Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 11 AW 033 MENA 031811
Apply for NEAPI 11 AW 033 MENA 031811
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the business and commerce community development employment, labor and training law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tunisia Supporting a Democratic Transition" 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 Dec 30, 2011 and posted on Mar 18, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 17, 2012 MEPI will download the last round of applications to this APS at 2359 EST on January 17, 2012. After January 17th, MEPI will no longer accept applications to this funding opportunity.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000,000.00 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 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses 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) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education.
- Eligible applicants include any registered U.S. or foreign non profit organizations nongovernmental organizations private institutions institutions of higher education (non profit or for profit) commercial entities and small businesses. MEPI invites proposals from experienced Tunisian organizations as well as from experienced international organizations with principal bases of operations outside of Tunisia. Applicants should demonstrate the intention and capacity to work closely with partners and beneficiaries in Tunisia. In all proposals the percentage of the proposed budget allocated for expenditure in Tunisia, especially through local partners, will be among the elements of evaluation for this competition.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Tunisia Supporting a Democratic Transition opportunity is a U.S. Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Annual Program Statement (APS) that funded projects aimed at helping Tunisia navigate the immediate post-2011 transition period. The program’s core purpose was to support a credible democratic transition during a high-change moment that included drafting a new constitution, preparing for presidential and parliamentary elections anticipated later in 2011, and advancing related political and economic reforms. MEPI framed its objective in broad democratic development terms: building a participatory, pluralistic, and prosperous society where citizens can regularly influence public decisions and hold leaders accountable, where rights are protected and enforced through independent and effective courts, and where people have the skills and enabling environment needed for innovation, private sector growth, and job creation.
MEPI specifically invited proposals aligned to a set of priority areas considered especially relevant over the following two years. These priorities focused on strengthening Tunisian civil society organizations and other nongovernmental groups across the country, expanding freedom of expression by developing independent media and improving public access to information, reinforcing the rule of law, and improving democratic electoral and political processes and institutions. That political-institutions category explicitly included support for a stronger political party system, credible free and fair elections, and the effective functioning of newly created or newly elected bodies. A fifth priority emphasized economic stabilization and opportunity, seeking efforts that promoted recovery, growth, and employment by expanding private sector activity and entrepreneurship. In short, MEPI was looking for practical, Tunisia-specific programming that could help institutions and citizens participate meaningfully in public life while also addressing the economic pressures that often shape democratic outcomes.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary opportunity using grants and cooperative agreements, meaning applicants could receive either instrument depending on the level of anticipated U.S. government involvement during implementation. The total estimated funding was $20,000,000, with an expectation of around 25 awards. Individual awards were planned to range from $300,000 (floor) to $2,500,000 (ceiling). There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed. The funding activity categories reflected the breadth of the initiative, spanning business and commerce, community development, employment and workforce training, and law/justice/legal services, which matches the program’s combined emphasis on democratic governance and economic opportunity.
Eligibility was intentionally broad. MEPI accepted applications from registered U.S. or foreign nonprofits and NGOs, institutions of higher education (public or private, nonprofit or for-profit), commercial entities, and small businesses. MEPI explicitly encouraged proposals from experienced Tunisian organizations as well as international organizations headquartered outside Tunisia, but applicants were expected to show a clear plan and capacity to work closely with Tunisian partners and beneficiaries. A notable evaluation consideration was how much of the proposed budget would actually be spent in Tunisia, especially through local partners, signaling a preference for locally grounded implementation rather than remote management.
The timeline reflected the urgency of the transition period. Proposals submitted by April 11, 2011 were slated for review within two weeks, after which submissions were accepted on a rolling basis until funds were committed or the APS period ended. The final deadline for applications was 11:59 PM Eastern Time on January 17, 2012, after which MEPI would no longer accept submissions. The opportunity was posted March 18, 2011, carried the funding opportunity number NEAPI 11 AW 033 MENA 031811, and was associated with CFDA 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
FAQs: Tunisia Supporting a Democratic Transition (MEPI APS)
What is the "Tunisia Supporting a Democratic Transition" opportunity?
It is a U.S. Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Annual Program Statement (APS) that funded projects intended to help Tunisia navigate the immediate post-2011 transition period and support a credible democratic transition.
What was the overall purpose of this APS?
The core purpose was to support a credible democratic transition during a high-change moment, including drafting a new constitution, preparing for presidential and parliamentary elections anticipated later in 2011, and advancing related political and economic reforms.
How did MEPI define its democratic development objective for Tunisia?
MEPI framed the objective broadly: helping build a participatory, pluralistic, and prosperous society where citizens can regularly influence public decisions and hold leaders accountable; where rights are protected and enforced through independent and effective courts; and where people have the skills and enabling environment needed for innovation, private sector growth, and job creation.
What were the priority program areas MEPI invited proposals for?
MEPI invited proposals aligned to five priority areas considered especially relevant over the following two years:
- Strengthening Tunisian civil society organizations and other nongovernmental groups across the country
- Expanding freedom of expression by developing independent media and improving public access to information
- Reinforcing the rule of law
- Improving democratic electoral and political processes and institutions
- Promoting economic stabilization and opportunity by expanding private sector activity and entrepreneurship
What types of activities were included under the elections and political institutions priority?
That priority explicitly included support for a stronger political party system, credible free and fair elections, and the effective functioning of newly created or newly elected bodies.
Did the APS include an economic focus, or was it only about governance?
It included both. One priority emphasized economic stabilization and opportunity, seeking efforts that promoted recovery, growth, and employment by expanding private sector activity and entrepreneurship, alongside work on democratic governance and institutions.
What funding instruments were used for this opportunity?
This was a discretionary opportunity using grants and cooperative agreements. Applicants could receive either instrument depending on the anticipated level of U.S. government involvement during implementation.
What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement in this APS context?
The APS indicated that the choice depended on the level of anticipated U.S. government involvement during implementation. (No additional operational details were provided in the opportunity summary.)
How much total funding was estimated for this APS?
The total estimated funding was $20,000,000.
About how many awards were expected?
MEPI expected around 25 awards.
What was the expected size of individual awards?
Individual awards were planned to range from $300,000 (floor) to $2,500,000 (ceiling).
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity summary did not list any cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What types of organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad. MEPI accepted applications from registered U.S. or foreign nonprofits and NGOs, institutions of higher education (public or private, nonprofit or for-profit), commercial entities, and small businesses.
Were Tunisian organizations encouraged to apply?
Yes. MEPI explicitly encouraged proposals from experienced Tunisian organizations.
Were international organizations outside Tunisia encouraged to apply?
Yes. MEPI also encouraged proposals from international organizations headquartered outside Tunisia, with the expectation that applicants would show a clear plan and capacity to work closely with Tunisian partners and beneficiaries.
Did MEPI express a preference for local implementation in Tunisia?
Yes. A notable evaluation consideration was how much of the proposed budget would be spent in Tunisia, especially through local partners. This signaled a preference for locally grounded implementation rather than remote management.
What were the funding activity categories associated with this APS?
The funding activity categories reflected the breadth of the initiative and included business and commerce, community development, employment and workforce training, and law/justice/legal services.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 18, 2011.
What was the deadline for submitting proposals to get the initial fast review timeline?
Proposals submitted by April 11, 2011 were slated for review within two weeks.
Were applications accepted after April 11, 2011?
Yes. After that date, submissions were accepted on a rolling basis until funds were committed or the APS period ended.
What was the final deadline for applications?
The final deadline was 11:59 PM Eastern Time on January 17, 2012. After that time, MEPI would no longer accept submissions.
What is the funding opportunity number for this APS?
The funding opportunity number was NEAPI 11 AW 033 MENA 031811.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity was associated with CFDA 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
What kind of programming was MEPI looking for in Tunisia at that time?
MEPI was looking for practical, Tunisia-specific programming that could help institutions and citizens participate meaningfully in public life, while also addressing economic pressures that can shape democratic outcomes.
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