Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 10 AW 028 MENA 101810
Apply for NEAPI 10 AW 028 MENA 101810
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supporting Civic Activism and Advocacy 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 28, 2010 and posted on Oct 18, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 22, 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 $10,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 16 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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 Private institutions of higher education Small businesses 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:
Supporting Civic Activism and Advocacy in the Middle East and North Africa is a U.S. Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funding opportunity aimed at strengthening real-world advocacy and civic activism across the MENA region. The central idea is to help civil society organizations and motivated individuals become more effective at organizing around public issues, running credible advocacy efforts, and ultimately influencing policy outcomes and expanding political freedom. The announcement frames this work as part of MEPI's broader mission to encourage more participatory societies, where citizens play a larger role in decisions that affect their lives and where governments are more accountable to the public.
The program is looking for proposals that go beyond basic organizational training and instead prioritize hands-on support for designing, organizing, and implementing public advocacy campaigns. In practical terms, this means projects should help local activists and organizations build sustainable tools and methods they can keep using after the grant ends, such as campaign planning and management approaches, message development, coalition-building techniques, public outreach strategies, and ways to track and demonstrate impact. While training can be part of the project, it is expected to be applied and practical rather than classroom-style capacity building. MEPI also signals a strong preference for creative proposals that work with MENA-based civil society groups and emerging leaders who have limited prior experience running effective, issue-based campaigns, suggesting the opportunity is meant to broaden and deepen the pipeline of capable advocates in the region.
A key feature of the opportunity is that local civil society organizations and individuals should choose the advocacy topics themselves, rather than having topics imposed externally. Applicants may focus efforts on a particular thematic issue (for example, governance-related reforms, rights-based issues, transparency, or community priorities) or may structure work around advocacy on behalf of a particular demographic group, as long as the focus aligns with MEPI's overall mission and goals. To help ensure that skills learned translate into action, applicants are encouraged to consider issuing small sub-awards to the local organizations or activists they partner with, so those partners can directly implement campaign activities and apply what they have learned in real time.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary opportunity released under Funding Opportunity Number NEAPI 10 AW 028 MENA 101810, using either a cooperative agreement or a grant as the funding instrument type, and categorized under community development (CFDA 19.500, Middle East Partnership Initiative). MEPI anticipated making around 16 awards, with an estimated total funding pool of $10,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $200,000 (award floor) to $1,250,000 (award ceiling), and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Eligibility was broad and included U.S. or foreign nonprofit organizations and nongovernmental organizations, private institutions of higher education (nonprofit or for-profit), commercial entities, and small businesses. The eligible applicant types listed also included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses, reflecting MEPI's openness to a wide range of implementers as long as they can credibly support advocacy work in the region.
The opportunity was posted on October 18, 2010, created on October 28, 2010, and closed in November 2010 (with the current closing date listed as November 22, 2010). For access issues related to the full announcement, the contact listed was Jessica Baker at Quality Support, Inc., with the NEA Grants mailbox also referenced, and an additional information link pointing to MEPI open funding opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Supporting Civic Activism and Advocacy in the Middle East and North Africa" opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funding opportunity focused on strengthening real-world civic activism and advocacy across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The aim is to help civil society organizations and motivated individuals become more effective at organizing around public issues, running credible advocacy efforts, and influencing policy outcomes in ways that expand political freedom and promote more accountable governance.
What is the main goal of the program?
The central goal is to build practical advocacy capacity that translates into action and outcomes. MEPI emphasizes helping citizens and civil society play a larger role in decisions that affect their lives, and supporting efforts that make governments more responsive and accountable to the public.
What types of activities does MEPI want to fund?
MEPI is looking for proposals that prioritize hands-on support for designing, organizing, and implementing public advocacy campaigns. Projects should focus on practical, applied assistance that helps partners plan and execute advocacy efforts rather than only delivering general organizational training.
Is classroom-style training enough to be competitive?
No. While training can be included, MEPI indicates it should be applied and practical, not primarily classroom-style capacity building. The opportunity prioritizes projects that help partners actually run credible campaigns and build tools they can keep using after the grant ends.
What kinds of advocacy skills or tools should projects help develop?
Proposals are expected to build sustainable methods and tools such as campaign planning and management approaches, message development, coalition-building techniques, public outreach strategies, and ways to track and demonstrate impact.
Who should select the advocacy topics or campaign issues?
MEPI highlights that local civil society organizations and individuals should choose the advocacy topics themselves, rather than having topics imposed externally.
Can applicants focus on a specific theme or population group?
Yes. Applicants may focus on a particular thematic issue (for example, governance-related reforms, rights-based issues, transparency, or community priorities) or structure the work around advocacy on behalf of a particular demographic group, as long as the focus aligns with MEPI's overall mission and goals.
Does MEPI prefer projects that work with certain kinds of local partners?
MEPI signals a strong preference for creative proposals that work with MENA-based civil society groups and emerging leaders who have limited prior experience running effective, issue-based campaigns. This suggests the opportunity is intended to broaden and deepen the pipeline of capable advocates in the region.
Are sub-awards allowed or encouraged under this opportunity?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to consider issuing small sub-awards to local organizations or activists they partner with so those partners can directly implement campaign activities and apply what they have learned in real time.
What region is the program focused on?
The opportunity is focused on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
How many awards did MEPI anticipate making?
MEPI anticipated making approximately 16 awards under this funding opportunity.
How much total funding was expected to be available?
The estimated total funding pool was $10,000,000.
What is the expected funding range for individual awards?
Individual awards were expected to range from $200,000 (award floor) to $1,250,000 (award ceiling).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated that there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What type of funding instrument was used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The funding instrument type was listed as either a cooperative agreement or a grant.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is NEAPI 10 AW 028 MENA 101810.
How is this opportunity categorized (CFDA number and program name)?
The opportunity was categorized under community development and identified as CFDA 19.500, Middle East Partnership Initiative.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included U.S. or foreign nonprofit organizations and nongovernmental organizations, private institutions of higher education (nonprofit or for-profit), commercial entities, and small businesses. The eligibility list also referenced public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
Are foreign organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility description included U.S. or foreign nonprofit organizations and nongovernmental organizations.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list included for-profit organizations such as commercial entities, private institutions of higher education (for-profit), small businesses, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on October 18, 2010, created on October 28, 2010, and closed in November 2010. The current closing date listed was November 22, 2010.
Who was listed as the contact for access issues related to the full announcement?
The contact listed for access issues was Jessica Baker at Quality Support, Inc. The NEA Grants mailbox was also referenced.
Was there a link provided for additional information?
Yes. The announcement referenced an additional information link pointing to MEPI open funding opportunities.
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