Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 09 CA 017 MENA 102809
Apply for NEAPI 09 CA 017 MENA 102809
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the business and commerce community development humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Women s Organizations and Political Representation 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 Nov 16, 2009 and posted on Oct 28, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 3, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,950,000.00 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 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education 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.
- Eligible applicants include any registered U.S. or foreign non governmental organization, including universities or academic institutions, and U.S. or foreign private institutions or commercial entities.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Strengthening Women's Organizations and Political Representation in the Middle East and North Africa" was released by the U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative through the Office of the Partnership Initiative (NEA/PI). It is framed around the U.S. Administration's stated commitment at the time to expanding women's equality and ensuring women can participate fully in society, linking women's empowerment to broader prosperity and the ability to address complex social and political challenges. The competition invited proposals designed to strengthen women's roles across civic and political life throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
Geographically, the program allowed projects to be proposed in a wide range of MENA countries, specifically: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Applicants could target one or more of these countries, depending on the proposed approach, partnerships, and regional strategy.
The announcement set out two core priority areas. The first priority area, Organizational Capacity Building for Women's Organizations, focused on strengthening women-run or women-focused civil society organizations in the region. In practical terms, this type of work typically involves improving an organization's ability to plan and manage programs, govern effectively, build sustainable leadership and staffing structures, handle finances and compliance, communicate and advocate strategically, and form partnerships that increase reach and credibility. The intent is to help women's organizations operate more effectively and endure beyond the life of a single grant, so they can play a stronger role in advancing women's equality and participation in public life.
The second priority area, Development of Women's Caucuses and Unions, aimed to build and connect platforms for female political activists at national and regional levels. A key detail in the announcement is that "caucus" was meant to be interpreted broadly. It was not limited to formal parliamentary caucuses or official blocs inside municipal councils, but could also include wider coalitions, networks, alliances, unions, or other structured groupings that link women engaged in political and civic action. The overall goal under this track was to support stronger coordination among women leaders and activists, create mechanisms for joint agenda-setting and collaboration, and expand the collective ability of women to influence political processes and representation.
From a funding and award standpoint, this was a discretionary grant competition using a Cooperative Agreement funding instrument, which generally indicates a more hands-on relationship with the funding agency than a standard grant, often involving substantial involvement by the agency in monitoring, coordination, or technical input. The opportunity anticipated making about four awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $1,950,000. Individual awards were expected to range from a floor of $475,000 up to a ceiling of $1,000,000. Notably, the program did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can lower the barrier to entry for organizations that may not have significant unrestricted resources.
Eligibility was fairly broad. The solicitation allowed applications from registered U.S. or foreign non-governmental organizations, including universities and academic institutions, as well as U.S. or foreign private institutions and commercial entities. The eligible applicant categories explicitly included small businesses, other for-profit entities (beyond small businesses), nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, and public, state-controlled, and private institutions of higher education. This breadth suggests the program was open to a range of implementers, from grassroots-capacity builders and international NGOs to academic and private-sector organizations with relevant expertise.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on October 28, 2009, created on November 16, 2009, and had an application deadline of December 3, 2009, with an archive date of January 2, 2010. The Funding Opportunity Number was NEAPI 09 CA 017 MENA 102809, and the CFDA number associated with it was 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative). The activity categories referenced in the listing included community development, law/justice/legal services, humanities/cultural affairs, and business and commerce, signaling the program's cross-cutting nature and the expectation that women's empowerment efforts could touch governance, civic participation, legal frameworks, economic engagement, and social development.
For access and support, the notice pointed applicants to the MEPI website for additional information and provided a contact for technical difficulties in accessing the full announcement, along with a grants emailbox for the NEA grants team.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Strengthening Women's Organizations and Political Representation in the Middle East and North Africa."
Which U.S. government office released this funding opportunity?
It was released by the U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) through the Office of the Partnership Initiative (NEA/PI).
What is the main purpose of the program?
The competition invited proposals intended to strengthen women's roles across civic and political life in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It was framed around expanding women's equality and supporting women's full participation in society, linking women's empowerment to broader prosperity and the ability to address complex social and political challenges.
Which countries are eligible for project activities?
Projects could be proposed in one or more of the following MENA countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Can an applicant propose work in more than one country?
Yes. Applicants could target one or more eligible countries, depending on the proposed approach, partnerships, and regional strategy.
What are the priority areas for proposals?
The announcement identified two core priority areas: (1) Organizational Capacity Building for Women's Organizations, and (2) Development of Women's Caucuses and Unions.
What does "Organizational Capacity Building for Women's Organizations" mean in this opportunity?
This priority area focused on strengthening women-run or women-focused civil society organizations. The announcement emphasized building durable organizational capabilities so these organizations can operate more effectively and endure beyond a single grant.
What types of capacity-building needs are implied under the first priority area?
Based on the description, capacity building could include improving an organization's ability to plan and manage programs, govern effectively, build sustainable leadership and staffing structures, manage finances and compliance, communicate and advocate strategically, and form partnerships that increase reach and credibility.
What is the second priority area, "Development of Women's Caucuses and Unions"?
This priority area aimed to build and connect platforms for female political activists at national and regional levels to strengthen coordination, create mechanisms for joint agenda-setting and collaboration, and expand the collective ability of women to influence political processes and representation.
How is the term "caucus" defined for this funding opportunity?
"Caucus" was meant to be interpreted broadly. It was not limited to formal parliamentary caucuses or official blocs inside municipal councils. It could include coalitions, networks, alliances, unions, or other structured groupings connecting women engaged in political and civic action.
What funding instrument is being used?
The opportunity used a Cooperative Agreement funding instrument.
What does it mean that the award is a Cooperative Agreement?
In general terms, a Cooperative Agreement indicates a more hands-on relationship with the funding agency than a standard grant, often involving substantial agency involvement in monitoring, coordination, or technical input.
How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement anticipated making about four awards.
What is the estimated total funding amount for the competition?
The estimated total funding amount was $1,950,000.
What is the expected award size (minimum and maximum)?
Individual awards were expected to range from $475,000 (floor) to $1,000,000 (ceiling).
Is cost sharing or matching funds required?
No. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad. The solicitation allowed applications from registered U.S. or foreign non-governmental organizations (including universities and academic institutions), as well as U.S. or foreign private institutions and commercial entities.
Are for-profit entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant categories explicitly included small businesses and other for-profit entities (beyond small businesses), in addition to nonprofit and higher education institutions.
Are nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status eligible?
Yes. The eligibility categories included nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list included public, state-controlled, and private institutions of higher education, as well as universities and academic institutions.
What are the key posting and deadline dates listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity was posted on October 28, 2009; created on November 16, 2009; and had an application deadline of December 3, 2009. The archive date was January 2, 2010.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number was NEAPI 09 CA 017 MENA 102809.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with it was 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
What activity categories were referenced in the listing?
The listing referenced community development, law/justice/legal services, humanities/cultural affairs, and business and commerce, signaling a cross-cutting program scope.
Where were applicants directed to find additional information?
The notice pointed applicants to the MEPI website for additional information.
What support contacts were mentioned for applicants?
The notice provided a contact for technical difficulties in accessing the full announcement and referenced a grants emailbox for the NEA grants team.
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