OpportunityTitle: Supporting Civil Society Advocacy Efforts
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: Eligible applicants include any registered U.S. or foreign non-profit organizations; non-governmental organizations; private institutions; and institutions of higher education (non-profit or for-profit). The Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative strongly encourages applications from civil society organizations in the Middle East and North Africa region. International partners (non-governmental organizations with principal bases of operations outside the Middle East and North Africa) are also encouraged to apply, but the percentage of total budget actually spent in the region through local partners will be among the elements of evaluation for this competition.
Description: The Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), located within the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for applications that support civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to effectively advocate for causes that build more pluralistic, participatory, and prosperous societies. In the wake of the Arab Spring, MEPI seeks to fund projects that will support civil society&#146;s advocacy efforts across the region, responding to citizens&#146; demands for change and reform and for holding their governments accountable. Applications should focus in the following areas:&#149; Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and Syria: Proposed projects should assist activists and organizations to advocate more effectively, with intent to improve political freedoms, effect legislative change, and ensure the implementation of promised reforms and legislation. &#149; Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen: Proposed projects should help amplify the voice of civil society in political transition processes, specifically assisting CSOs to fulfill their role of channeling citizens&#146; demands for change into government decisions and new laws and constitutions, where applicable. &#149; Algeria, Oman, Qatar, and UAE: Proposed projects should address gaps in advocacy skills for nascent or moderately experienced civil society organizations to become more effective voices for the populace.Applications should assist CSOs in the design, development, and implementation of effective, issue-based advocacy campaigns that enable them to better respond to government or other decision-makers with persuasive arguments and successful reform strategies. Proposed activities should engage participants in the application of practical skills rather than provide general training directed toward basic organizational capacity. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider the provision of sub-awards to community activists or organizations, which will be selected in consultation with U.S. Embassies. Proposed projects should also consider motivating organizations to work collectively on public policy issues in order to make a greater impact, as well as to improve the public&#146;s understanding of and confidence in civil society&#146;s important role in policy development. We strongly encourage applications from experienced CSOs in the MENA region. International partners (non-governmental organizations with principal bases of operations outside the Middle East and North Africa) are also encouraged to apply, but the percentage of total budget actually spent in the region through local partners will be among the elements of evaluation for this competition. All applicants should demonstrate the experience and capacity to work with local CSOs and activists in the MENA region. In all projects, local ownership of activities is essential and should include youth and/or women as organizers and participants. Proposed projects may support one or more organizations, working on one or more advocacy campaigns, in a single country or across multiple countries to foster networks and to leverage different experiences and lessons learned. In addition, applicants may submit more than one application. Proposed projects should not already be addressed by current donor funding. Please Note: Applications that support CSO advocacy in countries other than those discussed above will not be considered.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: RFA Email Address
GrantorContactText: Jessica Baker &lt;br/&gt;Synergy Enterprises, Inc.Contractor &lt;br/&gt;Phone 202-776-8524