**U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE**

# MEPI

# SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM

###### ![](media/image1.png) ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="1.7104166666666667in" height="1.1715277777777777in"}

###### [Application Instructions]{.underline}

###### Middle East Partnership Initiative

###### Small Grants Program 

##### 

The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) of the U.S. Department of
State is pleased to announce funding is available through the Small
Grants program. Please follow all instructions below carefully.

**Purpose of Grant:** Small Grants are intended for local members of
civil society, including non-governmental organizations and
universities, to undertake democracy and **reform** projects. Funding is
available for projects that increase political openness and democratic
processes, create new economic opportunities, enhance access to and
quality of education systems, and/or empower women. Small grants
proposals should aim to create or extend the community of reform-minded
individuals and groups and should meet one or more of the following MEPI
priorities:

1.  [Supporting local civil society]{.underline}, non-governmental
    organizations (NGOs), women's groups, and professional associations
    at the grassroots level that are committed to building democracies
    and undertaking reform and can be expected to play a role of growing
    importance and influence in the future.

2.  [Encouraging programs for youth]{.underline}, ages 12-17, and
    particularly those that provide youth with practical opportunities
    to experience democracy in action, participate in public service,
    volunteerism and contribute to improving their local communities.

3.  [Fostering networks]{.underline} among local NGOs, civil society,
    governments, and the business community, as an avenue toward
    promoting democratic reforms.

4.  [Encouraging women\'s participation in public life]{.underline} at
    the local, regional and national levels.

5.  [Promoting good governance programs]{.underline} that include
    anti-corruption and transparency components.

6.  [Promoting the rule of law and legal reforms]{.underline} including
    legal rights education and professional legal education.

7.  [Promoting public awareness]{.underline} and involvement in current
    political issues, including voter education, and building advocacy
    skills among individuals and groups.

**Size of Awards:** Small Grants usually range in size from \$10,000 to
\$25,000.

**Length of Grant:** Small Grants projects must be completed in one year
or less.

**Application Process: The Embassy is currently accepting small grant
applications.**

**[Please submit your proposal to the U.S. Embassy in your
country,]{.underline}** using the

attached application. Applications are accepted in English, French, or
Arabic, but

final grant agreements will be concluded in English. We look forward to
receiving

creative proposals to address the areas of interest outlined above. For
a list of

previously funded MEPI Small Grant Projects visit
[www.MEPI.state.gov](http://www.MEPI.state.gov/)

######### Allowable Expenses:

Activities that [are]{.underline} typically [funded]{.underline}
include, but are not limited to:

1.  Workshops and meetings of a practical and professional nature, which
    are an integral part of a larger project and contribute to overall
    project goals;

2.  Community service projects that practice democratic processes and
    encourage volunteerism;

3.  Public education projects/ Public meetings or seminars;

4.  Task forces that will subsequently recommend a specific plan of
    action.

Activities that [may not be funded:]{.underline}

1.  Social welfare projects;

2.  Organizational start-up costs;

3.  Ongoing operating costs or capital improvements;

4.  Buying furniture and office decorations;

5.  Buying vehicles;

6.  Setting up a center unless part of a broader project;

7.  Paying to complete activities begun with other funds;

8.  Projects that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to
    individual or single party electoral campaigns;

9.  Academic or analytical research (if not part of a larger project);
    Scholarships;

10. International travel, unless specifically justified within the
    project.

11. Citizen exchange programs with foreign countries;

12. One-of-a kind events such as conferences and round tables (if not
    part of a larger project);

13. Medical and psychological research, and clinical studies;

14. Provision of health care services;

15. Projects of a commercial or profit-making nature;

16. Cultural presentations, cultural research, cultural clubs, and
    festivals etc.;

17. Language training courses

18. Entertainment costs (receptions, social activities, ceremonies,
    alcoholic beverages, cocktail parties, guided tours).

19. Political party activities

**SMALL GRANT APPLICATION**

**U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE\
MIDDLE EAST PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE (MEPI)**

+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| **Title of Project:**        |                                       |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| **Applicant/Primary          |                                       |
| Implementing Organization:** |                                       |
|                              |                                       |
| ## Address/telephone         |                                       |
| /fax/email *(if available)*: |                                       |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| **Primary Point of           | **Amount of Award Requested:**        |
| Contact:**                   |                                       |
|                              | \$\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ USD        |
| **Name:**                    |                                       |
|                              |                                       |
| **Title**                    |                                       |
|                              |                                       |
| **Phone:**                   |                                       |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| **Local Partner**            | **Local Partner Organization** *(if   |
| **Organization** *(if        | any)***:**                            |
| any)***:**                   |                                       |
|                              | **Name:**                             |
| **Name:**                    |                                       |
|                              | **Phone:**                            |
| **Phone:**                   |                                       |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| **Period of Project:**       | **MEPI Pillar(s) Supported:**         |
|                              |                                       |
|                              | **\_\_\_ Political \_\_\_ Economic    |
|                              | \_\_\_ Education \_\_\_ Women**       |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------+

**1. Brief Summary:** Please supply a clear summary (2-3 sentences) of
your project in the space provided below. Please identify which MEPI
priorities your project addresses.

+---------------------------+--------------------------+---------------+
| ### ACKNOWLEDGEM          |                          |               |
| ENT & PUBLICITY AGREEMENT |                          |               |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+---------------+
| I affirm that the         |                          |               |
| information provided in   |                          |               |
| this application is true  |                          |               |
| and correct and that      |                          |               |
| intentional               |                          |               |
| misrepresentation on this |                          |               |
| form is grounds for       |                          |               |
| denial of a grant. I      |                          |               |
| further affirm that my    |                          |               |
| organization is qualified |                          |               |
| to receive an award under |                          |               |
| applicable laws and       |                          |               |
| regulations. My           |                          |               |
| organization understands  |                          |               |
| that submission of a      |                          |               |
| Small Grant application   |                          |               |
| in no way guarantees      |                          |               |
| awarding of a grant, and  |                          |               |
| we will accept the final  |                          |               |
| decision of the U.S.      |                          |               |
| Embassy Small Grants      |                          |               |
| Committee & MEPI. We      |                          |               |
| further understand that   |                          |               |
| funds awarded under the   |                          |               |
| Small Grants program are  |                          |               |
| provided through MEPI by  |                          |               |
| the people of the United  |                          |               |
| States of America and     |                          |               |
| agree to allow            |                          |               |
| appropriate publicity of  |                          |               |
| this fact.                |                          |               |
|                           |                          |               |
| **Accept:** **Yes. *A     |                          |               |
| signed original must      |                          |               |
| follow this electronic    |                          |               |
| form if a grant is        |                          |               |
| awarded.***               |                          |               |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+---------------+
|                           |                          |               |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+---------------+
| **Signature**             | #### Name & Title        | #### Date     |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+---------------+

**2. State the problem, and describe how this project will address the
problem.**

**3. State how this project is related to the MEPI priorities listed on
page one of the application instructions.**

**4. What is the intended impact or result of this project?**

**5. List the name of the person who will conduct the activities. Please
attach a copy of that person\'s c.v. or resume.**

**6. Describe how you plan to publicize the work and to incorporate MEPI
into this publicity.**

**7. Schedule of Activities:** Please include a detailed timeline.

A\) Describe when the activities will take place using a timeline:

B\) List the project\'s milestones (the activities or events that
demonstrate this project is moving on schedule toward its stated
objectives and which you will monitor and report on as part of the
project evaluation):

**8. Please describe your organization. State what type of group it is,
when it was established, the size of membership, the mission of the
organization, and its source of funding. Describe its status under
applicable law. Also include the name of any local partner organizations
that will participate in this project and describe their role.**

9\. Please list the names of the officials responsible for this project
and its financial administration, and attach a c.v. for each person
listed. Do the same for each local partner organization.

10\. Please provide a complete, line-by-line budget, using the example
below as a guide. Budget items should be linked to the narrative and
include the following information:

-   All project staff and salaries

-   Anticipated travel costs (local and international)

-   Materials to be used for all project activities

-   Services to be used for all project activities

-   All cost-sharing and in-kind contributions

-   Budget should be presented in U.S. dollars, rounded to the nearest
    dollar.

+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| # | # Budget Item | ####                   | **     | **NGO | **Co  |
| # |               | # Detailed Description | Amount | Cont  | ntrib |
| # |               |                        | Req    | ribut | ution |
| # |               |                        | uested | ion** | from  |
| # |               |                        | from   |       | Other |
|   |               |                        | US     |       | Sour  |
| N |               |                        | Emb    |       | ces** |
| o |               |                        | assy** |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 1 | **Salaries    |                        |        |       |       |
|   | (taxes        |                        |        |       |       |
|   | included)**   |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 1 | Position,     | Amount in \$ per month |        |       |       |
| . | name          | x number of months (%  |        |       |       |
| 1 |               | of work time in the    |        |       |       |
|   |               | project)               |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 1 | Position,     | Amount in \$ per hour  |        |       |       |
| . | name          | / per event x number   |        |       |       |
| 2 |               | of hours / events      |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
|   | **Subtotal ** |                        |        | ** ** |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 2 | **Equipment   |                        |        |       |       |
|   | (costing more |                        |        |       |       |
|   | than USD      |                        |        |       |       |
|   | 5,000.00**    |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 2 | Item          | Price in \$ x number   |        |       |       |
| . | description   |                        |        |       |       |
| 1 |               |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 2 | and so on     |                        |        |       |       |
| . |               |                        |        |       |       |
| 2 |               |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
|   | **Subtotal ** |                        |        | ** ** |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 3 | **A           |                        |        |       |       |
|   | dministrative |                        |        |       |       |
|   | costs**       |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 3 | Office        | Amount in \$ x number  |        |       |       |
| . | supplies      | of months              |        |       |       |
| 1 | (including    |                        |        |       |       |
|   | equipment     |                        |        |       |       |
|   | costing less  |                        |        |       |       |
|   | than USD      |                        |        |       |       |
|   | 5,000.00      |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 3 | Internet fees | Amount in \$ x number  |        |       |       |
| . |               | of months              |        |       |       |
| 2 |               |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 3 | Bank fees     | Amount in \$ x number  |        |       |       |
| . |               | of months              |        |       |       |
| 3 |               |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 3 | and so on     |                        |        |       |       |
| . |               |                        |        |       |       |
| 4 |               |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
|   | **Subtotal ** |                        |        | ** ** |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 4 | **            |                        |        |       |       |
|   | Contractual** |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 4 | *             |                        |        |       |       |
| . | *Publishing** |                        |        |       |       |
| 1 |               |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 4 | Name of the   | Price in \$ per copy x | ** **  |       |       |
| . | pub           | number of copies       |        |       |       |
| 1 | lication** ** |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 4 | Service       | Cost per service/per   |        |       |       |
| . | s/Consultants | day                    |        |       |       |
| 2 | \*            |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
|   | **Subtotal ** |                        |        | ** ** |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 5 | **Travel      |                        |        |       |       |
|   | expenses**    |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 5 | Travel        | Ticket price in \$ x   |        |       |       |
| . | description   | number of people x     |        |       |       |
| 1 |               | number of trips        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 5 | Hotel         | Price in \$ x number   |        |       |       |
| . |               | of days x number of    |        |       |       |
| 2 |               | people                 |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 5 | Per diem      | Amount in \$ x number  |        |       |       |
| . |               | of days x number of    |        |       |       |
| 3 |               | people                 |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 5 | Other         |                        |        |       |       |
| . | (provide      |                        |        |       |       |
| 4 | details)      |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
|   | **Subtotal ** |                        |        | ** ** |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 6 | **Seminars,   |                        |        |       |       |
|   | public        |                        |        |       |       |
|   | meetings,     |                        |        |       |       |
|   | round         |                        |        |       |       |
|   | tables**      |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
|   | Room rental   | Amount in \$ per hour  |        | ** ** |       |
| 6 |               | / day x number of      |        |       |       |
| . |               | hours / days           |        |       |       |
| 1 |               |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 6 | Handouts      | Amount in \$ x number  |        |       |       |
| . |               | of participants        |        |       |       |
| 2 |               |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
| 6 | Other         |                        |        |       |       |
| . | (provide      |                        |        |       |       |
| 3 | details and   |                        |        |       |       |
|   | ju            |                        |        |       |       |
|   | stifications) |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
|   | **Subtotal ** |                        |        | ** ** |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+
|   | **TOTAL**     |                        |        |       |       |
+---+---------------+------------------------+--------+-------+-------+

**Notes:**

-   Budgets may contain an estimated amount for bank fees.

-   Funding should not duplicate on-going activities.

-   MEPI encourages applicants to seek funding from other donors and to
    offer some type of **cost sharing** (volunteer time, space,
    equipment etc.)

```{=html}
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```
-   MEPI funds should not be used for **food or entertainment
    expenses**. However, if coffee breaks or working lunches for
    seminar/conference participants are an integral part of the overall
    project, and funding is not available from other sources, these
    costs may be covered but should be limited to a maximum of 15% of
    the total award amount. Meals may not include charges for alcoholic
    beverages.

-   \* Services/Consultants -- Professional services should not exceed
    \$500/day or local rates, whichever is lower.

-   Compensation in reasonable amounts can be paid to project\'s key
    personnel for the portion of their time devoted to the work in this
    project. Compensation levels should be no higher than other local
    salaries (where appropriate), and should include all taxes.

-   If requested, for **equipment** and/or **services** over \$2,500,
    three pro-forma estimates from the service or equipment vendor
    should be attached. Purchase of equipment should be well justified.
    Equipment should not exceed 20% of the total grant request.

-   **Entertainment costs** (receptions, social activities, ceremonies,
    alcoholic beverages, cocktail parties, guided tours) are not
    allowable expenses.

-   **Transportation costs** should not be for First or Business Class
    airfare and must be in compliance with US Government Travel
    Regulations.

-   The use of **\"miscellaneous expenses\"** or any similar term as a
    budget item is unacceptable.

-   Please provide bank account information below:

  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
  Bank Name               Bank Address            Account Number

                                                  
  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------

***End of Application---Thank you.***