OpportunityTitle: Local Civil Society Capacity Building Initiative
CategoryExplanation: democracy, rights, and governance
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: Public international organizations,  Small businesses with functional and regional experience in the areas of: Non-profit management, organizational capacity development, management consulting, and entrepreneurship in the MENA region
Description: The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to enhance and further develop the organizational capacity of local civil society organizations (CSOs) in the MENA region. CSOs are flexible, dynamic, adaptive, localized, efficient, and innovative, making them complementary to governments and positioning them to execute a needs-based, demand-led approach. The common obstacles facing CSOs are linked to the difficulties in scaling-up and ensuring sustainability. Research shows that by developing a vision, planning strategically, and building organizational and leadership capacity, CSOs become more adept at being self-reflective and effective. Stemming from the knowledge that a mature, respected, and credible civil society is essential for encouraging participatory governance, NEA/AC asserts that CSOs can help increase governments&apos; legitimacy and channel citizens&apos; demands effectively.
GrantorContactText: Elizabeth Hartman&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;