MEPI Press Releases

 

Press Release

The U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is pleased to announce two funding opportunities for NGOs, professional associations, universities, and other civil society groups to propose and carry out projects that advance democracy and reform.  It is U.S. policy to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture.  These two MEPI funding opportunities aim to support the growth of democracy by seeking and supporting project ideas directly from civil society groups in the region:

MEPI Small Grants Program: Funding is available for local members of civil society to undertake local or national projects that increase political openness and democratic processes, create new economic opportunities, enhance access to and quality of education systems, and/or empower women.  Proposals are accepted and selected by the U.S. Embassy.  For information on the small grants program, including application instructions, visit http://kuwait.usembassy.gov and click on the link for "MEPI Small Grants Program".

MEPI Standing Program Announcement: An open competition for grant and cooperative agreement applications to carry out national or regional projects that focus on one or more of the priority areas of reform addressed by MEPI.  In this competition, MEPI intends to support non-governmental organizations based in the Middle East and North Africa that are committed to increasing the role of all citizens, especially women and youth, in achieving:

•        improved governance; 

•        democratic practices and institutions; 

•        economic growth founded in international free trade practices and entrepreneurship; and 

•        educational practices that cultivate critical, creative, and independent thought and civic and social responsibility.

Proposals are accepted and selected by the Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative at the U.S. Department of State.  For more information on the Standing Program Announcement, including application instructions, visit http://www.mepi.state.gov/ and click on the link for "current opportunities".