Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
Active
- Assistance listing
- 19.600
- Agency
-
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
Department of State
- Grant awards
- 223 $509,732,383 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 19-7245-0-1-130
- More information
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 foreign assistance programs advancing U.S. diplomatic, security, and economic objectives in the Middle East and North Africa region under Assistance Listing 19.600, with the most recent grant award dated October 1, 2025.
Grant activity remains active but volatile. The program awarded 223 grants cumulatively since 2011, disbursing $509.7 million in federal dollars obligated. Award volume has contracted sharply: 2022 peaked at 43 awards, declining to 13 in 2024 and just 1 award in 2025. Only one grant opportunity remains open as of mid-October 2026, though several country-specific and thematic solicitations cycle regularly. The portfolio is dominated by Project Grants (78 percent, 175 awards) with a smaller Cooperative Agreement component (22 percent, 48 awards). The Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs funds the vast majority of the program's awards at $509.7 million across 221 grants; two other State offices contribute nominally.
Recent awards show a portfolio spanning higher education capacity building, scientific research, humanitarian accountability mechanisms, and commercial diplomacy. The UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism received $5 million as of October 2025. UNESCO's International Program on Holocaust and Genocide Education was awarded $2.116 million in October 2024. Iraq-focused higher education initiatives constitute a significant funding cluster—awards in October 2024 supported American-style education advancement ($2.1 million), career planning for private sector employment ($2.1 million), and youth economic integration ($800 thousand). Representative awards also include Middle East Desalination Research Center operations ($500 thousand in March 2024) and scientific cooperation projects through the Middle East Regional Cooperation program spanning agricultural biotechnology, water systems, and health interventions, funded at magnitudes ranging from $77 thousand to $971 thousand. Several awards have been terminated in alignment with executive orders.
Multiple grant opportunities posted recently reflect a programmatic pivot toward commercial diplomacy and U.S. business interests. The NEA/AC Regional Annual Program Statement (DFOP0018712), due September 30, 2026, solicits Cooperative Agreements for "innovative foreign assistance programs" that "advance U.S. commercial diplomacy and place American interests first," with emphasis on leveraging assistance to champion American enterprise and catalyze private capital. The Egypt Annual Program Statement (DFOP0018819) applies the same framework to country-specific sectors including energy exports, AI, telecommunications, critical infrastructure, critical minerals, and manufacturing. The Safeguarding U.S. Critical Minerals Supply Chains – Tunisia opportunity (DFOP0019505), due September 3, 2026, targets private-sector-led phosphate development and downstream mineral processing. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, educational institutions, for-profit organizations, and public international organizations. Pre-award coordination with program officers is required; all recipients undergo terrorism finance screening. Grant awards historically support three-year records retention by recipients.
Objective and description
- Objective
Support the foreign assistance goals and objectives of the Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA), as delineated in the FY Bureau Strategic and Resource Plan. This program is for all grant awards for the entire fiscal year funded
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
U.S. or foreign non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; private institutions of higher education, public or state institutions of higher education; public international organizations; and small businesses with functional and regional experience. Each solicitation outlines who is eligible and what types of experience are needed to apply for funding.
- Beneficiary eligibility
U.S. or foreign non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; private institutions of higher education, public or state institutions of higher education; public international organizations; and small businesses with functional and regional experience. Each solicitation outlines who is eligible and what types of experience are needed to apply for funding. Any award made using State/NEA funds requires the full complement of standard federal forms and budget documents, CVs of main program staff, as dictated by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Administration, and relevant 2 CFR. See www.grants.gov for specific announcement.
- Credentials and documentation
Any award made using State/NEA funds requires the full complement of standard federal forms and budget documents, CVs of main program staff, as dictated by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Administration, and the relevant OMB circulars. See www.grants.gov for specific announcement. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
- Uses of assistance
All funds for grants will comply with the restrictions on foreign assistance, as specified in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. See www.grants.gov for specific announcement. This depends on the individual award.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Although the average length is 12-24 months, the specific length of time for an NEA Bureau programming grant may vary from one award to another. Details for each can be found on the respective announcements. All assistance for Centralized Payments, Cash Management, Financial Reporting, Debt Management, and Audit Assistance is with the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Payment Management one of the two non-DoD grants payment systems for use by the entire Federal Government.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Pre-award coordination is required for all grantees applying for foreign assistance grants through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) . This coordination will take place between program officers in the field and the recipient agencies, or between program officers in Washington, DC and the recipient organizations. See www.grants.gov for specific announcement. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
- Application procedure
NEA/AC solicits proposals via program announcements posted on www.grants.gov and on the websites of NEA/AC, and posts in the region. NEA Bureau programming implementers are selected through open competitions, directed, or limited solicitations. Occasionally, NEA/AC will issue sole source awards. NEA/AC also enters into a limited number of Interagency Acquisition Agreements with other U.S.G. Federal agencies. See www.grants.gov for specific announcement.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Project specific, depends on the program. All awards are screened for terror finance and/or support per the relevant U.S. Department of State and federal guidelines and regulations. See www.grants.gov for specific announcement.
- Award procedure
Solicitations are reviewed by panels comprised of area and subject matter experts drawn from both inside and outside the State Department, including from NGOs and the private sector. Award procedures are defined by the U.S. Department of State, Administration Bureau in accordance with relevant OMB Circulars.
- Time to approval or disapproval
See www.grants.gov for specific announcement.
- Renewals
Renewals must be coordinated with the State/NEA program officer, the Representative of State/Administration Bureau grants officer, and the recipient.
Grant opportunities
Show 19 more
Latest 29 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 223 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Nations Development Programme | $75,167,600 | 15% |
| 2 | Special Tribunal For Lebanon | $62,000,000 | 12% |
| 3 | International Bank For Reconstruction And Development | $49,959,024 | 10% |
| 4 | United Nations | $28,248,873 | 6% |
| 5 | United Nations Office For Project Services | $26,625,754 | 5% |
| 6 | The American University Of Iraq, Sulaimani | $23,000,000 | 5% |
| 7 | Unicef | $20,569,021 | 4% |
| 8 | The American University Of Kurdistan | $17,125,346 | 3% |
| 9 | Family Health International | $14,530,542 | 3% |
| 10 | Deloitte Conseil Tunisie | $11,744,087 | 2% |
10 of 101 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$7,291,310 |
| FY2025 | $5,179,225 |
| FY2024 | $27,592,843 |
| FY2023 | $79,325,525 |
| FY2022 | $68,471,470 |
| FY2021 | $33,659,843 |
| FY2020 | $78,024,064 |
| FY2019 | $64,505,927 |
| FY2018 | $51,211,161 |
| FY2017 | $56,912,531 |
| FY2016 | $47,960,079 |
| FY2015 | $12,735,158 |
| FY2014 | $1,886,832 |
| FY2013 | $28,951 |
| FY2012 | $2,581,847 |
| FY2011 | $977,150 |
Show all 16
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 19.600?
Assistance Listing 19.600 is Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, a federal grant program run by Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (Department of State).
What is the CFDA number for Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs?
Its CFDA number is 19.600: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 19.600 awarded?
223 grant awards under 19.600 have obligated $509,732,383 in federal funds to 101 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 19.600?
The recipients obligated the most under Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs are United Nations Development Programme ($75,167,600), Special Tribunal For Lebanon ($62,000,000) and International Bank For Reconstruction And Development ($49,959,024).
How much did 19.600 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 19.600 obligated $5,179,225 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 19.600?
None of the latest 29 opportunities under 19.600 is open now. The latest, NEA/AC Regional Annual Program Statement, was posted on September 24, 2026.
On GovTribe
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