Investing in People in The Middle East and North Africa
Active
- Assistance listing
- 19.021
- Agency
-
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
Department of State
- Grant awards
- 2,599 $260,880,131 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Showcasing U.S. Excellence and Values. • Strengthening U.S.-Iraqi Economic Ties. • Promoting Investment in the U.S. Economy. • Supporting Entrepreneurship Development in Iraq.
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 19-0101-1-3-000
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs funds cultural, educational, alumni engagement, information, and media initiatives in the Middle East and North Africa through CFDA 19.021, with the most recent grant award disbursed on September 30, 2025. The program supports workforce development, leadership training, English language instruction, peacebuilding, entrepreneurship, and media literacy programming across Iraq, Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Israel, and other regional countries. Award activity has remained steady over the past five years, with 2024 and 2025 showing lower volume (85 and 7 awards respectively) compared to prior years (139–173 awards annually from 2021–2023), though awards continue to disburse regularly.
The portfolio comprises 2,599 total awards obligating $260.9 million in federal dollars. Assistance-type distribution is heavily skewed toward Project Grants (92 percent) with a smaller allocation to Cooperative Agreements (8 percent). The Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs dominates funding, accounting for 2,470 awards and $253.7 million federal dollars obligated—97 percent of total activity by award count and 97 percent by federal dollars. Other State bureaus (Educational and Cultural Affairs, Conflict Stabilization Operations, Counterterrorism, and others) collectively account for less than 3 percent of funding.
Recent awarded grants illustrate the scope: support for operational and programming activities at the American Space at AUIB in Iraq, including workforce development and America250 initiatives ($36,500); implementation of NextGen Workforce and Innovate250 programs enhancing Iraqi youth employability ($0 after de-obligation); delivery of initiatives through three American Corners promoting U.S. culture and mutual understanding ($52,000); and America House programming in the West Bank and Jerusalem, including logistical and programmatic services ($240,168 and $294,652 as cooperative agreements). Additional awards funded media literacy training, peacebuilding workshops for Palestinian youth, English language instruction, and entrepreneurship development across the region.
Multiple grant opportunities remain open or recently posted. The English Access Microscholarship Program for Central and Southern Iraq (OFOP0003436) closed on September 3, 2026, seeking applications to provide English-language instruction to Iraqi youth. The U.S. Mission Iraq EducationUSA Roadshow (OFOP0003594) closed September 11, 2026, targeting partnership building between U.S. and Iraqi universities. An Annual Program Statement for U.S. Mission Iraq Public Diplomacy (OFOP0002793) closed August 15, 2026. Eligibility is limited to registered nonprofits, educational institutions, public international organizations, and think tanks; individuals and for-profit commercial entities are not eligible.
Objective and description
- Objective
To support American objectives through programs, projects and activities to include (but not limited to) cultural, educational, alumni, information and media efforts in the Middle East and North Africa. NEA Public Diplomacy objectives are focused on
- Description
To support American objectives through programs, projects and activities to include (but not limited to) cultural, educational, alumni, information and media efforts in the Middle East and North Africa. NEA Public Diplomacy objectives are focused on active promotion of projects which promote benefits for the American people. Showcasing U.S. Excellence and Values. • Strengthening U.S.-Iraqi Economic Ties. • Promoting Investment in the U.S. Economy. • Supporting Entrepreneurship Development in Iraq. • Protecting and Preserving Iraqi Cultural Heritage.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
The following Iraqi and U.S. organizations are eligible to apply Registered not for profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society nongovernmental organizations. Public and private educational institutions. Public international organizations. Individuals for profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Local organizations, citizens of countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and the U.S.
- Uses of assistance
Grants and Cooperative agreements to support programs, projects and activities to include (but not limited to) cultural, educational, alumni, information and media efforts in the Middle East and North Africa. Awards are designed to benefit local organizations and citizens of countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Varies. See announcement in grants.gov
How to apply
- Award procedure
A technical review panel reviews proposals and scores them in accordance with published review criteria and determines priority program recommendations for final negotiation on the grant and/or cooperative agreement. Further details, see program announcement grants.gov
- Deadlines
August 30 2025
- Time to approval or disapproval
see program announcement grants.gov
- Renewals
Based on program needs and availability of funding.
Grant opportunities
Show 38 more
Latest 48 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 2,599 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | World Learning Inc. | $29,630,418 | 11% |
| 2 | International Research And Exchanges Board Inc. | $26,165,418 | 10% |
| 3 | America-Mideast Educational And Training Services, Inc. | $26,085,590 | 10% |
| 4 | Institute Of International Education Inc. | $10,689,305 | 4% |
| 5 | Meridian International Center | $8,840,045 | 3% |
| 6 | World Monuments Fund, Inc. | $5,597,885 | 2% |
| 7 | University Of Notre Dame DU Lac | $3,948,000 | 2% |
| 8 | American Society Of Overseas Research | $3,399,841 | 1% |
| 9 | The Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania | $3,263,526 | 1% |
9 of 511 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$3,359,017 |
| FY2025 | -$6,703,002 |
| FY2024 | $12,887,061 |
| FY2023 | $16,186,622 |
| FY2022 | $15,303,273 |
| FY2021 | $17,905,538 |
| FY2020 | $24,103,411 |
| FY2019 | $29,085,463 |
| FY2018 | $26,016,095 |
| FY2017 | $25,485,875 |
| FY2016 | $13,576,733 |
| FY2015 | $21,527,339 |
| FY2014 | $17,040,780 |
| FY2013 | $18,629,017 |
| FY2012 | $17,028,512 |
| FY2011 | $15,362,883 |
| FY2010 | $1,344,269 |
Show all 17
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 19.021?
Assistance Listing 19.021 is Investing in People in The Middle East and North Africa, a federal grant program run by Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (Department of State).
What is the CFDA number for Investing in People in The Middle East and North Africa?
Its CFDA number is 19.021: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 19.021 awarded?
2,599 grant awards under 19.021 have obligated $260,880,131 in federal funds to 511 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 19.021?
The recipients obligated the most under Investing in People in The Middle East and North Africa are World Learning Inc. ($29,630,418), International Research And Exchanges Board Inc. ($26,165,418) and America-Mideast Educational And Training Services, Inc. ($26,085,590).
How much did 19.021 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 19.021 obligated -$6,703,002 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 19.021?
None of the latest 48 opportunities under 19.021 is open now. The latest, English Access Microscholarship Program for Central and Southern Iraq, was posted on August 30, 2026.
On GovTribe
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