2019 MEPI Local Grants Program NOFO.pdf

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs

Office of Assistance Coordination

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 19.500

2018-2019 MEPI Local Grants Program

Opportunity Number: SFOP0005770

Key Information:

Announcement Type: New Date Opened: 4/19/2019 Deadline for Questions: 5/2/2019 Application Deadline: 5/21/2019 Expected Date of Notification: 9/30/2019 Federal Agency Contact: Jane Guydan

NEA-Grants@state.gov

Funding Opportunity Synopsis Advancing stability and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is critical to the achievement of the United States’ foreign policy. There are many challenges, however, which hinder efforts to improve transparent governance, provide inclusive economic opportunities, and encourage civic engagement. Two thirds of the population feel that economic hardship and corruption plague their countries, with trust in civil society decreasing since 2015.

The MEPI Local Grants Program’s mission is to sustain the United States’ commitment to strengthen direct partnerships with local actors to promote prosperity and participatory governance. Its objectives are to support civil society organizations in (1) developing, promoting, and implementing locally-designed solutions to self-identified environmental, economic, or social problems; (2) promoting inclusive economic growth that reaches marginalized communities, youth, and women; (3) advancing participatory governance through promoting citizens’ engagement and decision-makers’ willingness to work with citizen groups and civil society organizations; (4) improving civil society’s representation of the needs of citizens through collective action on the local level; (5) working towards gender parity in economics and politics; (6) increasing youth engagement in meaningful economic and civic activities; and (7) fostering innovative approaches to solving social, economic, or political issues.

Eligible Countries and Territories:

In this announcement, we seek to support projects in Algeria, Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Qatar, Tunisia, and Yemen. Please note: Applications that focus on activities in countries and territories other than those listed will NOT be considered.

All applications must be submitted in English. Applicants may submit only one (1) application. Complete information on how applicants can submit proposals for this opportunity can be found in Section VI below.

Background Information about NEA/AC:

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance

Coordination (NEA/AC) offers Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance to groups and individuals striving to bring about positive change in the Middle East-North Africa region. The

Assistance Coordination Office works in 20 countries and territories, partnering with governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), community leaders, youth and women activists and private sector groups to advance their efforts. Competitively selected projects aim to foster participatory governance, economic reform, and educational advancement in response to local interest and needs.

The mission of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is to foster meaningful and effective partnerships between citizens, civil society, the private sector, and governments to resolve local challenges and promote shared interests in the areas of participatory governance and economic opportunity and reform. Focusing on promoting stability and prosperity in the region, MEPI supports partnerships through projects that are responsive to emerging opportunities by being field-driven, applying evidence-based decision-making, and designing results-oriented projects. For more information about the MEPI Program visit:

https://mepi.state.gov/.

https://mepi.state.gov/

Table of Contents

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROBLEM STATEMENT

B. ACHIEVABLE GOALS

C. PROJECT DESIGN

MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

AWARD INFORMATION

SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

C. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

B. APPLICATION FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

C. SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

D. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

FUNDING LIMITATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

APPLICATION REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

A. APPLICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

ADMINSTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

C. TRAVEL NOTIFICATIONS

D. APPLICANT VETTING AS A CONDITION OF AWARD

E. BRANDING AND MARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTEES

F. UEI NUMBER REQUIREMENT FOR SUB AWARDEES

G. SUB AWARDEE REPORTING REQUIREMENT

AGENCY CONTACTS

DISCLAIMER

APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1 – MEPI Local Grants Project Narrative Application APPENDIX 2 – MEPI Local Grants Budget Template APPENDIX 3 – MEPI Local Grants Application Guidance

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

The MEPI Local Grants Program seeks projects that build links between and among citizens, civil society, government, and the private sector, and are responsive to emerging opportunities at the local level in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The program supports projects that align with U.S. foreign policy goals and promote U.S. interests in the region, enhancing stability, and increasing prosperity across MENA.

These grants are designed to support two priority areas of the MEPI Strategic Framework:

Participatory Governance: Enable civil society to effectively interact with government officials to increase responsiveness to citizen needs. Enhance citizens’ ability to actively participate in their governments and develop a more informed citizenry. Enable government officials’ engagement with, and responsiveness to, their citizens to resolve issues of shared concern.

Economic Reform: Enable citizens, policy makers, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector with the skills and resources to provide economic opportunity, foster economic growth, and promote improved business enabling environments.

Note: Applicants should read this NOFO in its entirety before writing their proposal, and should refer to the full Evaluation Criteria provided in Section VII while drafting all materials.

A. PROBLEM STATEMENT

The MENA region is dynamic with various political, economic, and social challenges on the national and local levels. Nearly three-quarters of the region’s population identifies worsening economic conditions as the single most important challenge facing their countries. Other major concerns include financial and administrative corruption, disenfranchised citizens and marginalized communities, large public sectors, limited opportunities for innovation, and high unemployment rates, especially among youth.

An equal percentage of the population – approximately three quarters - expressed deteriorating trust in government institutions and elected officials, and an increasing number feels that the credibility of civil society is diminishing.

Finally, gender inequalities persist despite recent gains in women’s political participation and countering gender-based violence laws. While many women have surpassed men in their educational attainment around the region, their participation in the labor force remains two to four times lower than men, and their participation in political processes is among the lowest in the world.

B. ACHIEVABLE GOALS

A key objective of the Local Grants Program is developing the capacity of local civil society organizations (CSOs) to effectively and efficiently manage U.S. federal assistance. Working primarily on the local level, and using an evidence-based approach, one of the following goals

MUST be achieved:

1. Develop and promote locally designed solutions to environmental, economic or social problems.

2. Foster inclusive economic growth that reaches marginalized communities, youth and women.

3. Encourage citizens’ engagement in participatory governance and decision-makers’ willingness to work with citizen groups and civil society organizations.

4. Increase civil society’s representation of the needs of citizens through collective action on the local level.

5. Work towards gender parity in politics and/or economics.

6. Increase youth engagement in meaningful economic and civic activities.

7. Foster innovative approaches and solutions.

C. PROJECT DESIGN

In addition to the overarching MEPI objectives and requirements identified above, projects must meet country-specific project priority areas as outlined below:

Algeria:

Country Problem Statement: The official youth unemployment rate in Algeria exceeded 25 percent in 2018, which will only worsen absent economic reform as the number of those under

30 (who already comprise nearly 70 percent of the Algerian population) increases. Private entrepreneurs face significant challenges including currency controls, import restrictions, bureaucratic hurdles, burdensome regulations, and strict government control of key sectors.

Entrepreneurs and small- and medium- enterprises (SMEs) also face challenges from a workforce skills gap such as limited managerial skills, training, and difficulties in identifying or connecting with suitable markets.

Likewise, Algerian civil society organizations (CSOs) face difficulties pooling resources or expertise to increase their effectiveness or coordination. Algerian civil society could play a crucial role in providing representation, delivering services to people in underserved areas, and mediating between the authorities and citizens. Helping to build this type of capacity will be important as Algeria moves through transitional phases and could help prevent the types of protests that occurred in 2019.

Country Priorities:

(1) Economic Growth: Increase youth employability through job placements and/or the creation of effective and sustainable businesses. Applicants should have established relationships with employers, demonstrated through a letter of intent or formal partnership. Sample activities under this priority could include but are not limited to:

a. Equip youth, especially in rural areas and areas with high unemployment rates, with soft and technical skills and place them in long-term employment opportunities.

b. Develop policies and procedures related to job-related training to align with identified market needs based on employer feedback and job placement outcomes.

c. Provide opportunities for targeted young entrepreneurs to start new businesses.

(2) Support for Civil Society: Enable CSOs to reach out to both constituents and local and national government counterparts in order to increase citizen participation in decision-making processes and governance. Sample activities under this priority could include but are not limited to:

a. Improve membership representation, outreach, and public relations for targeted

CSOs.

b. Strengthen CSOs’ communication and outreach strategies in interacting with government counterparts and advocating for policy goals.

c. Conduct advocacy activities to advance specific policy goals resulting in demonstrable outcomes and impacts during the project timeframe.

Geographic/Thematic Focus: Projects must target at least one of the following populations:

youth or women. Priority will be given to geographic areas outside the main cities and to MEPI alumni. Applicants must demonstrate the process of assessing the implications for women, men, and other groups of any planned action at social, economic and political levels in their project narrative through implementation and evaluation.

Specific eligibility requirements:

Eligible applicants include: Local civil society organizations, non-profit organizations, community groups, non-governmental organizations, professional associations, private sector organizations, and universities based in Algeria, which have obtained all required registrations.

Priority will be given to applicants who have previously implemented or managed international awards in an amount of at least $50,000.

Bahrain:

Country Problem Statement: A country with a young parliament and civil society, Bahrain’s

CSOs are building experience and credibility, but still need assistance in strengthening the role

CSOs play in addressing civil society representation through collective action and youth engagement. The country also needs to improve partnerships between civil society and the government. Bahrain’s struggles of social inclusion have been exacerbated by fiscal challenges that limit access to social programs and economic opportunities, particularly for disadvantaged youth. Programs that increase their economic and civic engagement will strengthen social inclusion and stability.

Country Priority: Projects awarded under this announcement will support CSOs to engage in political discourse by representing citizen’s and youth’s needs. To date, youth have been marginalized in the political discourse, thus targeting increased youth engagement and meaningful economic and civil activities will also contribute to internal stability.

Geographic/Thematic Focus: Proposals are open to all populations and policy areas.

Specific eligibility requirements: Partnerships must have at least one organization officially registered as a civil society organization, professional association, private sector organization, or academic institution.

Israel:

Country Problem Statement: Israel is a leader in business and entrepreneurship development as evidenced by its flourishing hi-tech sector; however, certain sectors of Israeli society remain marginalized. The Israeli government has been working closely with several NGOs to integrate economically disadvantaged communities (including the ultra-Orthodox and Arab communities) into the workforce in order to close these economic gaps and boost growth for the entire economy. Fostering entrepreneurial and business activities and policies is necessary to help businesses mature in order to provide innovative solutions for economic and social problems in the region and provide needed employment opportunities.

While the government is allocating funds to support the development of challenged communities, many local authorities are unable to fully take advantage of these opportunities to address their community’s security and social and economic needs. These local authorities need to improve their coordination with the government and other relevant sectors to improve the lives of their citizens.

The Bedouin segment of the Arab population continues to be the most disadvantaged, especially those living in the Negev area. While governmental plans and civil society projects have focused on the social and economic advancement of the Arab Bedouin community, Bedouin women in particular continue to have special needs for skills to achieve equal-rights and social, political, and economic opportunities.

(1) Economic empowerment of disadvantaged groups through advocacy, skills training that lead to job placement, regional cooperation, and industrial/tech zones.

(2) Strengthening national security and policing partnerships with local authorities and relevant key stakeholders.

(3) Building leaderships skills through non-partisan projects for diverse political and social activists.

(4) Promoting awareness of rights and civic education within the Bedouin community, with particular emphasis on women.

Geographic/Thematic Focus: Target beneficiaries will be from periphery communities and disadvantaged groups, as well as relevant key policy figures.

NGO’s or non-profit institutions including academia with headquarters based in Israel

Must be registered with the Israeli Ministry of Justice

Implementers of a MEPI Local Grant with a current MEPI project still under implementation by August 1, 2019 are not eligible to apply to this funding opportunity.

Applicants are encouraged to have at least two years of experience.

Applicants are encourged to have have exisiting private sector or government partnerships when relevent.

Jordan:

Country Problem Statement: Jordanian citizens’ dissatisfaction with the government has increased in the face of unpopular austerity measures, revisions to the income tax law, and higher prices for essentials as well as widespread perceptions of corruption and underperformance of government services. High unemployment, particularly among youth, significantly contributes to

Jordanian citizens’ discontent. Currently, citizens and government officials have limited options to engage in constructive conversations about the needs of the populace and the challenges facing Jordan. Some unemployed youth have taken up long-distance marches to Amman to demand jobs; and protests have often presented an extensive list of grievances and demands.

Marches and demonstrations are typical of citizen attempts to communicate with the government. At the same time, government outreach efforts to listen to citizens’ concerns in the governorates are regularly met with hostility, and few productive discussions have taken place.

Fewer than half the population in Jordan trusted their elected representatives to support their interests, according to an International Republican Institute September 2018 report.

Avenues for strengthened communication between the Jordanian government and its citizens are a necessity, particularly as the government seeks to revise the long-standing social contract that has exchanged economic opportunities for loyalty. Traditionally, jobs have been provided in the public sector, which employs forty percent of the country’s labor force, but this is unsustainable and does not meet current demand. Private sector solutions that expand available job opportunities are needed to provide economic stability for today’s unemployed and tomorrow’s new entrants to the labor market. Success in establishing a new social contract in Jordan will require improved two-way communication between the government and its citizens as well as an informed and active citizenry. Youth involvement in constructive dialogue and in civil society efforts will be essential to build trust in the government as will improvements in the outlook for youth employment.

Country Priority: Projects awarded under this program must aim to improve communication by expanding government outreach efforts, improving civil society advocacy targeting local needs, and enhancing civic engagement across the country. At the same time, expanding economic opportunities for youth - and gender gaps in representation in the workforce - must be addressed in parallel to build the needed trust in government.

Geographic/Thematic Focus: Priority will be given to projects that target disadvantaged areas including but not limited to:

Governorates in the South (Aqaba, Ma’an, Tafileh, and Karak governorates) and the

North (Zarqa, Irbid, Ajloun)

East Amman and Central Badia (Amman governorate)

Thematic areas can include but are not limited to:

Outlets for civic discourse;

Youth political participation;

Civic education;

Youth involvement in civic engagement;

Improved civil society advocacy;

Entrepreneurship, including the role of technological innovation in creating new opportunities; and/or

Career/job-skills training that lead to job placement.

Specific eligibility requirements: N/A

Kuwait:

Country Problem Statement:

Though Kuwait has taken many steps towards achieving gender parity in government and the private sector, a lot more work remains to be done to truly provide equal rights and protections to women. The country still has honor killing laws, does not have a domestic violence shelter for victims of domestic abuse, and has yet to pass a gender violence law. Post would like to have civil society organizations, interest groups, and private sector companies to engage the Kuwaiti government to promote gender equality and women’s rights.

Additionally, Kuwait is a destination country for men and women who are subjected to forced labor and to a much lesser extent, forced prostitution. Victims of forced labor typically experienced nonpayment of wages, working conditions drastically different from those indicated in the contract, limited freedom of movement, harassment, or threats. Employees claimed that passport confiscation by employers, though illegal, remained a common practice. In other cases, workers who pay a fee to get a job in Kuwait find that there is no job waiting for them when they arrive and must find jobs in the grey market as illegal workers with no rights. Post would like civil society organizations to engage the Kuwaiti government to implement change to protect victims, and enhance existing legislation to provide greater rights and mobility to workers.

Finally, Kuwait’s stateless Arab population (Bidoon) of approximately 90,000 is a marginalized community that is struggling to gain access to basic human rights. The government does not uniformly grant government services and subsidies to Bidoon, including education, employment, medical care, and the issuance of civil documents, such as birth, marriage, and death certificates.

There are very few civil society organizations or individuals working on the Bidoon cause. Post would like to invite civil society organizations and private sector organizations to help develop a local solution to this social problem.

Building coalitions around priority issues with diverse civil society organizations; and

Promoting human rights for all groups including but not limited to:

o Women’s empowerment;

o Worker’s rights;

o Treatment of minorities; and/or o Freedom of expression.

As an outcome, citizens will be better informed about opportunities to engage in civic activities and civil society organizations will be better able to work collaboratively with each other and engage a higher number of citizens on priority issues. These projects will help Kuwaiti organizations develop and promote locally designed solutions for social problems.

Geographic/Thematic Focus: Proposals that target minority rights and that aim to engage citizens are encouraged.

Non-profit civil society organizations (registered or unregistered) are eligible to apply.

Established partnerships with the government or private sector are encouraged.

Lebanon:

Country Problem Statement: According to the 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index published by

Transparency International, Lebanon is the 138th most corrupt nation out of 175 countries worldwide, and ranks 13 out of 18 countries in MENA.

(1) Electronic governance or e-governance through the use of information communications technology (ICT) in delivering government services, exchange of information, communication transactions or automation of services and forms, and government-to-citizen (G2C) procedures.

(2) Building the capacity of key national governmental institutions to combat corruption and improve transparency, and/or improving the transparency of their engagement of the private sector.

Geographic/Thematic Focus: Proposals should target all areas of Lebanon and not be limited to one governorate. Proposals could include, but are not limited to, any sector of governance, including public sector engagement of the private sector through tendering and contracting.

Projects should align with the following goals:

Promote stability by discouraging external interference, strengthening government institutions and processes, and supporting an engaged civil society.

Increase the government’s capability to respond to the needs of all people in Lebanon through democratic elections, functioning government institutions, and transparent processes.

Registered civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations

(NGOs) with a proven track record of project delivery.

Public-Private partnerships are encouraged.

Applicant organizations should have a letter of intent, and later a Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU) with the related government bodies (Ministries or Commissions) they anticipate partnering with on the proposed project.

Libya:

Country Problem Statement: Young people represent a huge potential and an immense human resource that can effectively contribute to production and to making a significant shift in economic growth and development in Libya. Young people aged 15-34 represent about half of the workforce. Greater employment of Libya’s youth in high-growth sectors working with modern technologies and innovation has potential to bring economic prosperity to Libya. At least

48 percent of Libya’s youth are unemployed compared to the rate of 13 percent worldwide, and young women are more likely to be unemployed (68 percent of the unemployed youth between

15-24 are female). Available employment to opportunities for youth are limited by the private sector’s capacity to provide jobs and accompanying incentives for young people. Additionally, youth currently lack the skills and competencies needed to access the most competitive jobs in high-growth industries.

Country Priority: Proposed activities could include, but are not limited to:

Encourage small and medium businesses to provide employment opportunities and attractive incentives for young women and men.

Design training and reskilling plans for the benefit of the unemployed young men and women taking into account the actual needs of labor markets and available jobs.

Conduct information and awareness campaigns on the value of work in all its aspects among young people, including blue-collar jobs, and the role of work in building the spirit of citizenship and values of self-reliance and community participation.

Raise awareness of the roles of girls and women in the workforce to build new generations empowered by the culture of equality and awareness of the rights of girls and women.

Design mechanisms for integrating young women into local development projects and raising the importance of education, employment, and participation of young women.

Geographic/Thematic Focus: Priority will be given to projects that include women and/or youth as intended beneficiaries.

Specific eligibility requirements: Applicants should demonstrate experience and innovative approaches to accomplish the activities proposed.

Morocco:

Country Problem Statement: In 2014, Morocco launched its Industrial Acceleration Plan, a new approach to industrial development based on establishing efficient “eco-systems” that integrate value chains and supplier relationships between large companies and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Industrial Acceleration Plan strategy set out to create 500,000 new jobs in manufacturing by 2020 by targeting higher levels of foreign direct investment and strengthening the linkages between the small business sector and Morocco’s industrial leaders.

Morocco has also focused on positioning itself as a financial hub for Africa, and offers incentives for firms that locate their regional headquarters in the Casablanca Finance City (CFC), Morocco’s flagship financial and business hub launched in 2010 by King Mohammed VI. Despite the significant improvements in its business environment, Morocco continues to face challenges in skilled labor shortages, weak intellectual property rights protection, and a challenging regulatory environment.

Morocco’s “advanced regionalization” initiative has devolved increasing budgetary and administrative authority to regionally and locally elected bodies, and given citizens the right to directly petition and engage those regional and municipal bodies. Those bodies, however, as well as civil society, lack the competencies and experience to fully take advantage of these reforms.

Political apathy in Morocco is high, especially among youth, who lack an awareness not only of these reforms but also the knowledge and skills necessary to become more civically engaged.

(1) Foster inclusive economic growth that reaches marginalized communities, youth, and women: Proposals must focus on creating jobs, as well as bridging the gap between the education system and the job market, with a focus on areas outside of the major cities of

Casablanca, Marrakech, Rabat, and Tangier. Priority will be given to projects that focus on youth and women residing outside of major cities. Activities could include but are not limited to:

a. Promoting the creation of small- and medium-size businesses by providing technical assistance to address challenges to private sector development, including legal procedures, and difficulties in accessing finance; and/or

b. Improving job seekers’ skills and employability through technical and skills training that lead to placement in internships and employment opportunities.

(2) Encourage citizens’ engagement in participatory governance and decision-makers’ willingness to work with citizen groups and civil society organizations: Proposals must be innovative, sustainable, and actively support increased dialogue between citizens, civil society, and local government with the goal of effectively addressing the needs of the community. Activities could include but are not limited to:

a. Expanding local civic education efforts that promote transparency, public safety, gender equality, and a deeper understanding of citizens’ rights in innovative, measurable, and sustaining ways.

b. Increasing citizen awareness and participation, particularly among young women and men, of avenues of participation and communication with local government.

This could include knowing who to contact for various services or educational information. Ideally, youth-led organizations would find innovative ways to engage youth on issues that matter the most to them, and provide innovative ways for youth to interact with peers and local government bodies.

Geographic/Thematic Focus: Proposals should focus on areas outside of the major cities of

Casablanca, Marrakech, Rabat, and Tangier.

Specific eligibility requirements: Applicant organizations must be registered with the

Government of Morocco.

Qatar:

Country Problem Statement: Qatari women are highly educated and enjoy almost all aspects of constitutional and civil rights; however, they are not widely represented in government or private sector leadership. Progress was made when the Qatari Amir announced the appointment of four women to the 45- member Shura Council in November 2017; the first time women have been appointed to the national legislative body. The potential Shura Council elections in 2019 (the first general elections for the body), could see even greater female representation in government.

Beyond the political sphere, the Qatari government has also supported female entrepreneurship through business incentives and technical support to women business owners.

While progress continues to be made on women’s leadership in governance and business, more can be done. Women are encouraged to enter sectors of influence, like the political, business, and

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic (STEM) fields. Given women’s limited experience in leadership roles, they need the skills to solidify their standing and succeed in these new positions. Young women, in particular, would benefit from access to training, networking, and other skill-building opportunities that would help them excel in business and political leadership positions.

(1) Strengthening Women’s Political Participation: Shura Council elections, which could take place as early as 2019, present an opportunity for women to engage in the political process. Recognizing these will be the first national elections in Qatar, women will need the skills to potentially participate as candidates or campaign managers, and increase their knowledge on the voting process and how to engage citizens on issues of priority.

Proposals should develop innovative programs to engage and strengthen the skills of women to participate in the decision-making process, making use of the upcoming elections as an opportunity to partake effectively in political life.

a. Successful applications will focus on electoral and campaign skills development, voter education, young female leadership development, and other approaches to strengthen women’s participation in future Qatari elections and political life.

Projects should support participation of women in various sectors of Qatari society.

(2) Strengthening Women’s Economic Participation: Proposals for increasing female entrepreneurs’ ability to capitalize on recent momentum and more effectively engage in business opportunities are encouraged. Proposals should focus on developing innovative projects to engage and strengthen the skills of women to participate in the business community and/or STEM fields. Potential project activities could include but are not limited to: strengthening women entrepreneurs’ budget and management skills;

developing marketing, recruitment, and long-term business strategies for women businesses; and/or building a network of women entrepreneurs or STEM professionals engaged in advocating for priority issues.

a. Successful applications will not rely solely on training. Instead, where appropriate, training should be used as a mechanism to address a larger priority issue or issues detailed in the proposal. While not required, projects are encouraged to engage with young women as future leaders.

b. As an outcome, Qatari women will strengthen their skills to participate in political and economic processes either as future Shura council candidates, campaign managers, or business leaders. These projects will help highlight Qatar’s position in the region as a country actively committed to women’s political and economic empowerment.

Geographic/Thematic Focus: N/A

Project applications are open to all Qatari civil society, non-governmental, and private organizations.

Applicants should have prior experience working in Qatar on the issues their projects are seeking to address.

Tunisia:

Country Problem Statement: Today, Tunisia is facing economic and political challenges. Addressing the high rate of youth unemployment is a key challenge for the Tunisian economy, the result of a growing proportion of young people in the population and the limited ability of the labor market to absorb newcomers. There is also a skills gap between the needs of the labor market and the skills of new graduates. Recent labor market trends have raised concerns that the unemployment rate is high not because employers are reluctant to hire but because they are unable to find suitable workers to staff the positions they are trying to fill.

Recent graduates are especially affected by the skills gap: Tunisia’s overall unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2018 was 15.5%, while a similar survey earlier this year showed a 28.35% unemployment rate for graduates of higher education.

Politically, slow progress on passage and implementation of laws and regulations needed for economic recovery have stalled the democratic transition process. Despite the Parliament passing a number of laws on key issues such as the adoption of a whistleblower protection law and access to information law, public perception of corruption in government institutions and in the private sector is still high. Promoting transparency and participatory governance partially depends on revitalizing the role of civil society organizations in the democratization and decentralization of governance.

(1) Transparency and Accountability: Projects will expand the government’s proactive provision and response to information. Projects will work with local organizations to help them participate effectively, claim quality services, and bring people closer to their local authorities by increasing the latter’s transparency and the former's participation.

Proposals addressing this priority would have two objectives:

a. Citizens and civil society have direct access to information about government institutions’ work.

b. Increase effectiveness and accountability of government institutions through improved access to information mechanisms and management tools.

(2) Entrepreneurship: Projects will help create the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators leading to job creation by instilling an entrepreneurial mindset through practical and results-oriented approaches. Proposals addressing this priority should respond to at least one of the below objectives:

a. Participants design, implement, and carry out small, entrepreneurial projects that improve their communities or solve a need, giving them experience in self-starting and project management that are critical to subsequent entrepreneurship.

b. Participants contribute to launching or expanding businesses through conducting final year internships within startups or by offering services to already established

Small and Medium Enterprises.

Geographic/Thematic Focus: Proposals should focus on areas outside of the capital.

Specific eligibility requirements: Applicants must be registered in the official Gazette of the

Tunisian government. Applicants may also need professional development, but they have to demonstrate experience in successfully managing projects, have established management structures, official registrations, community support, and clear organizational goals and objectives.

Yemen:

Country Problem Statement: Yemeni civil society is beginning to develop into an organizational structure associated with the modern meaning of the term. Though Yemen’s civil society is still in its infancy, its short history demonstrates a considerable promise. Historically, the south gained a greater amount of experience in developing civil society organizations through the socialist-based unions of the 1960s and 1970s. In the north and some of the eastern areas of

Yemen, civil society primarily manifested itself as religiously-funded charities.

Yemeni civil society organizations include organizations specializing in issues relating to women, minorities, rural populations, young adults, children, press, and even the environment as well as rights’ based organizations with a focus on human rights and good governance. Equally significant are journalists who report on human rights violations and developments on the ground.

Increased civic engagement in the transition process will allow civil society to better advocate for a more transparent and effective political transition at local and national levels. Similarly, civil society support for more responsive transitional government entities will enhance the prospects for a successful political transition.

Country Priorities: Proposals that focus on encouraging citizens’ engagement in participatory governance and improving decision-makers’ willingness to work with citizen groups and civil society organizations are encouraged. We encourage MEPI projects to develop and promote locally-designed solutions to economic and social problems, while being as inclusive as possible.

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

Promote a social and political system that adheres to agreed-upon rules and procedure on the local level.

Increase and institutionalize the participation of women, youth, and other underrepresented groups in the political transition process, political parties and other major stakeholders, and transitional governance bodies.

Organize citizen campaigns to engage the public in administering services such as education and security.

Engage segments of society in public dialogue over shared goals and vision for a Post-war political order.

Identify entrepreneurial opportunities including the use of technological innovation in creating new solutions.

Geographic/Thematic Focus:

Proposals should come from as wide a geographic area as possible. Applicants should avoid focusing on any one region.

Gender equity is a key program goal, including in terms of outreach and representation, as is regional representation.

Specific eligibility requirements: N/A

The following activities and costs are NOT ALLOWED under this announcement:

Job training that does not lead to an internship or job placement opportunities;

Scholarships and student exchange projects;

Development of mobile applications (apps);

Cash awards/prizes;

Paying to complete activities begun with other funds;

Foreign travel, unless specifically justified within the project;

Social welfare and healthcare projects;

Activities that appear partisan or that support individual or party electoral campaigns

(e.g., specific political party activities);

Agriculture;

Polling/surveying;

Handicrafts;

Academic or analytical research (if not necessary as part of a larger project);

One-time events, such as stand-alone conferences and one-off roundtables;

Medical and psychological research and clinical studies;

Projects of a commercial or profit-making nature;

Cultural presentations, cultural clubs, festivals, etc.;

Costs related to renovation, remodeling, or purchase or lease of real-estate beyond usual office rent;

Purchase of office décor;

Purchase of equipment (tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and is $5,000 or more per unit);

Language training courses; and

Entertainment costs (receptions, social activities, alcoholic beverages, cocktail parties, guided tours).

Applications that include any of these activities or costs above may be eliminated at the

Technical Eligibility Review stage and will not advance to the Merit Review Panel.

MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

Successful applicants will work with the NEA/AC program team, and NEA/AC monitoring and evaluation (M&E) team to create a plan based on the proposal submitted to measure qualitative and quantitative indicators as part of the award negotiations process. The successful applicants will be responsible for collecting data against these indicators, which will be monitored throughout the period of performance of the award to gauge necessary modifications to the project’s design, and to assess the results of the project’s success in meeting expected outputs and outcomes.

AWARD INFORMATION

Funding Mechanism Type: Cooperative Agreement, Grant, or

Fixed Amount Award

Estimated Number of Awards: Ten to thirty-five (10-35)

Estimated Total Program Funding: $6,000,000

Estimated Award Ceiling:

Proposals in Israel, Lebanon, and Tunisia: $500,000

Proposals in all other countries: $250,000

Estimated Award Floor: $50,000

Cost-Sharing or Matching: Recommended but not required

Estimated Length of Project Period: 12 – 36 months

Contingent on the availability of funds, approximately $6,000,000 in Economic Support Funds is available for approximately 35 awards through this announcement. If selected to receive an award, an applicant may be awarded funds for up to three years, depending on the activities and countries proposed. The estimated start date for this project is October 1, 2019. NEA/AC reserves the right to award more or less than the estimated program funding, and reserves the right to award funding under this announcement for a period of up to two years after the announcement’s close date. For projects proposed in Israel, Lebanon, or Tunisia, applicants may propose projects with a total budget between $50,000 to $500,000. For projects proposed in all other countries, applicants may propose projects with a total budget between $50,000 to

$250,000. If recommended for funding, the final budget of awards will be determined through negotiations.

This request for full applications does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of the

U.S. government to make any awards, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application.

SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

NEA/AC may be involved in the program and management performance of any cooperative agreements through consultation and technical collaboration on specified project activities.

Examples of NEA/AC responsibilities for a cooperative agreement may include:

Collaboration in development of training materials; and

Participate in selection process of candidates.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

All applicants will be screened by NEA/AC to determine whether they meet all of the program eligibility requirements detailed below.

NOTE: Applications that do not demonstrate that they meet all of the eligibility requirements in Section A and Section B below will not advance past the Technical

Eligibility Review stage and may be deemed ineligible for funding under this announcement. Nothing can be added to an application once the competition deadline has passed.

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants include local civil society organizations, non-profit organizations, community groups, non-governmental organizations, professional associations, private sector organizations, and universities based in Algeria, Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Qatar, Tunisia, and Yemen.

NEA/AC is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities.

NEA/AC welcomes applications irrespective of an applicants’ race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. We encourage applications from organizations working with underserved communities, including women, people with disabilities, and youth.

All applicants should meet the following eligibility requirements, in addition to specific eligibility requirements detailed per country in Section 1:

1. Location Requirement: Only organizations that have an established local office in the country they propose to implement their project will be eligible to apply. Awards will be issued to the local office and not any partner or affiliate office that may be located outside of the country of implementation.

2. Formal Registration: Only organizations that formally operate in the country for which they are applying will be eligible.

3. Organizational Capacity: Applicants must be able to demonstrate meeting the following criteria:

Established for at least one (1) year; and

Managed at least one (1) project/initiative with donor funding (governmental, private, etc.).

NEA/AC will consider the following special considerations when reviewing applications:

1. Previous MEPI Connections: We value the alumni of our many MEPI-sponsored projects and programs and would like to enhance the connection between ongoing initiatives of our implementing partners and our ever-growing base of alumni.

Therefore, we will give priority to projects that include and detail MEPI alumni engagement in activities and project components. For the purposes of this evaluation criteria, MEPI alumni are considered as former participants of MEPI exchange projects; or beneficiaries in previous MEPI training projects lasting more than five weeks; or previous recipients of a MEPI Local Grant. Alumni of other USG exchanges will also be considered.

B. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

To apply for NEA/AC (Federal) funding, organizations, whether based in or outside the

U.S., must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, currently referred to as a DUNS number, and an active account with the System for Award Management (SAM). This applies to BOTH prime applicants and any local partners receiving federally funded sub-awards. Applicants who do not meet all registration requirements are NOT eligible for funding under the opportunity.

UEI Number

The UEI number is a nine-digit number established and assigned by Dun and Bradstreet, Inc.

(D&B) to uniquely identify business entities.

All applicants must have a UEI number. To obtain a UEI number, please follow the steps below:

Go to http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/pages/CCRSearch.jsp.

Select the country or territory where your organization is physically located. Complete and submit the form. Organizations will need to provide basic information, including physical and mailing addresses, name and title of the chief executive, primary Standard Industrial Code (SIC), and annual revenue.

For technical difficulties in obtaining this number, please contact D&B at: govt@dnb.com.

System for Award Management (SAM)

SAM is a U.S. government wide registry of vendors doing business with the Federal government and requires annual renewal. The system centralizes information about grant applicants/recipients, and provides a central location for grant applicants/recipients to change organizational information.

Further, applicants must maintain an active account, with current information, while its application is under consideration for funding. To keep an active SAM.gov account, applicants must renew it at least once each year. If an organizations account expires, the organization cannot submit a grant application until it is renewed.

To create a new account, please follow the steps below:

Go to http://www.sam.gov.

Log In to complete authentication and create an account. On the My SAM page, select Entity

Registrations from the sub-navigation menu and select Register New Entity.

Organizations must have a UEI number and a CAGE number (US Domestic Organizations) or a

NCAGE number (Foreign Organizations), to create an account.

http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/pages/CCRSearch.jsp http://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sic_manual.html mailto:govt@dnb.com http://www.sam.gov/

Complete and submit the online form. If the applying organization already has the necessary information on hand (see the SAM Quick Start Guide for Grant Registration), the online form takes approximately one hour to complete, depending upon the size and complexity of the applying entity. Because of the different steps in the process, it might take anywhere from 12-15 business days to complete the process of creating an account with the system.

For help with SAM.gov, please visit their support page at https://www.fsd.gov or contact them at: 866-606-8220 (U.S.) or +1-334-206-7828 (international).

C. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

C.1. Cost-Sharing or Matching

There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, NEA/AC encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.

Cost-sharing or matching is NOT an evaluation criteria of this NOFO.

All cost share or matching must be included in detail in the line item budget and noted in the budget narrative. Proposals offering potential, yet to be determined cost-share sourcing will NOT be considered to have met this requirement, and will be deemed ineligible.