Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 12 AW 046 MENA 031512
Apply for NEAPI 12 AW 046 MENA 031512
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the business and commerce employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Support for Private Sector Development 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 15, 2012 and posted on Mar 15, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 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 $10,600,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) offered this funding opportunity to support private sector development across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by backing programs that expand entrepreneurship, improve workforce skills, and strengthen the broader business environment. The grant is framed around the idea that long-term stability and successful political transitions depend on economic opportunity, broad-based prosperity, and the ability of people in the region to participate meaningfully in their economies. In practical terms, MEPI is looking for projects that help entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises grow, address unemployment among marginalized or disenfranchised groups, and encourage a more open, rules-based, and transparent economic system.
The opportunity is structured as a Request for Applications (RFA) under a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government would expect an active partnership role in shaping or overseeing implementation compared to a more hands-off grant. MEPI highlights three long-term outcomes it wants applicants to drive: increased entrepreneurship, a more conducive environment for trade, investment, and business development, and increased merit-based employment for targeted populations. Proposals are expected to show a clear connection between planned activities and these outcomes, not just in intent but through measurable indicators of economic growth and realistic reporting plans.
Applicants can propose projects under one of three priority program areas. The first is Economic Advocacy, which generally points toward efforts that support economic reforms, transparency, and policy or regulatory improvements that make it easier to start and grow businesses. The second is Skills Training and Opportunities for Aspiring Professionals and Entrepreneurs, focused on practical training, specialized skills, employability, and pathways into jobs or entrepreneurship, especially for people who are unemployed or underemployed. The third is Support for Commercial Development Organizations in the Maghreb, which emphasizes strengthening the institutions in North African countries (the Maghreb) that provide services to businesses and entrepreneurs, such as chambers of commerce, business associations, incubators, accelerators, or similar market-support organizations.
MEPI places strong emphasis on local capacity building and sustainability. Applications are expected to explain how the project will strengthen MENA-based organizations and leave lasting capability after the award ends, rather than delivering one-off trainings or short-term events. The RFA also encourages proposals that intentionally include groups that are often left out of economic programming, especially women and youth, and explicitly mentions underserved communities such as people with disabilities. Another core expectation is local leadership: projects should not be purely externally driven, and applicants should show how local partners will lead or co-lead implementation and decision-making.
Eligibility is broad and includes registered U.S. or foreign organizations with relevant regional and technical experience. Eligible applicant types listed include 501(c)(3) nonprofits (and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education (nonprofit or for-profit), small businesses, and other for-profit organizations. MEPI expects applicants to clearly state their key competencies in economic governance, organizational strengthening, entrepreneurship support, and workforce development, along with regional and country-specific experience. Proposals also need to specify which countries they will operate in, what activities they will run, which priority area they fall under, and which partner organizations will be involved if applicable.
Funding details indicate MEPI anticipated making around 10 awards, with an estimated total funding pool of $10.6 million. Individual awards were expected to range from $500,000 to $2.5 million, and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted March 15, 2012, with an application deadline of April 17, 2012 (Funding Opportunity Number NEAPI 12 AW 046 MENA 031512; CFDA 19.500). The funding activity categories are listed under Business and Commerce and Employment, Labor, and Training, which aligns with the program’s focus on job creation, employability, and private sector competitiveness.
Overall, MEPI is looking for well-specified, regionally grounded proposals that combine practical support for entrepreneurs and workers with efforts to improve the systems around them, such as institutions, market infrastructure, and economic governance. Strong applications under this RFA would be expected to lay out a credible theory of change, define measurable outcomes tied to economic growth, present a realistic timeline, demonstrate durable local partnerships, and explain how the benefits will continue after the cooperative agreement ends.
FAQs: U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Private Sector Development RFA
What is this funding opportunity trying to achieve?
This MEPI funding opportunity supports private sector development across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It is designed to back programs that expand entrepreneurship, improve workforce skills, and strengthen the overall business environment. The underlying goal is to increase economic opportunity and broad-based prosperity so people can participate meaningfully in their economies.
What kind of award is this?
This opportunity is a Request for Applications (RFA) under a cooperative agreement. Under a cooperative agreement, the U.S. government expects a more active partnership role in shaping or overseeing implementation than with a more hands-off grant.
What long-term outcomes does MEPI want projects to drive?
MEPI highlights three long-term outcomes for applicants to advance:
- Increased entrepreneurship
- A more conducive environment for trade, investment, and business development
- Increased merit-based employment for targeted populations
How should proposals connect activities to outcomes?
Proposals are expected to show a clear connection between planned activities and the long-term outcomes, supported by measurable indicators of economic growth and a realistic reporting plan. The expectation is not only to state intent, but to demonstrate how results will be tracked and reported.
What are the priority program areas under this RFA?
Applicants can propose projects under one of three priority areas:
- Economic Advocacy (economic reforms, transparency, and policy or regulatory improvements that make it easier to start and grow businesses)
- Skills Training and Opportunities for Aspiring Professionals and Entrepreneurs (practical training, specialized skills, employability, and pathways into jobs or entrepreneurship, especially for unemployed or underemployed people)
- Support for Commercial Development Organizations in the Maghreb (strengthening market-support institutions such as chambers of commerce, business associations, incubators, accelerators, and similar organizations in North Africa/the Maghreb)
What does MEPI mean by "Economic Advocacy" in this context?
Economic Advocacy generally refers to efforts that support economic reforms, transparency, and improvements to policies or regulations that affect the ease of starting, operating, and growing a business.
What does the Skills Training priority area focus on?
The Skills Training and Opportunities priority area focuses on practical and specialized skills, employability, and pathways into jobs or entrepreneurship. It particularly emphasizes supporting people who are unemployed or underemployed.
What is meant by "Commercial Development Organizations in the Maghreb"?
This priority area emphasizes strengthening organizations in the Maghreb (North Africa) that provide services to businesses and entrepreneurs. Examples include chambers of commerce, business associations, incubators, accelerators, and similar market-support organizations.
Which region and countries are eligible for project activities?
Projects are intended to operate in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Applicants are expected to specify which countries they will operate in as part of the proposal.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes registered U.S. or foreign organizations with relevant regional and technical experience. Eligible applicant types include:
- 501(c)(3) nonprofits (and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status)
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education (nonprofit or for-profit)
- Small businesses
- Other for-profit organizations
Does MEPI require local partners or local leadership?
Projects are expected to demonstrate local leadership and should not be purely externally driven. Applications should explain how local partners will lead or co-lead implementation and decision-making.
What is MEPI looking for regarding capacity building and sustainability?
MEPI places strong emphasis on local capacity building and sustainability. Applications are expected to explain how the project will strengthen MENA-based organizations and leave lasting capability after the award ends, rather than focusing on one-off trainings or short-term events.
Are there specific populations MEPI wants projects to include?
Yes. The RFA encourages proposals that intentionally include groups that are often left out of economic programming, especially women and youth, and it explicitly mentions underserved communities such as people with disabilities.
What kinds of economic challenges is MEPI targeting?
MEPI is looking for projects that help entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) grow, address unemployment among marginalized or disenfranchised groups, and encourage a more open, rules-based, and transparent economic system.
How many awards were anticipated and what was the total funding pool?
MEPI anticipated making around 10 awards with an estimated total funding pool of $10.6 million.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $500,000 to $2.5 million.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed for this opportunity.
What should an application include at a high level?
Proposals are expected to specify:
- Which countries the project will operate in
- What activities will be carried out
- Which of the three priority areas the project addresses
- Which partner organizations will be involved (if applicable)
- The applicant's key competencies (economic governance, organizational strengthening, entrepreneurship support, workforce development) and regional/country experience
- Measurable outcomes tied to economic growth and a realistic reporting plan
What does MEPI expect regarding measurement and reporting?
MEPI expects applicants to define measurable indicators of economic growth and provide realistic reporting plans that demonstrate how planned activities will lead to the desired long-term outcomes.
What does MEPI mean by strengthening the "broader business environment"?
Based on the RFA framing, strengthening the broader business environment includes improving the systems around entrepreneurs and workers, such as institutions, market infrastructure, and economic governance, and promoting a more open, rules-based, and transparent economic system.
What is the timeline for this opportunity?
The opportunity was posted on March 15, 2012, and the application deadline was April 17, 2012.
What are the identifying numbers for this funding opportunity?
Funding Opportunity Number: NEAPI 12 AW 046 MENA 031512. CFDA: 19.500.
What funding activity categories does this opportunity fall under?
The funding activity categories are listed under Business and Commerce and Employment, Labor, and Training, aligning with the focus on job creation, employability, and private sector competitiveness.
What characteristics would a strong proposal be expected to demonstrate?
Strong applications would be expected to present a credible theory of change, define measurable outcomes tied to economic growth, provide a realistic timeline, demonstrate durable local partnerships, and explain how benefits will continue after the cooperative agreement ends.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (NEAPI 12 AW 046 MENA 031512) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Economic Initiatives Program Apply for NEAPI 08 CA 007 MENA 110107 Funding Number: NEAPI 08 CA 007 MENA 110107 Agency: Middle East Partnership Initiative Category: Business and Commerce Employment, Labor and Training Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| FMCS Labor Management Cooperation Grant Program Apply for FMCS 2011 Funding Number: FMCS 2011 Agency: Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Category: Business and Commerce Employment, Labor and Training Funding Amount: $125,000 |
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