requested that applicants notify the program by email (nea_grants@state.gov) by April 4, 2013 if they intended to submit a proposal. This was stated to be for planning purposes only and did not create any obligation or commitment.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is MEPI-MEPICA-13-011.
What is the CFDA program listing for this opportunity?
The CFDA program listing is 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
How do applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
The notice provides a point of contact: Ms. Jessica Baker at (202) 776-8524 during business hours (9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays).
What support contacts are mentioned for submissions or grant systems?
The notice references MEPI customer support and the general grants.gov contact pathway (nea_grants@grants.gov), indicating that submissions and support are routed through standard U.S. government grant systems and processes.
Browse more business programs for Women in Business
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Middle East Partnership Initiative
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Next opportunity: OJJDP FY2013 Model Programs Guide
Previous opportunity: National Organizations for Chronic Disease Prevention
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 13 011
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (MEPI MEPICA 13 011) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Tourism Apply for NPS 13 NERO 0015 Funding Number: NPS 13 NERO 0015 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $143,000 |
| Schuylkill River Greenway National Heritage Area Apply for NPS 13 NERO 0017 Funding Number: NPS 13 NERO 0017 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $239,000 |
| Building Research Capacity in Global Tobacco Product Regulation Program (U18) Apply for RFA FD 13 032 Funding Number: RFA FD 13 032 Agency: Food Drug Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Award Independence Visitor Center Operation, Use and Maintenance Apply for NPS 13 NERO 0020 Funding Number: NPS 13 NERO 0020 Agency: National Park Service Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $807,500 |
| Strategic Trade Control Workshops for Brokers and Freight Forwarders Kazakhstan Apply for ISN ISNECC 13 003 Funding Number: ISN ISNECC 13 003 Agency: Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferat Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Small Grants for Alumni of U.S. Government Funded Programs FY 2013 Apply for SCAKAB 13 GR 020 SCA 03252013 Funding Number: SCAKAB 13 GR 020 SCA 03252013 Agency: Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| PMWRA.FY13.DRC.RFP Apply for PM PMWRA 13 032 Funding Number: PM PMWRA 13 032 Agency: PM Weapons Removal and Abatement Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Promoting Human Rights and Rule of Law in Egypt Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 13 026 Funding Number: DRLA DRLAQM 13 026 Agency: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $675,000 |
| Women, Peace and Security in Iraq Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 13 027 Funding Number: DRLA DRLAQM 13 027 Agency: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $1,200,000 |
| FY 2013 Funding Opportunity Announcement for NGO programs benefiting Malian refugees in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger Apply for PRM PRMOAPAF 13 006 Funding Number: PRM PRMOAPAF 13 006 Agency: Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Collaborative Research and Management of Wildlife and Wildlife Habitats Apply for F13AS00125 Funding Number: F13AS00125 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Research and Evaluation on White Collar Crime Apply for NIJ 2013 3453 Funding Number: NIJ 2013 3453 Agency: National Institute of Justice Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| OVW FY 2013 Sexual Assault Services Formula Grant Program Apply for OVW 2013 3410 Funding Number: OVW 2013 3410 Agency: Office on Violence Against Women Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research and Evaluation on Radicalization to Violent Extremism in the United States Apply for NIJ 2013 3489 Funding Number: NIJ 2013 3489 Agency: National Institute of Justice Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Center Apply for SCAKAB 13 GR 021 SCA 03282013 Funding Number: SCAKAB 13 GR 021 SCA 03282013 Agency: Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Request for Information for El Salvador Investment Challenge (ESIC) Apply for MCC 13 RFI 0064 Funding Number: MCC 13 RFI 0064 Agency: Millennium Challenge Corporation Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $25,000,000 |
| Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) and American Serbia and Montenegro Youth Leadership Exchange (A SMYLE) Programs Organizational Component Apply for ECA PE C PY 13 14 Funding Number: ECA PE C PY 13 14 Agency: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $12,100,000 |
| Call for Public Private Alliance Proposals in Serbia under existing APS OAA 13 00003 Apply for SOL 169 13 000002 Funding Number: SOL 169 13 000002 Agency: Serbia USAID Belgrade Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| FY 2013 Funding Opportunity Announcement for NGO programs benefiting urban refugees in Egypt Apply for PRM PRMOAPAF 13 007 Funding Number: PRM PRMOAPAF 13 007 Agency: Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Native Prairie Adaptive Management Project Decision Support Tool Apply for F13AS00132 Funding Number: F13AS00132 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $31,243 |
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 13 011", 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.