Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 10 AW 024 MENA 062210
Apply for NEAPI 10 AW 024 MENA 062210
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the community development regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tech Support New Media Technical Assistance for Civil Society" 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 Jun 24, 2010 and posted on Jun 22, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 30, 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 $2,400,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Eligible applicants include any registered U.S. or foreign non governmental organization, and U.S. or foreign private institutions or commercial entities.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity, titled "Tech Support New Media Technical Assistance for Civil Society" (Funding Opportunity Number NEAPI 10 AW 024 MENA 062210), was released under the U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). It was framed as a practical extension of Secretary Hillary Clinton's 2009 "Civil Society 2.0" vision, which emphasized helping grassroots organizations worldwide use digital tools to tell their stories, grow their memberships and support bases, and connect with peers across borders. The core idea behind the program is that stronger digital capacity makes local organizations more capable of designing, managing, and sustaining their own solutions to shared social and political challenges.
The program sought implementing partners to deliver specialized technical assistance and support to civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Rather than funding CSOs directly in a one-off way, the model focused on creating or supporting a provider organization (or organizations) that could respond to requests for help from local groups. CSOs and NGOs in the region could seek assistance through two pathways: applying directly to the implementing organization or submitting requests through U.S. Embassies. The practical purpose was to increase understanding and effective use of "new media" and information and communication technologies (ICT), with a strong emphasis on strengthening civic participation and reform-oriented engagement.
The opportunity laid out three main objectives. First, it aimed to increase knowledge and build practical skills so CSOs and NGOs could use relevant media tools more effectively. Second, it intended to improve communication between organizational leaders and their constituents, as well as between local organizations and broader communities of peer organizations worldwide, with the goal of encouraging more informed and engaged communities throughout MENA. Third, it sought to improve communication between civil society groups and governments in the region on social and political reform issues, positioning ICT as a tool to support dialogue, advocacy, and public participation.
The technical focus centered on ICT capacity building that would directly improve civil society effectiveness in advocacy for social and political reform and in promoting civic engagement, including engagement by women and youth. Importantly, the grant description recognized that "tech support" is not only about software training; it also may involve helping organizations address basic digital infrastructure needs and navigate broader economic and social constraints that affect ICT access and use in their countries. In terms of concrete skills, examples of supported technical assistance included building and maintaining online communities, designing and running text messaging campaigns, using websites, blogs, and social networks for civic activism and engagement, producing digital film content, and generating and uploading audio and video from mobile devices.
Beyond tool-based training, the program also emphasized broader best practices for using technology in civic life and organizational development. It encouraged support that would help CSOs and NGOs operate more effectively in pluralistic and participatory societies, including guidance on how to advocate for a specific cause, how to promote civic engagement, how to inform and mobilize civil society using technology, and how to monitor elections. The intent was to blend hands-on media and communications skills with civic-oriented strategies so that organizations could use digital channels in a purposeful, sustainable way rather than as isolated technical experiments.
Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity using Cooperative Agreements and Grants, categorized under Community Development and Regional Development. MEPI anticipated making up to four awards, with an estimated total funding level of $2,400,000. Individual award sizes were expected to range from a floor of $500,000 to a ceiling of $2,400,000, and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility was broad, open to registered U.S. or foreign NGOs, private institutions, and commercial entities, including for-profit organizations, small businesses, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private universities, and nonprofits (including those with or without 501(c)(3) status, with the noted higher-education exceptions).
The opportunity was posted on June 22, 2010, with an original and final closing date of July 30, 2010, and an archive date of August 29, 2010. The CFDA number associated with the program was 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative). A point of contact was provided for assistance accessing the full announcement: Katie Epp, SIS/AM Division Support, at 202-776-8874.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Tech Support New Media Technical Assistance for Civil Society".
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NEAPI 10 AW 024 MENA 062210.
3) Which U.S. government program is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity was released under the U.S. Department of State, through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).
4) What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed for the program is 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
5) What region is the program focused on?
The program focuses on civil society organizations across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
6) What is the overall purpose of the program?
The program is designed to strengthen the digital capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in MENA so they can more effectively design, manage, and sustain their own solutions to shared social and political challenges. It emphasizes practical technical assistance in "new media" and information and communication technologies (ICT) to support civic participation and reform-oriented engagement.
7) How does this program differ from directly funding local CSOs?
Instead of providing one-time direct funding to local CSOs, the model seeks implementing partners that can act as specialized providers of technical assistance. These provider organizations would respond to requests for support from CSOs/NGOs in the region.
8) Who is the program intended to serve?
The intended beneficiaries are civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across MENA that want to improve their ability to use new media and ICT tools for civic engagement and social and political reform efforts.
9) What are the main objectives of the opportunity?
The opportunity lists three main objectives:
- Build knowledge and practical skills so CSOs and NGOs can use relevant media tools more effectively.
- Improve communication between organizational leaders and their constituents, and connect local organizations with wider peer communities worldwide to encourage more informed and engaged communities in MENA.
- Improve communication between civil society and governments on social and political reform issues, using ICT to support dialogue, advocacy, and public participation.
10) What types of activities or assistance does "tech support" include?
"Tech support" is framed broadly. It includes software and tool training, but can also involve helping organizations address basic digital infrastructure needs and navigate economic and social constraints that affect ICT access and use in their countries.
11) What specific technical skills or tools are mentioned as examples?
Examples of technical assistance mentioned include:
- Building and maintaining online communities
- Designing and running text messaging campaigns
- Using websites, blogs, and social networks for civic activism and engagement
- Producing digital film content
- Generating and uploading audio and video from mobile devices
12) Is the program only about training on tools?
No. In addition to tool-based training, the program emphasizes broader best practices for using technology in civic life and organizational development, aiming for purposeful and sustainable use rather than isolated technical experiments.
13) What civic-oriented strategies are highlighted in the description?
The program encourages support that helps organizations operate more effectively in pluralistic and participatory societies. Examples mentioned include guidance on:
- How to advocate for a specific cause
- How to promote civic engagement
- How to inform and mobilize civil society using technology
- How to monitor elections
14) Does the opportunity emphasize any particular groups for civic engagement?
Yes. The description highlights civic engagement broadly, including engagement by women and youth.
15) How can CSOs and NGOs in MENA request assistance under this model?
The description identifies two pathways for local groups to seek assistance:
- Submitting requests directly to the implementing organization
- Submitting requests through U.S. Embassies
16) What type of funding instrument is used for awards?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using Cooperative Agreements and Grants.
17) What funding category is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under Community Development and Regional Development.
18) How many awards were anticipated?
MEPI anticipated making up to four awards.
19) What was the estimated total funding amount available?
The estimated total program funding level was $2,400,000.
20) What was the expected award size range?
Individual award sizes were expected to range from a floor of $500,000 to a ceiling of $2,400,000.
21) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
22) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included registered U.S. or foreign entities such as:
- NGOs
- Private institutions
- Commercial entities, including for-profit organizations
- Small businesses
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private universities
- Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, with noted higher-education exceptions)
23) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on June 22, 2010.
24) What were the closing dates?
The original and final closing date listed was July 30, 2010.
25) When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was August 29, 2010.
26) What is the connection to "Civil Society 2.0"?
The opportunity was framed as a practical extension of Secretary Hillary Clinton's 2009 "Civil Society 2.0" vision, emphasizing support for grassroots organizations to use digital tools to tell their stories, grow their support bases, and connect with peers across borders.
27) Who can be contacted for help accessing the full announcement?
The point of contact listed for assistance accessing the full announcement is:
Katie Epp
SIS/AM Division Support
Phone: 202-776-8874
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