Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 10 AW 029 MENA 101810
Apply for NEAPI 10 AW 029 MENA 101810
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the community development law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Rule of Law in the Middle East and North Africa" 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 19, 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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- 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 Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is offering competitive grant funding to support projects that strengthen the rule of law across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and help citizens participate in, promote, and benefit from fair legal systems. The underlying intent is to advance more pluralistic and participatory societies where people receive equal protection under the law and have access to fair legal processes. A core theme throughout the opportunity is reducing exposure to arbitrary government action by improving the legal environment and strengthening protections for citizens and civil society.
Projects must align with one of four priority areas. The first is Rights Education, which generally covers efforts that build public understanding of legal rights, responsibilities, and pathways to seek remedy, often through civic education, outreach, and practical legal literacy tools. The second is Rule of Law Training, which focuses on building the skills and capacity of actors who shape or interact with the justice system, potentially including legal professionals, civil society advocates, community leaders, or other stakeholders, depending on the applicant's design. The third is Freedom of Association, aimed at improving the environment in which civil society organizations can operate, including the laws, policies, and practices that affect registration, operations, governance, and protection from undue interference. The fourth is Media Law, which supports work related to legal frameworks affecting journalism, expression, and media operations, and can include efforts to clarify rights and responsibilities, strengthen legal safeguards, or improve how laws are understood and applied.
MEPI emphasizes innovation and explicitly signals a preference for proposals that fill gaps not already covered by other donors. Proposals are expected to be concrete about impact: applicants need to explain how activities lead to change and how they will measure political change, not just count activities or participants. The announcement also calls for a realistic implementation timeline and a sustainability plan, indicating that MEPI is looking for outcomes that can persist after the grant period ends. Another major requirement is inclusion: proposals should fully integrate women, youth, and other underrepresented groups in a meaningful way, rather than treating inclusion as an add-on.
Geographically, MEPI supports programming in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The opportunity notes that programming in the West Bank and Gaza cannot be supported due to a Congressionally mandated funding cap. Regional projects may include Iraqi participants, but MEPI is not funding Iraq-specific programming under this announcement.
In terms of who should apply, MEPI encourages applications from experienced civil society organizations within the MENA region, while also welcoming international organizations. However, for international applicants, how much of the total budget is actually spent in the region through local partners is an explicit evaluation factor, which signals a preference for strong local partnership, local implementation, and direct regional benefit. Eligibility is broad and includes US or foreign nonprofit organizations and NGOs, private institutions of higher education (nonprofit or for-profit), commercial entities, and small businesses, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
This opportunity is issued under Funding Opportunity Number NEAPI 10 AW 029 MENA 101810, categorized as discretionary funding, and uses grant and cooperative agreement instruments. The activity category is Community Development and Law, Justice, and Legal Services, under CFDA 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative). MEPI anticipated up to 15 awards, with an estimated total funding pool of $12,000,000. Individual awards are expected to range from $200,000 (floor) to $2,000,000 (ceiling). The posting date was October 18, 2010, and the application deadline for this round was November 19, 2010, with an archive date of December 19, 2010.
A key application rule is that applicants must submit a separate application for each priority area they want to pursue, and each application must clearly state which priority area it addresses. For access issues related to the full announcement, the contact listed is Jessica Baker at Quality Support, Inc. (Contractor), phone 202-776-8524, with reference to the NEA Grants mailbox.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this MEPI grant opportunity trying to achieve?
This competitive funding opportunity from the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) supports projects that strengthen the rule of law across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The intent is to help citizens participate in, promote, and benefit from fair legal systems, advancing more pluralistic and participatory societies where people receive equal protection under the law and have access to fair legal processes. A central theme is reducing exposure to arbitrary government action by improving the legal environment and strengthening protections for citizens and civil society.
What are the priority areas applicants must choose from?
Projects must align with one of four priority areas:
- Rights Education (building public understanding of legal rights, responsibilities, and ways to seek remedy through civic education, outreach, and practical legal literacy tools)
- Rule of Law Training (building skills and capacity of people who shape or interact with the justice system, potentially including legal professionals, civil society advocates, community leaders, or other stakeholders)
- Freedom of Association (improving the legal and policy environment for civil society organizations, including registration, operations, governance, and protection from undue interference)
- Media Law (supporting work on legal frameworks affecting journalism, expression, and media operations, including clarifying rights and responsibilities and improving how laws are understood and applied)
Do I need to pick only one priority area per application?
Yes. A separate application must be submitted for each priority area you want to pursue, and each application must clearly state which priority area it addresses.
What kinds of activities fit under Rights Education?
Rights Education generally includes efforts that build public understanding of legal rights and responsibilities and explain pathways to seek remedy. The opportunity highlights civic education, outreach, and practical legal literacy tools as typical examples.
What does MEPI mean by Rule of Law Training?
Rule of Law Training focuses on developing the skills and capacity of actors who shape or interact with the justice system. Depending on the project design, this could involve legal professionals, civil society advocates, community leaders, or other stakeholders.
What is included in the Freedom of Association priority area?
Freedom of Association projects aim to improve the environment in which civil society organizations operate. This can include work related to laws, policies, and practices affecting NGO registration, operations, governance, and protection from undue interference.
What does the Media Law priority area support?
Media Law supports work connected to legal frameworks affecting journalism, expression, and media operations. The opportunity notes that activities may include clarifying rights and responsibilities, strengthening legal safeguards, or improving how laws are understood and applied.
Is MEPI looking for innovative projects?
Yes. MEPI emphasizes innovation and signals a preference for proposals that fill gaps not already covered by other donors.
What does MEPI expect in terms of impact and evaluation?
Applicants are expected to be concrete about impact. Proposals should explain how activities lead to change and how the project will measure political change, not only count activities or participants.
Does the proposal need a timeline and sustainability plan?
Yes. The opportunity calls for a realistic implementation timeline and a sustainability plan, indicating an interest in outcomes that can persist after the grant period ends.
How should proposals address inclusion?
Inclusion is a major requirement. Proposals should fully integrate women, youth, and other underrepresented groups in a meaningful way rather than treating inclusion as an add-on.
Which countries and areas are eligible for programming?
MEPI supports programming in: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Can projects include the West Bank and Gaza?
No. Programming in the West Bank and Gaza cannot be supported due to a Congressionally mandated funding cap.
Can regional projects include Iraqi participants?
Yes. Regional projects may include Iraqi participants; however, MEPI is not funding Iraq-specific programming under this announcement.
Who is encouraged to apply?
MEPI encourages applications from experienced civil society organizations within the MENA region and also welcomes international organizations.
Are international organizations eligible, and is local partnership important?
International organizations are eligible. For international applicants, how much of the total budget is spent in the region through local partners is an explicit evaluation factor, signaling a preference for strong local partnerships, local implementation, and direct regional benefit.
What types of entities are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes US or foreign nonprofit organizations and NGOs, private institutions of higher education (nonprofit or for-profit), commercial entities, small businesses, and public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
How many awards does MEPI expect to make, and what is the total funding available?
MEPI anticipated up to 15 awards, with an estimated total funding pool of $12,000,000.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards are expected to range from $200,000 (floor) to $2,000,000 (ceiling).
What funding instrument will be used?
This opportunity uses grant and cooperative agreement instruments.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and program identifier?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NEAPI 10 AW 029 MENA 101810. The program is under CFDA 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
What category of funding is this, and what activity areas does it cover?
It is categorized as discretionary funding. The activity category is Community Development and Law, Justice, and Legal Services.
When was this opportunity posted and when was the deadline?
The posting date was October 18, 2010. The application deadline for this round was November 19, 2010. The archive date was December 19, 2010.
Who should I contact if I cannot access the full announcement or have access-related issues?
For access issues related to the full announcement, the contact listed is Jessica Baker at Quality Support, Inc. (Contractor), phone 202-776-8524, with reference to the NEA Grants mailbox.
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