Democracy Initiatives Program

I. Funding Opportunity Description: The purpose of this announcement is to inform interested parties about President Bush's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) to support reform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and to invite statements of interest from organizations with specific functional and regional expertise.

II. Background Information about MEPI: The U.S. Government launched MEPI in 2002 to provide tangible support to reformers in the region to help democracy spread, improve education, promote economic growth, and empower women. The initiative has invested more than $293 million in four years in more than 350 programs in 16 countries and the Palestinian territories. Supporting indigenous calls for reform is of strategic, long-term importance to the national security interests of the United States and to the U.S. goal of ensuring that the people of the region experience the benefits of greater freedom and opportunity.

III. Democracy Initiatives Program Objectives: The Democracy Initiatives Program invites statements of interest from organizations with functional and regional experience in the areas of election administration and oversight, political party development and legislative processes, legal reform and judicial independence, democratic governance, civil society advocacy, youth leadership development, and civic education in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Statements of interest should specify organizations' key competencies in specific areas of democratic reform and outline their regional and country-specific expertise. NEA/PI is not seeking specific project proposals in response to this announcement for statements of interest.

Program Area 1 - Election Assistance and Political Process Strengthening

The goal of MEPI programs in this area is to strengthen democratic processes and electoral practices. MEPI seeks to identify partners with demonstrated competency to support the following areas of program activity: democratic political party strengthening; political and electoral campaigns; public opinion research; election planning and administration; electoral reform, election monitoring, and the use of new media in politics.

Program Area 2 - Legal and Judicial Reform

The goal of MEPI programs in this area is to promote the rule of law and accountable, effective judicial institutions. MEPI seeks to identify partners with demonstrated competency to support the following areas of program activity: judicial independence, strengthening of legal sector institutions, and the protection of human rights including core labor standards.

Program Area 3 - Democratic Governance

The goal of MEPI programs in this area is to promote democratic governance and to improve government accountability and transparency. MEPI seeks to identify partners with demonstrated competency to support program activity including government transparency, government responsiveness to citizenry, legislative and executive structures and processes, and anti-corruption.

Program Area 4 - Civil Society Reform Advocacy

The goal of MEPI programs is to expand public space where democratic voices can be heard in the political process. MEPI seeks partners with demonstrated competency to support programs in the following areas: legal and regulatory reform advocacy; civil society networks for political reform; citizen mobilization on reform; political participation of labor and other civil society organizations; oversight of public institutions; access to and dissemination of information; and development and implementation of strategies for civil society organizations, in collaboration with the private sector, to be locally supported and financially sustainable.

Program Area 5 - Developing Leadership Skills among Youth

The goal of MEPI programs in this area is to support the development of leadership skills among youth. The primary target for programs is youth between the ages of 18 and 35. MEPI seeks to identify partners with demonstrated competency to support programs that empower youth at the community level and that include youth at national level political processes.

Program Area 6 - Civic Education

The goal of MEPI programs in this area is to strengthen democratic process through the creation of an informed and active citizenry. MEPI seeks innovative partners with demonstrated competency to develop and promote civic education projects, to develop partnerships with host country ministries of education, to develop and administer teacher-training programs, and to promote the adoption of civic education curricula by the ministries, schools, parents and the general public through practical experience in the principles of transparency, democracy, political participation, and free enterprise. MEPI also seeks innovative implementers at the secondary school level for the development of student councils, parent-teacher associations (PTAs), and internships and mentorships to enhance understanding of the fundamental values, principles, and institutions of constitutional democracy; foster a reasoned commitment to those values and principles; and develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for competent and responsible participation in democratic self-government.

IV. How the program will work: NEA/PIintends toselect a cadre of qualified organizations (see section below on eligibility) to which NEA/PI may award grants or cooperative agreements contingent upon the availability of funding. Organizations that submit a statement of interest in response to this announcement will be reviewed and evaluated based on the criteria outlined below for selection as a potential partner. NEA/PI will notify organizations that they are eligible for awards and may receive an award within a three-year period from the date of that notification. NEA/PI will make awards on a regional and country-specific basis in the program areas above as determined by U.S. government needs and interests. Notified organizations are not guaranteed awards.

NEA/PI seeks to develop a broad cadre of implementing partners through this announcement and therefore requests submissions that outline key areas of competency, demonstrate organizational capacity and successful experience in the region (including work with local and regional networks and country specific expertise), and demonstrate experience implementing innovative reform projects that support MEPI goals and objectives.

Organizations that fail to meet the criteria under this announcement are not prejudiced or prohibited from applying to future MEPI program solicitations.

V. Eligibility:

U.S. and non-U.S. non-governmental organizations, non-profit and/or for-profit, are eligible to apply to this announcement.

Organizational Categories:

NEA/PI may consider organizations in one of the following categories:

Implementing Organizations - To qualify as an implementing organization, an organization must clearly identify its area of key competency and provide a description of the expertise it has on staff or has otherwise available. To qualify, an organization also must demonstrate established financial management and internal control systems and maintained policies and procedures that comply with generally accepted accounting principles and standards.

Umbrella Organizations - To qualify as an umbrella organization, an organization must meet the criteria for implementing organizations and, in addition, must identify a current or potential working relationship with two or more indigenous organizations, and indicate capacity and willingness to expand the network. Umbrella organizations will be expected to have the capacity to sub-grant or sub-contract programs to other organizations, monitor activities and sub-grantee administration, and provide technical advice and direction. NEA/PI particularly encourages organizations that seek to establish or expand networks with indigenous organizations to submit a statement of interest. Organizations must have established financial management and internal control systems and maintain policies and procedures that comply with generally accepted accounting principles and standards in order to qualify under this announcement.

Any organization may submit a statement of interest in response to this announcement. NEA/PI encourages statements of interest from organizations that can demonstrate key competencies in one or more of the program objectives. In this context, NEA/PI defines partnership as a negotiated arrangement among organizations that provides for a substantive, collaborative role for each of the partners in the planning and implementation of a project. Organizations intending to represent a coalition of providers should be prepared to provide, if requested, a signed partnership agreement: 

• Expressing an intent to commit or receive resources from the prospective partner(s) contingent upon receipt of funds; 

• Explaining how the partnership arrangement advances MEPI program objectives; 

• Including supporting documentation identifying the resources, experience, and expertise of the partner(s); 

• Clarifying the role of the partner(s) in project implementation. 

VI. Electronic Link to Full Announcement: Go to http://www.mepi.state.gov, click on Current Opportunities, and then click on Democracy Initiatives Program Announcement.

VII. Award Information:

Funding Instrument Type: Grants or cooperative agreements

Anticipated Total Program Funding: NEA/PI expects to award approximately $20 million of federal fiscal year 2006 funds contingent upon the availability of funds. Awards would range from $100,000 to $3,000,000 for periods of one year up to three years. In addition, contingent upon the availability of funds, NEA/PI may make additional awards in subsequent fiscal years. NEA/PI reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described under such circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the U.S. Government.

Organizations qualified under this announcement and subsequently considered for award will enter into cooperative agreement or grant negotiations with the Department of State and will be required to submit a Standard Form 424. A Standard Form 424 can be downloaded from the following website: www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/sf424.pdf. All award recipients must have a Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) Number prior to funds disbursement per U.S. Government policy (published in the Federal Register June 27, 2003). A DUNS number may be acquired at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or by requesting online at http://www.statebuy.state.gov/grants/gtpolicy.htm.

Award recipients must comply with Executive Order 13224, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism. Information about this Executive Order can be found at: www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/eo/eo-13224.htm.

VIII. Statement of Interest Submission and Deadline: Statements of interest must not exceed twelve (12) pages and must include a statement of applicant's areas of key competency, past experience in the region, and organizational viability. In addition to the statement of interest, applicant may submit a cost schedule that shows the organization's technical and labor cost categories, and, if applicable, a copy of the organization's Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement with the U.S. Government may be included. Applicant should also include, if available, a copy of its most recent Annual Report and a list of previous U.S. Government awards showing the name of the awarding agency and a point of contact within the agency.

IX. Submission Statements of interest with attachments may be submitted to Jessica Baker in NEA/PI as attachments to e-mails sent to nea-grants@state.gov, or submitted online via http://www.grants.gov, or sent to the mailing address: c/o Room 6258, 2201 C St. NW, Washington, DC 20520. To meet the announcement deadline, submissions must be made before 4:00 p.m. EST on February 9, 2007.

X. Review and Selection Process: Submissions under this announce­ment should include information addressing each of the criteria below. Each statement of interest will be evaluated and rated based on the criteria, which are designed to assess the capability or expertise and the organizational capacity of the applicant. The criteria are closely related and considered as a whole in judging the application. A statement of interest that describes, states or defines a specific project will not be considered responsive to this announcement.

Results or Benefits - The organization must clearly describe expertise and capacity in relation to one or more of the MEPI program areas described above. The organization must demonstrate that it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provide milestones to indicate progress towards MEPI goals. The organization must clearly state and demonstrate capacity in target program areas and illustrate impact that can reasonably be achieved within a one-to-three-year timeframe. (25 points)

Innovation and Sustainability - The organization must demonstrate the ability to design innovative initiatives and program designs that are sustainable or can be progressively achieved throughout a one-to-three-year project cycle. This includes the ability to effect and measure advances in local and/or regional leadership and ownership of program results. (25 points)

Approach - The organization must demonstrate the ability to devise a strategy or plan in an area of expertise to ensure maximum impact. The approach described in the statement of interest will be evaluated in terms of expediency and feasibility in the regional and country context. (10 points)

Organization Profiles - The organization has or can engage expertise in one or more key areas of competency within proposed program area and demonstrates the ability to engage local and regional networks. Where partners are described, the applicant details the rationale for the consortia, each partner's respective role, and how the coalition will enhance the progress towards achieving MEPI goals in the stated program areas of competency. The organization demonstrates a high level of regional and/or country expertise. Individual organization staffs, including volunteers, are well qualified and described. (40 points)