Opportunity Information: Apply for MEPI MEPICA 14 002
Apply for MEPI MEPICA 14 002
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supporting Entrepreneurship 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 Oct 15, 2013 and posted on Oct 15, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 30, 2013 Applications must be time stamped before 235959 eastern time (ET) on October 29, 2013. There will be no grace period, and any application not received by the application deadline will not advance to the Technical Review stage.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Private institutions of higher education 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 Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants include registered U.S. or foreign non profit organizations for profit organizations private institutions of higher education, public or state institutions of higher education public international organizations and small businesses with function and regional experience in the areas of entrepreneurship in the MENA region. MEPI strongly encourages applications from civil society organizations headquartered in the Middle East and North Africa region. All applicants must be legally registered organizations prior to applying to this announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) grant opportunity titled "Supporting Entrepreneurship in the MENA Region" is a competitive funding call for projects that strengthen entrepreneurship ecosystems in the Middle East and North Africa, with an emphasis on ventures that produce positive economic and social outcomes. The opportunity is especially interested in practical efforts that expand entrepreneurs access to capital and business networks, and that remove barriers facing women entrepreneurs. MEPI is using a two-stage process: applicants first submit a concept paper for an initial review, and only the strongest concept papers are then invited to develop and submit a full application for final funding consideration. Applicants are allowed to submit up to two concept papers total, but if submitting two, at least one must focus on a "Category A" country.
At its core, the program is grounded in the idea that entrepreneurship can drive job creation, diversify economies, and help build small and medium-sized enterprises across the region. MEPI also frames entrepreneurship as a way to apply business discipline, innovation, and sustainability to community challenges, including social problems that markets or governments have struggled to address. Successful proposals, therefore, are expected to go beyond generic training and show how entrepreneurial activity will translate into broader social and economic gains in the target country.
MEPI is looking for applicants that can demonstrate three main capacities: first, clear familiarity with the local economic and demographic realities of the specific country being proposed; second, proven expertise in fostering entrepreneurship in a way that tangibly increases access to capital and/or expands business networks (with attention to women); and third, an ability to connect entrepreneurship support to measurable social impact. MEPI strongly encourages applicants to avoid duplicating what is already being done in the region. Instead, proposals should map existing entrepreneurship or social impact initiatives and explain how the project will complement them, connect them, or scale them. A recurring theme is the creation of durable networks within countries, including womens business networks and mentorship structures, so entrepreneurs can keep learning and collaborating after the grant activity ends.
Projects are expected to address multiple points in the entrepreneurship lifecycle rather than focusing on a single step. That could mean pairing training with access to mentors and investors, supporting early-stage seed funding or microfinance pathways, and then adding follow-on assistance for growth and expansion. For women-focused components, MEPI wants applicants to name the specific barriers women face at different stages (idea stage, launch, financing, scaling, market access, credibility and networks, family and mobility constraints, and so on) and propose concrete ways to overcome those barriers in that local context. MEPI also encourages partnerships with regional organizations and civil society groups in ways that build local capacity and sustainability, and it places value on strong monitoring approaches that can credibly report outcomes and impact.
Illustrative activities MEPI is open to include using existing incubators or accelerators as delivery platforms for financing readiness and networking services, especially for entrepreneurs solving community problems (including gender-related challenges). Other examples include workshops on financial literacy, cash flow management, record-keeping, and business planning; sessions tailored to the needs of women entrepreneurs; structured connections between entrepreneurs and potential investors; expanding access to seed funding or microfinance; training local angel investors, mentors, or advisory networks; and building or linking business networks so entrepreneurs can find peers, expertise, customers, and funders. On the other hand, the announcement makes clear that certain things are not a fit: stand-alone academic or analytical research that is not essential to a larger intervention, exchange programs with other countries, one-time events like single conferences or one-off roundtables, and projects that are commercial or profit-making in nature.
Each concept paper must propose a single-country project. Countries are grouped into Category A and Category B, and proposals must align with country-specific priorities. Category A includes Algeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen. In Algeria, the priority is expanding networks for young entrepreneurs, including in rural areas, with an expectation that implementers have real on-the-ground experience and strong local partners. Kuwait proposals should strengthen networks and mentoring for young entrepreneurs while also incorporating professionalism and workplace ethics, management and leadership training, strategic business planning, and a practical training or internship component. Saudi Arabia proposals should expand both capital access and networks for entrepreneurs including women, with a particular emphasis on the ICT sector. West Bank/Gaza proposals should center on creating or strengthening a hub or centralized mechanism (potentially online or hosted at an academic or community institution) that consolidates resources, links entrepreneurs to angel investors, highlights opportunities, and trains entrepreneurs on capital access and networking, with activities focused on non-ICT sectors. Yemen proposals should support the future entrepreneurial operating environment by providing training and resources that expand capital access and networks, with a particular focus outside of Sanaa.
Category B includes Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco. Egypt projects should expand networks and access to capital in less developed regions, focus particularly on non-ICT sectors, and include mentoring. Israel projects should focus on access to capital, networking and mentorship, and/or access to incubators for minority groups and disadvantaged communities. Jordan and Lebanon projects should prioritize rural communities and specifically target female entrepreneurs by improving their access to business support services, networks, and capital, while explicitly building on existing efforts rather than starting from scratch. Morocco projects should focus on young entrepreneurs and strengthen skills needed to access smart capital, including organizational skills, business plan development, and market analysis; even though training is a key element, proposals must still cover multiple stages of the entrepreneurship lifecycle.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary opportunity funded through a cooperative agreement, with an estimated total program funding level of $5,000,000 and an expectation of around five awards. Individual awards are anticipated to range from $1,000,000 (floor) to $2,000,000 (ceiling), and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed. The CFDA number is 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative). Eligible applicants include legally registered U.S. or foreign organizations such as nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), public and private institutions of higher education, and public international organizations, provided they have functional and regional experience in entrepreneurship in the MENA region. MEPI specifically encourages applications from civil society organizations headquartered in the MENA region, signaling a preference for implementers with strong regional roots and partnerships.
The timeline in the source notice reflects the original posting in October 2013, with an application deadline requiring submissions to be time-stamped before 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on October 29, 2013 (despite the closing date field showing October 30). The notice emphasizes there is no grace period and late submissions would not move forward to technical review. Contact information in the announcement points to MEPI and NEA grants points of contact, as well as the Grants.gov Contact Center for technical submission support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): MEPI "Supporting Entrepreneurship in the MENA Region"
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Supporting Entrepreneurship in the MENA Region" and is offered by the U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).
2) What is the main goal of the MEPI entrepreneurship opportunity?
The program aims to strengthen entrepreneurship ecosystems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with a focus on ventures that generate positive economic and social outcomes such as job creation, economic diversification, and building small and medium-sized enterprises.
3) What types of outcomes is MEPI looking for?
MEPI expects proposals to show how entrepreneurship support will translate into broader social and economic gains in the target country. Proposals are also expected to connect entrepreneurship support to measurable social impact (not just activity delivery).
4) Is this a single-stage or multi-stage application process?
It is a two-stage process. Applicants first submit a concept paper for initial review. Only the strongest concept papers are invited to develop and submit a full application for final funding consideration.
5) How many concept papers can an organization submit?
Applicants may submit up to two concept papers total. If submitting two, at least one concept paper must focus on a Category A country.
6) Does each concept paper cover multiple countries or just one country?
Each concept paper must propose a single-country project.
7) What are Category A countries for this opportunity?
Category A includes Algeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen.
8) What are Category B countries for this opportunity?
Category B includes Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco.
9) What is the priority focus for Algeria proposals?
Algeria proposals should focus on expanding networks for young entrepreneurs, including in rural areas. MEPI also expects implementers to have real on-the-ground experience and strong local partners.
10) What is the priority focus for Kuwait proposals?
Kuwait proposals should strengthen networks and mentoring for young entrepreneurs and incorporate professionalism and workplace ethics, management and leadership training, strategic business planning, and a practical training or internship component.
11) What is the priority focus for Saudi Arabia proposals?
Saudi Arabia proposals should expand access to capital and networks for entrepreneurs, including women, with a particular emphasis on the ICT sector.
12) What is the priority focus for West Bank/Gaza proposals?
West Bank/Gaza proposals should center on creating or strengthening a hub or centralized mechanism (potentially online or hosted at an academic or community institution) that consolidates resources, links entrepreneurs to angel investors, highlights opportunities, and trains entrepreneurs on capital access and networking. Activities should focus on non-ICT sectors.
13) What is the priority focus for Yemen proposals?
Yemen proposals should support the future entrepreneurial operating environment by providing training and resources that expand capital access and networks, with a particular focus outside of Sanaa.
14) What is the priority focus for Egypt proposals?
Egypt projects should expand networks and access to capital in less developed regions, focus particularly on non-ICT sectors, and include mentoring.
15) What is the priority focus for Israel proposals?
Israel projects should focus on access to capital, networking and mentorship, and/or access to incubators for minority groups and disadvantaged communities.
16) What is the priority focus for Jordan proposals?
Jordan projects should prioritize rural communities and specifically target female entrepreneurs by improving their access to business support services, networks, and capital, while explicitly building on existing efforts rather than starting from scratch.
17) What is the priority focus for Lebanon proposals?
Lebanon projects should prioritize rural communities and specifically target female entrepreneurs by improving their access to business support services, networks, and capital, while explicitly building on existing efforts rather than starting from scratch.
18) What is the priority focus for Morocco proposals?
Morocco projects should focus on young entrepreneurs and strengthen skills needed to access smart capital, including organizational skills, business plan development, and market analysis. Even though training is a key element, proposals must still cover multiple stages of the entrepreneurship lifecycle.
19) What are the key themes MEPI emphasizes across countries?
Recurring themes include expanding entrepreneurs access to capital and business networks, removing barriers facing women entrepreneurs, creating durable in-country networks (including womens business networks and mentorship structures), and using strong monitoring approaches that credibly report outcomes and impact.
20) What capacities should applicants demonstrate to be competitive?
MEPI highlights three major capacities: (1) familiarity with local economic and demographic realities in the proposed country; (2) proven expertise fostering entrepreneurship in ways that tangibly increase access to capital and/or expand business networks (including attention to women); and (3) the ability to connect entrepreneurship support to measurable social impact.
21) Does MEPI want projects that duplicate existing entrepreneurship programs?
No. MEPI strongly encourages applicants to avoid duplicating what is already being done. Proposals should map existing entrepreneurship or social impact initiatives and explain how the project will complement, connect, or scale them.
22) What does MEPI mean by addressing multiple points in the entrepreneurship lifecycle?
MEPI expects projects to cover more than a single step (for example, not training alone). Illustrative approaches include combining training with mentoring and investor connections, supporting seed funding or microfinance pathways, and providing follow-on assistance for growth and expansion.
23) How should women-focused programming be handled in a proposal?
MEPI wants applicants to identify specific barriers women face at different stages (idea stage, launch, financing, scaling, market access, credibility and networks, family and mobility constraints, and similar issues) and propose concrete, locally grounded ways to overcome those barriers.
24) What kinds of partnerships does MEPI encourage?
MEPI encourages partnerships with regional organizations and civil society groups in ways that build local capacity and sustainability, and it also values projects that create durable networks that persist after the grant ends.
25) What are examples of activities MEPI is open to funding?
Illustrative activities include: using existing incubators or accelerators as platforms for financing readiness and networking; workshops on financial literacy, cash flow management, record-keeping, and business planning; sessions tailored to women entrepreneurs; structured connections to investors; expanding access to seed funding or microfinance; training local angel investors, mentors, or advisory networks; and building or linking business networks so entrepreneurs can find peers, expertise, customers, and funders.
26) What types of activities are explicitly described as not a fit?
The announcement states that these are not a fit: stand-alone academic or analytical research that is not essential to a larger intervention; exchange programs with other countries; one-time events such as single conferences or one-off roundtables; and projects that are commercial or profit-making in nature.
27) What type of award is this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary opportunity funded through a cooperative agreement.
28) How much total funding is estimated for the program?
The notice estimates total program funding of $5,000,000.
29) Approximately how many awards does MEPI expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of around five awards.
30) What is the expected award size for individual projects?
Individual awards are anticipated to range from a $1,000,000 floor to a $2,000,000 ceiling.
31) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is listed in the provided information.
32) What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number is 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
33) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include legally registered U.S. or foreign organizations such as nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), public and private institutions of higher education, and public international organizations, as long as they have functional and regional experience in entrepreneurship in the MENA region.
34) Does MEPI encourage any specific types of applicants?
MEPI specifically encourages applications from civil society organizations headquartered in the MENA region, signaling a preference for implementers with strong regional roots and partnerships.
35) What is the deadline and how strict is it?
The timeline reflects an original posting in October 2013, with a submission deadline requiring submissions to be time-stamped before 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on October 29, 2013 (even though the closing date field shows October 30). The notice emphasizes there is no grace period, and late submissions would not move forward to technical review.
36) Where can applicants get technical help with submission?
The announcement points applicants to the Grants.gov Contact Center for technical submission support.
37) Who are the points of contact for program questions?
The notice references MEPI and NEA grants points of contact for the opportunity.
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