NEA/AC Regional Annual Program Statement

The Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs seeks applicants for innovative foreign assistance programs in the Middle East and North Africa through cooperative agreements, grants, and fixed amount awards, with statements of interest due September 30, 2026. Total available funding is $190 million pending appropriation, with individual country award ceilings of $20 million to $30 million for Lebanon and award floors of $250,000 across all countries.

Eligible applicants are U.S. and foreign for-profit and nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and public international organizations with functional and regional experience. No cost share is specified.

Projects must leverage foreign assistance as a tool of statecraft to advance U.S. economic, security, and diplomatic objectives, with emphasis on commercial diplomacy and American enterprise. Priority sectors include energy development, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, 5G and telecommunications infrastructure, trade facilitation, workforce development, and economic integration. Eligible countries are Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia, West Bank, and regional initiatives. Performance periods are 12 to 36 months with anticipated start date October 1, 2026.

Applicants submit a concise 1–3 page statement of interest in phase one, with selected applicants invited to submit full proposals in phase two. SOIs must include a critical details table, project design narrative, proposed activities, anticipated outcomes aligned with America First priorities, theory of change, and partner roles if applicable. Merit Review Panel evaluation weights program idea quality at 50 points, organizational capacity and prior grant record at 35 points, and program planning and ability to achieve objectives at 15 points. Monthly SOI reviews occur throughout the application period.

Organizations must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and register in SAM.gov before submitting phase two applications. All submissions are made through MyGrants in English with single-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins. Post-award requirements include quarterly financial and progress reporting, Foreign Assistance Data Review compliance, Leahy Law vetting, trafficking in persons certifications, and Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance policies.

CFDA 19.600.