Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 12 AW 040 MENA 011712
Apply for NEAPI 12 AW 040 MENA 011712
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the community development education regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supporting Civil Society Advocacy Efforts" 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 Feb 13, 2012 and posted on Jan 17, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 16, 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 $4,500,000.00 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 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants include any registered U.S. or foreign non profit organizations non governmental organizations private institutions and institutions of higher education (non profit or for profit). The Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative strongly encourages applications from civil society organizations in the Middle East and North Africa region. International partners (non governmental organizations with principal bases of operations outside the Middle East and North Africa) are also encouraged to apply, but the percentage of total budget actually spent in the region through local partners will be among the elements of evaluation for this competition.
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Opportunity Summary:
Supporting Civil Society Advocacy Efforts is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity offered through the Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. The program is designed to strengthen civil society organizations (CSOs) across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) so they can advocate more effectively for reforms that contribute to more pluralistic, participatory, and prosperous societies. Framed in the context of the Arab Spring, the opportunity prioritizes projects that help civil society respond to public demands for change, push for meaningful reforms, and improve government accountability.
The competition is focused on a specific set of countries and tailors the intended advocacy outcomes by sub-region. In Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and Syria, proposals are expected to help activists and organizations advance political freedoms, promote legislative change, and support the implementation of promised reforms or existing legislation that is not being fully carried out. In Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen, projects should strengthen the voice of civil society during political transitions by helping CSOs translate citizens demands into public decisions, legal reforms, and, where relevant, constitutional processes. In Algeria, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE, the emphasis is on closing advocacy skill gaps for newer or moderately experienced CSOs so they can become more credible and effective representatives of public interests. Applications that focus on CSO advocacy outside these named countries will not be considered.
MEPI is looking for practical, campaign-oriented work rather than broad, introductory trainings on general organizational capacity. Competitive proposals are expected to help CSOs design, develop, and implement issue-based advocacy campaigns and to improve their ability to engage governments or other decision makers with clear arguments, evidence, and workable reform strategies. The opportunity encourages projects that move beyond classroom-style instruction and instead immerse participants in hands-on application of advocacy tools, such as developing campaign plans, crafting policy asks, building coalitions, engaging stakeholders, and refining messaging.
A notable feature is the strong encouragement to include sub-awards to community activists or local organizations, with selections to be made in consultation with U.S. Embassies. Proposals are also encouraged to promote collective action among organizations so they can work together on shared public policy goals, increase their influence, and build public understanding of civil society s role in policy development. Local ownership is treated as essential across all projects, and applicants are expected to include youth and/or women as organizers and participants, not only as passive beneficiaries.
The funding instrument is listed as either a cooperative agreement or grant, and the program anticipates approximately six awards. Total estimated funding is $4.5 million, with individual awards ranging from $200,000 to $1,000,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants include registered U.S. or foreign nonprofit organizations, nongovernmental organizations, private institutions, and institutions of higher education (both nonprofit and for-profit). MEPI explicitly encourages applications from experienced CSOs based in the MENA region, while also welcoming international partners; however, the evaluation will consider how much of the budget is actually spent in the region through local partners, and all applicants must show they have the experience and capacity to work effectively with local CSOs and activists.
Projects may be designed for a single country or multiple countries, and they may support one organization or several organizations and campaigns, including efforts that build networks and share lessons learned across contexts. Applicants may submit more than one application, but proposals should avoid duplicating work already covered by existing donor funding. The opportunity was posted January 17, 2012, with an application deadline of February 16, 2012, under Funding Opportunity Number NEAPI 12 AW 040 MENA 011712 (CFDA 19.500, Middle East Partnership Initiative). For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed contact was Jessica Baker at Synergy Enterprises, Inc., by phone at 202-776-8524.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Supporting Civil Society Advocacy Efforts (MEPI)
What is the "Supporting Civil Society Advocacy Efforts" grant opportunity?
Supporting Civil Society Advocacy Efforts is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity offered through the Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. It is designed to strengthen civil society organizations (CSOs) across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) so they can advocate more effectively for reforms that support more pluralistic, participatory, and prosperous societies.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program aims to improve the effectiveness and credibility of CSO advocacy by supporting practical, campaign-oriented work that helps civil society respond to public demands for change, push for meaningful reforms, and improve government accountability.
How is the opportunity framed in terms of regional context?
The opportunity is framed in the context of the Arab Spring, prioritizing projects that help civil society respond to public demands for change and advance reforms and accountability.
Which countries are eligible for project activities?
Only proposals focused on the following named countries are considered:
- Bahrain
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Morocco
- Syria
- Egypt
- Tunisia
- Yemen
- Algeria
- Oman
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Are proposals outside the listed countries allowed?
No. Applications that focus on CSO advocacy outside the named countries will not be considered.
Do advocacy outcomes differ by country or sub-region?
Yes. The opportunity tailors the intended advocacy outcomes by sub-region:
- Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria: Projects are expected to help activists and organizations advance political freedoms, promote legislative change, and support implementation of promised reforms or existing legislation that is not being fully carried out.
- Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen: Projects should strengthen the voice of civil society during political transitions by helping CSOs translate citizens demands into public decisions, legal reforms, and, where relevant, constitutional processes.
- Algeria, Oman, Qatar, UAE: Emphasis is on closing advocacy skill gaps for newer or moderately experienced CSOs so they can become more credible and effective representatives of public interests.
What types of projects are most competitive?
MEPI is looking for practical, campaign-oriented efforts rather than broad, introductory trainings on general organizational capacity. Competitive proposals are expected to help CSOs design, develop, and implement issue-based advocacy campaigns and strengthen their ability to engage governments or other decision makers using clear arguments, evidence, and workable reform strategies.
Does the program support general capacity-building trainings?
The opportunity indicates a preference for work that goes beyond broad, introductory trainings on general organizational capacity. Projects are encouraged to be hands-on and campaign-focused instead of classroom-style instruction.
What does "hands-on" advocacy support mean in this program?
The announcement encourages projects that immerse participants in applying advocacy tools in practice. Examples mentioned include developing campaign plans, crafting policy asks, building coalitions, engaging stakeholders, and refining messaging.
Is collaboration among civil society organizations encouraged?
Yes. Proposals are encouraged to promote collective action among organizations so they can work together on shared public policy goals, increase their influence, and build public understanding of civil society's role in policy development.
Are sub-awards to local groups or activists encouraged?
Yes. A notable feature is the strong encouragement to include sub-awards to community activists or local organizations, with selections to be made in consultation with U.S. Embassies.
How important is local ownership in this grant?
Local ownership is treated as essential across all projects. Applicants are expected to demonstrate meaningful engagement with local CSOs and activists.
Does the program require inclusion of youth and/or women?
Yes. Applicants are expected to include youth and/or women as organizers and participants, not only as passive beneficiaries.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is listed as either a cooperative agreement or a grant.
How many awards does MEPI expect to make?
The program anticipates approximately six awards.
What is the total estimated funding available?
The total estimated funding is $4.5 million.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards are expected to range from $200,000 to $1,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include registered U.S. or foreign nonprofit organizations, nongovernmental organizations, private institutions, and institutions of higher education (both nonprofit and for-profit).
Does MEPI prefer applicants based in the MENA region?
MEPI explicitly encourages applications from experienced CSOs based in the MENA region, while also welcoming international partners.
How will the proposal budget be viewed in terms of regional spending?
The evaluation will consider how much of the budget is actually spent in the region through local partners. Applicants must also show they have the experience and capacity to work effectively with local CSOs and activists.
Can projects cover more than one country?
Yes. Projects may be designed for a single country or multiple countries.
Can a project support multiple organizations or campaigns?
Yes. Projects may support one organization or several organizations and campaigns, including efforts that build networks and share lessons learned across contexts.
Can an applicant submit more than one application?
Yes. Applicants may submit more than one application.
Are there restrictions related to overlap with other donor funding?
Yes. Proposals should avoid duplicating work already covered by existing donor funding.
When was the opportunity posted and what was the deadline?
The opportunity was posted on January 17, 2012. The application deadline was February 16, 2012.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NEAPI 12 AW 040 MENA 011712. The CFDA number is 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
Who was the listed contact for access issues related to the full announcement?
For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed contact was Jessica Baker at Synergy Enterprises, Inc., by phone at 202-776-8524.
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