Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 08 CA 011 MENA 071508
Apply for NEAPI 08 CA 011 MENA 071508
- 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 "Women Leaders Program" 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 Jul 18, 2008 and posted on Jul 15, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 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 governmental organization, and U.S. or foreign private institutions or commercial entities. NEA/PI strongly encourages applications from partnerships or coalitions including local or regional organizations. Preference will be given to project proposals developed and authored by coalitions of organizations. Assistance to civil society and women s empowerment coalitions represents an important MEPI goal. NEA/PI also encourages projects that use highly skilled volunteers.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Women Leaders Program is a competitive funding opportunity from the U.S. State Department's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), managed by the Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (NEA/PI). The program is designed to support women’s empowerment, political leadership, and social participation across selected countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Its central aim is to strengthen the ability of women leaders to work effectively with peers and stakeholders on issues that directly affect women’s rights and opportunities, including legal status, political participation, and economic empowerment. The solicitation is framed as a request for applications (RFA) and emphasizes programming that is practical, results-oriented, and grounded in the local reform priorities identified by women and local partners in the region.
A major focus of the opportunity is leadership development and skills building for young women roughly between ages 25 and 45. NEA/PI is looking for implementers that can demonstrate real functional expertise in women’s empowerment, civil society strengthening, and leadership development, with particular relevance to the Gulf and to North Africa, specifically including Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia. Applicants are expected to be clear about what they do well (their key competencies) and to show credible regional and country-specific experience, rather than submitting generic concepts that could be placed anywhere. MEPI notes that women’s rights have improved in parts of MENA, but it also stresses that significant gaps remain, and the program is meant to help address those gaps by building the capacity of women to lead and influence change.
The announcement puts strong weight on innovation and added value. Proposals are expected to offer conceptually new approaches or creatively build on existing work in ways that clearly avoid duplicating projects already underway in the region. The program explicitly favors ideas that are shaped through meaningful partnerships with indigenous MENA organizations and that respond to reform opportunities identified locally, not imposed from outside. In practice, this means applicants should be prepared to explain what is already happening in the target context, how the proposed work is distinct, and why local partners see it as timely and useful.
Applicants are encouraged to design projects that address one or more of four priority areas, each tied to practical leadership outcomes. The first priority is empowering young women as agents of change through better leadership and teamwork, especially at the community level, where local initiatives and civic engagement can have immediate impact. The second priority aims to develop women advocates by connecting female political leaders with influential opinion leaders in sectors like business, law, and media, and/or by strengthening the political and advocacy skills of young women business leaders who may be positioned to influence policy and public attitudes. The third priority supports strengthening female journalists and journalism students, particularly by improving the quality and quantity of media coverage of women and women’s issues, which can shape public discourse and accountability. The fourth priority focuses on enhancing political skills for elected or appointed female officials and emerging women political leaders, targeting the practical capabilities needed to govern, campaign, legislate, communicate, and build coalitions.
While women’s leadership development is the core, the program leaves room for thoughtful inclusion of others who influence local norms and decision-making. Proposals that include male participants or that incorporate outreach to local or community leaders can be considered, particularly when those components clearly reinforce women’s leadership outcomes rather than distracting from them. This reflects an understanding that women’s advancement often depends not only on individual skills but also on broader community dynamics and institutional gatekeepers.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the funding agency expects a higher level of engagement or collaboration during implementation than a standard grant. MEPI anticipated making up to six awards, with an estimated total funding pool of $1.8 million. Individual awards were expected to range from $300,000 (floor) to $900,000 (ceiling). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated, which lowers the barrier for organizations that may not have large unrestricted funds to contribute.
Eligibility is relatively broad: registered U.S. or foreign non-governmental organizations, private institutions, and even commercial entities may apply. That said, NEA/PI strongly encourages applications from partnerships or coalitions that include local or regional organizations, and it states a clear preference for proposals developed and authored by coalitions. This aligns with MEPI’s broader goal of strengthening civil society networks and building durable collaborations, including links between U.S. and Arab civil society actors, and in some cases with governments, to support sustainable political, economic, and educational reform. The announcement also encourages the use of highly skilled volunteers, suggesting that proposals can leverage expert contributions to deepen impact and stretch program resources.
Key opportunity details include the Funding Opportunity Number NEAPI 08 CA 011 MENA 071508, CFDA 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative), and an original closing date of August 15, 2008. The full announcement was hosted through the MEPI website, with additional support available via the listed contact for access issues. Overall, the opportunity is structured around practical leadership capacity, locally anchored partnerships, and program designs that are clearly differentiated from existing efforts, with the end goal of increasing women’s ability to participate in and shape political, social, legal, and economic life across targeted parts of the MENA region.
Women Leaders Program (MEPI) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Women Leaders Program?
The Women Leaders Program is a competitive funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), managed by the Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (NEA/PI). It supports programming that advances women's empowerment, political leadership, and social participation in selected countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
What is the main goal of this opportunity?
The central aim is to strengthen the ability of women leaders to work effectively with peers and stakeholders on issues that directly affect women's rights and opportunities, including legal status, political participation, and economic empowerment. The solicitation emphasizes practical, results-oriented programming grounded in local reform priorities identified by women and local partners.
What type of funding opportunity is this?
This solicitation is a Request for Applications (RFA) and the anticipated award instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that awards are cooperative agreements?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates that the funding agency expects a higher level of engagement or collaboration during implementation than a standard grant.
How much funding is available?
The estimated total funding pool was $1.8 million, and MEPI anticipated making up to six awards.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $300,000 (floor) to $900,000 (ceiling).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the opportunity description.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes registered U.S. or foreign non-governmental organizations, private institutions, and commercial entities.
Are partnerships or coalitions required?
Partnerships are not described as strictly required, but NEA/PI strongly encourages applications from partnerships or coalitions that include local or regional organizations. The announcement also states a preference for proposals developed and authored by coalitions.
Is there a preference for working with local MENA organizations?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly favors ideas shaped through meaningful partnerships with indigenous MENA organizations and that respond to reform opportunities identified locally rather than imposed from outside.
What countries or subregions are specifically emphasized?
The program is focused on selected countries in MENA, with particular relevance to the Gulf and to North Africa. The announcement specifically includes Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia.
Who is the primary target population for programming?
A major focus is leadership development and skills building for young women roughly between the ages of 25 and 45.
What kinds of outcomes or approaches does MEPI want to see?
MEPI emphasizes programming that is practical and results-oriented, with clear added value and innovation. Applicants are expected to demonstrate credible regional and country-specific experience and describe their key competencies rather than submitting generic concepts.
How important is innovation and differentiation from existing programs?
Very important. Proposals are expected to offer conceptually new approaches or creatively build on existing work in ways that clearly avoid duplicating projects already underway. Applicants should be prepared to explain what is already happening in the target context and how their proposed work is distinct and timely.
What are the priority areas for project design?
Applicants are encouraged to design projects that address one or more of four priority areas tied to practical leadership outcomes.
Priority Area 1: What does "empowering young women as agents of change" mean in this announcement?
This priority focuses on strengthening leadership and teamwork, especially at the community level, where local initiatives and civic engagement can have immediate impact.
Priority Area 2: What does the opportunity mean by developing women advocates?
This priority includes connecting female political leaders with influential opinion leaders in sectors such as business, law, and media, and/or strengthening the political and advocacy skills of young women business leaders who may be positioned to influence policy and public attitudes.
Priority Area 3: What support is envisioned for women in journalism?
This priority supports strengthening female journalists and journalism students, particularly by improving the quality and quantity of media coverage of women and women's issues.
Priority Area 4: What political skills are emphasized for women officials and emerging leaders?
This priority targets practical capabilities needed to govern, campaign, legislate, communicate, and build coalitions for elected or appointed female officials and emerging women political leaders.
Can projects include male participants or community leaders?
Yes. Proposals that include male participants or outreach to local or community leaders can be considered when those components clearly reinforce women's leadership outcomes rather than distracting from them.
What kind of organizational experience does NEA/PI expect from applicants?
Applicants are expected to demonstrate real functional expertise in women's empowerment, civil society strengthening, and leadership development, with credible regional and country-specific experience, particularly relevant to the Gulf and North Africa.
What does the announcement say about "key competencies"?
Applicants are expected to be clear about what they do well and to present proposals grounded in their demonstrated strengths and relevant experience, rather than generic concepts.
Does the program aim to support broader reform beyond individual leadership training?
Yes. While women's leadership development is core, the program reflects the idea that women's advancement often depends on broader community dynamics and institutional gatekeepers, and it aligns with MEPI's goal of strengthening civil society networks and durable collaborations.
Does the opportunity encourage volunteer engagement?
Yes. The announcement encourages the use of highly skilled volunteers, suggesting proposals can leverage expert contributions to deepen impact and extend resources.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NEAPI 08 CA 011 MENA 071508.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative).
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed for the solicitation was August 15, 2008.
Where was the full announcement hosted?
The full announcement was hosted through the MEPI website, with additional support available via the listed contact for access issues.
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