Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 12 AW 043 MENA 02212
Apply for NEAPI 12 AW 043 MENA 02212
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the community development regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Support for BMENA Forum for the Future Civil Society Reform Initiatives" 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 22, 2012 and posted on Feb 22, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 26, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants include local representatives of civil society, including non profit organizations, non governmental organizations, and private sector organizations based in Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Support for BMENA Forum for the Future Civil Society Reform Initiatives" is a U.S. Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funding call aimed at backing practical, on-the-ground civil society reform projects aligned with the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative and the related Forum for the Future process. The core intent is to turn the Forum's reform principles into tangible initiatives that can be implemented by civil society and private sector actors across the region, with an emphasis on democratic reform, rights, and stronger governance practices. Funding is announced as contingent on the availability of funds, but the opportunity lays out clear thematic priorities and a defined award structure.
Projects supported under this opportunity are expected to advance reforms in several connected areas. A major focus is expanding public participation in political life, which can include efforts that widen civic engagement, improve access to political processes, or strengthen mechanisms that allow citizens to influence decision-making. Another priority area is improving the legal environment for civil society, meaning initiatives that help address laws, regulations, and administrative practices affecting how civil society organizations operate, register, fundraise, and advocate. MEPI also highlights the importance of cooperation among government, the private sector, and civil society, signaling interest in projects that build multi-stakeholder partnerships, create collaborative platforms, or align reform efforts across sectors rather than keeping them isolated within NGOs alone.
Capacity building for civil society organizations is another central theme, particularly where it enables CSOs to contribute effectively to democratic reform and political transition processes. This can reasonably include training, organizational development, strategic planning, advocacy skills, coalition-building, monitoring and evaluation capabilities, and tools that help organizations scale their impact and sustainability. The opportunity also emphasizes benchmarking and tracking democratic reform progress across the region by using performance indicators and reporting on actions undertaken in each country. In other words, MEPI is interested not only in reform activities themselves, but also in credible ways to measure whether Forum objectives are being implemented and whether reforms are producing meaningful outcomes.
Civil rights are explicitly named as a priority, including gender equity, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, and freedom of association. The announcement also calls out the promotion of strong anti-corruption legislation and practices, indicating openness to projects that prevent corruption, strengthen transparency, and support accountability norms. Taken together, these priorities point to initiatives that both protect fundamental rights and strengthen the institutions and civic space needed for reform to take root.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary grant issued as a cooperative agreement, which typically implies a more active partnership or involvement by the funding agency compared to a standard grant. The funding activity category is listed under community development and regional development. MEPI anticipated up to 20 awards, with a total estimated funding amount of $1,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $50,000 (floor) to $150,000 (ceiling). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the barrier for organizations that may not have access to large sources of co-funding.
Eligible applicants are described as local representatives of civil society, including non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector organizations based in a wide range of BMENA-related countries and territories. The eligible locations listed are Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen. This geographic scope suggests MEPI intended to reach a broad regional set of local actors rather than limiting funding to a small number of countries.
Key dates show that the opportunity was posted on February 22, 2012, created on March 22, 2012, and had an original closing date of March 23, 2012, later extended to March 26, 2012, with an archive date of April 22, 2012. The funding opportunity number is NEAPI 12 AW 043 MENA 02212, and the CFDA number associated with MEPI is 19.500. For applicants needing support accessing the full announcement, the listed contacts were Ms. Saira Saeed (ABUDHABIMEPI@state.gov) and Mr. Wahid Labidi (Labidiw@state.gov), with additional reference to the MEPI website for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Support for BMENA Forum for the Future Civil Society Reform Initiatives" opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funding opportunity designed to support practical, on-the-ground civil society reform projects connected to the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative and the Forum for the Future process. The focus is on turning reform principles into tangible initiatives that can be implemented by civil society and private sector actors across the region.
What is the main purpose of this funding call?
The core intent is to advance democratic reform, rights, and stronger governance practices by supporting initiatives that translate Forum for the Future reform principles into real activities and measurable outcomes.
Which funding program is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered under the U.S. Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).
Is the funding guaranteed?
No. The announcement indicates funding is contingent on the availability of funds.
What types of projects are prioritized under this opportunity?
Projects are expected to advance reform priorities that include expanding public participation in political life, improving the legal environment for civil society, strengthening cooperation among government/private sector/civil society, building civil society capacity for democratic reform and political transition, benchmarking and tracking democratic reform progress, advancing civil rights (including gender equity and key freedoms), and promoting anti-corruption legislation and practices.
What does "expanding public participation in political life" mean in this context?
It refers to efforts that widen civic engagement, improve access to political processes, or strengthen mechanisms that allow citizens to influence decision-making.
What does "improving the legal environment for civil society" refer to?
It refers to initiatives addressing laws, regulations, and administrative practices that affect how civil society organizations operate, register, fundraise, and advocate.
Does the opportunity encourage partnerships beyond NGOs?
Yes. MEPI highlights cooperation among government, the private sector, and civil society, signaling interest in projects that build multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaborative platforms across sectors.
What kind of capacity building is relevant to this opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes capacity building that enables civil society organizations (CSOs) to contribute effectively to democratic reform and political transition processes. This can include training, organizational development, strategic planning, advocacy skills, coalition-building, monitoring and evaluation capabilities, and tools to improve sustainability and scale.
Is measuring results and progress part of what MEPI is looking for?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes benchmarking and tracking democratic reform progress across the region using performance indicators and reporting on actions undertaken in each country. This suggests an interest in credible measurement of implementation and outcomes, not only activities.
Which civil rights issues are explicitly included as priorities?
Civil rights priorities explicitly named include gender equity, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, and freedom of association.
Are anti-corruption efforts eligible and encouraged?
Yes. The opportunity calls out the promotion of strong anti-corruption legislation and practices, including efforts to prevent corruption, strengthen transparency, and support accountability norms.
What type of award instrument is used for this opportunity?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant issued as a cooperative agreement, which typically implies more active involvement by the funding agency than a standard grant.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is listed under community development and regional development.
How many awards were anticipated?
MEPI anticipated up to 20 awards.
What is the total estimated funding amount?
The total estimated funding amount is $1,000,000.
What is the expected award size (minimum and maximum)?
Individual awards were expected to range from $50,000 (floor) to $150,000 (ceiling).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are described as local representatives of civil society, including non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector organizations based in eligible BMENA-related countries and territories listed in the announcement.
Which countries and territories are listed as eligible locations?
The eligible locations listed are Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.
Does the opportunity appear intended for local organizations in the region?
Yes. Eligibility is described in terms of local representatives of civil society and private sector organizations based in the listed BMENA-related countries and territories, indicating a regional focus on local actors.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is NEAPI 12 AW 043 MENA 02212.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with MEPI in the announcement is 19.500.
When was the opportunity posted and created?
The opportunity was posted on February 22, 2012, and created on March 22, 2012.
What was the application deadline?
The original closing date was March 23, 2012, and it was later extended to March 26, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed is April 22, 2012.
Who are the listed contacts for questions or access to the full announcement?
The listed contacts are Ms. Saira Saeed (ABUDHABIMEPI@state.gov) and Mr. Wahid Labidi (Labidiw@state.gov).
Is there a website referenced for additional information?
Yes. The announcement references the MEPI website for more information.
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