Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 09 CA 019 MENA 102909
Apply for NEAPI 09 CA 019 MENA 102909
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the business and commerce community development employment, labor and training regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Youth Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa Program Announcement" 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 Nov 16, 2009 and posted on Oct 29, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 30, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,250,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education 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 For profit organizations other than small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Youth Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa Program Announcement is a competitive U.S. government funding opportunity released by the Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (NEA/PI). It is designed to back projects that help young people across the Middle East and North Africa build entrepreneurial skills, launch businesses, and connect to the resources and networks they need to succeed. The program is grounded in the Administration's emphasis at the time on youth engagement, innovation, and cross-sector partnerships, with the overarching idea that stronger entrepreneurship ecosystems can help address unemployment, support economic growth, and encourage constructive civic engagement in the region.
At its core, the announcement asks applicants to propose practical, results-oriented projects that foster a culture of entrepreneurship among youth, defined here as males and females ages 16 to 35. NEA/PI highlights a range of activities that could fit under this umbrella, including entrepreneurship training and skill building, idea generation and mentorship, business incubation and acceleration support, entrepreneurship competitions, improved access to capital, pathways to employment, and the creation or strengthening of entrepreneurship networks. These networks can be local, cross-border, or virtual, and are meant to connect emerging entrepreneurs not only with each other but also with investors, private sector partners, civil society organizations, educators, and other stakeholders who influence business formation and growth.
The program places heavy emphasis on measurable economic outcomes rather than general awareness-raising. NEA/PI specifically wants applicants to describe how they will track and demonstrate positive results related to business startups, job creation, and income generation. Proposals are expected to define short-, medium-, and long-term results, and to be designed in a way that continues producing benefits after the grant period ends. In practice, this means applicants should show that their approach can translate creativity and innovation into real economic activity, not just training sessions or one-time events.
A notable feature of the announcement is its recognition that MENA economies differ widely, and that entrepreneurship support cannot be one-size-fits-all. NEA/PI signals interest in projects tailored to different contexts: wealthier or more developed economies that are still working to build a deeper local entrepreneurship culture; lower-resource economies where entrepreneurship may be essential to leveraging comparative advantages and developing niche markets; and countries that fall between those extremes. Even with that flexibility, the announcement suggests the most competitive proposals will focus on places and populations where entrepreneurship traditions and enabling environments are weaker, and will clearly explain why the proposed intervention is likely to have the greatest impact for youth in that setting.
The opportunity also encourages applicants to avoid duplicating existing efforts and instead complement, connect, and scale what is already underway in the region. Applicants are urged to map the current landscape of youth entrepreneurship programming and propose approaches that tie multiple strands together, expand proven models, or build bridges across national boundaries. Creating regional networks is specifically mentioned as a way to help entrepreneurs who face similar startup and operational obstacles in different countries. For those advanced from pre-application to full application, the program strongly encourages partnerships with organizations based in the region, both to increase local capacity and to improve the likelihood of long-term sustainability.
While cost sharing is not required under the terms of the opportunity, NEA/PI indicates that cost sharing strategies can strengthen an application, especially when contributions come from within the MENA region. The logic is sustainability: applicants should anticipate how activities will continue after U.S. government funding ends, whether through local investment, revenue models, private sector support, institutional partnerships, or other funding streams.
Administratively, this opportunity was posted October 29, 2009, under Funding Opportunity Number NEAPI 09 CA 019 MENA 102909. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government would typically expect a more involved partnership role than with a standard grant. The program anticipated making 2 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $2,250,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $500,000 (floor) to $1,500,000 (ceiling). The closing date for applications was November 30, 2009, and the opportunity was archived December 30, 2009. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private higher education institutions, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, and other for-profit organizations (excluding those categorized as small businesses under the listed eligibility). The CFDA number associated with the program is 19.500, Middle East Partnership Initiative.
Geographically, the announcement lists the following MENA countries as potentially eligible contexts for projects: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. For access issues related to the full announcement, the contact listed is Jessica Baker at Quality Support, Inc., with a phone number (202-776-8500) and reference to the NEA Grants emailbox.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Youth Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa Program Announcement?
It is a competitive U.S. government funding opportunity released by the Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (NEA/PI). It supports projects that help youth across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) build entrepreneurial skills, start businesses, and connect to resources and networks that improve their chances of success.
What is the main goal of this opportunity?
The opportunity is designed to strengthen youth entrepreneurship ecosystems in the MENA region with an emphasis on practical, results-oriented efforts that lead to measurable economic outcomes such as business startups, job creation, and income generation.
Who is considered "youth" under this program?
Youth are defined as males and females ages 16 to 35.
What types of activities does NEA/PI want to fund?
The announcement highlights a range of eligible activity types, including entrepreneurship training and skill building, idea generation and mentorship, business incubation and acceleration support, entrepreneurship competitions, improved access to capital, pathways to employment, and the creation or strengthening of entrepreneurship networks.
Are entrepreneurship networks an important part of this program?
Yes. The announcement specifically emphasizes building or strengthening networks that connect emerging entrepreneurs with each other and with investors, private sector partners, civil society organizations, educators, and other stakeholders involved in business formation and growth. Networks may be local, cross-border, or virtual.
What does the program emphasize more: awareness-raising or measurable economic results?
Measurable economic outcomes. NEA/PI places heavy emphasis on demonstrating results related to business startups, job creation, and income generation rather than general awareness-raising.
What does NEA/PI expect applicants to measure and report?
Applicants are expected to describe how they will track and demonstrate positive outcomes, specifically including business startups, job creation, and income generation. Proposals are also expected to define short-, medium-, and long-term results.
Does the program expect benefits to continue after the grant ends?
Yes. Projects are expected to be designed so they continue producing benefits after the grant period ends, showing a credible plan for sustainability beyond U.S. government funding.
Is the program intended to be the same approach in every country?
No. The announcement explicitly recognizes that MENA economies vary widely and signals interest in approaches tailored to different contexts, including wealthier economies still building entrepreneurship culture, lower-resource economies where entrepreneurship may be essential, and countries in between.
Which contexts are likely to be most competitive according to the announcement?
The announcement suggests the most competitive proposals will focus on places and populations where entrepreneurship traditions and enabling environments are weaker, and clearly explain why the proposed approach will have the greatest impact for youth in that setting.
Does NEA/PI want applicants to duplicate existing entrepreneurship programs?
No. Applicants are encouraged to avoid duplicating existing efforts and instead complement, connect, and scale what is already underway, including mapping the current landscape and proposing approaches that tie strands together, expand proven models, or build cross-border bridges.
Are regional (cross-border) networks encouraged?
Yes. Creating regional networks is specifically mentioned as a way to connect entrepreneurs who face similar startup and operational obstacles in different countries.
Are partnerships with MENA-based organizations encouraged?
Yes. For applicants advanced from pre-application to full application, the program strongly encourages partnerships with organizations based in the region to build local capacity and support long-term sustainability.
Is cost sharing required?
No. Cost sharing is not required under the terms of the opportunity.
Can cost sharing strengthen an application?
Yes. NEA/PI indicates cost sharing strategies can strengthen an application, especially when contributions come from within the MENA region, as a signal of sustainability and continued support after U.S. funding ends.
What kinds of sustainability approaches are mentioned?
The announcement references sustainability pathways such as local investment, revenue models, private sector support, institutional partnerships, or other funding streams that can keep activities going after U.S. government funding ends.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally means the U.S. government expects a more involved partnership role than with a standard grant.
How many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated making 2 awards.
What was the estimated total funding level?
The estimated total funding level was $2,250,000.
What was the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $500,000 (floor) to $1,500,000 (ceiling).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is NEAPI 09 CA 019 MENA 102909.
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
It was posted on October 29, 2009. The closing date for applications was November 30, 2009, and the opportunity was archived on December 30, 2009.
Which organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private higher education institutions, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, and other for-profit organizations (excluding those categorized as small businesses under the listed eligibility).
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number associated with the program is 19.500, Middle East Partnership Initiative.
Which countries are listed as eligible contexts for projects?
The announcement lists the following MENA countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Who is the contact for access issues related to the full announcement?
The contact listed is Jessica Baker at Quality Support, Inc. The phone number provided is (202) 776-8500, with a reference to the NEA Grants emailbox.
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