Founded in 2006, the Open Society Foundations Arab Regional Office works to strengthen and support local civil society in protection of human rights and build vibrant and tolerant societies. The office is based in Amman, Jordan and supports a large number of organizations including civil society organizations, research centers, universities, and media organizations, etc., from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and other Arab countries.
The Open Society Foundations Arab Regional Office is accepting unsolicited grant proposal outlines, or concept notes, for the projects falling within the focus areas of the Office on a rolling basis throughout the year.
About Arab Regional Office Program
Recently supported projects and initiatives include providing access to legal aid for migrants and indigent communities in Jordan and Lebanon; support for community radio in Iraq and Jordan; investigative journalism training for reporters in Bahrain and Yemen; strengthening political participation of women in Egypt and Tunisia; monitoring human rights violations by Israeli and Palestinian authorities; and challenging discrimination policies against the Palestinian Citizens of Israel. The office has also supported the establishment the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture to support music, theater, cinema, visual arts, and literature.
The Arab Regional Office aims to orient its support to civil society according to the priorities identified and pursued by local organizations and thought leaders. It provides support to grantees within a framework of transparency, accountability, and noninterference in the programming of the organizations to ensure those on the ground determine the needs and priorities of their constituencies and maintain ownership over their work. Organizational good governance, capacity to undertake programs, and relevance and accountability to constituencies, are the only criteria that guide the decisions to provide support.
Focus Areas
Concept notes should fall within the following focus areas:
- Rights & Governance
- Media & Information
- Women’s Rights
- Knowledge & Education
Selection Criteria
- The criteria for successful proposals are their relevance to the Arab Regional Office’s priority focal areas and their attempt to raise standards and promote new ideas in their respective fields.
- Professional organizations, universities, NGOs, and other institutions are open to apply for support. The Arab Regional Office does not accept concept notes, or grant applications from individuals.
- Once a grant is approved, the office places no conditionality or “strings attached” on grantee recipients. Grantee reports are required twice annually or once a year to insure a grantees compliance with the terms of the approved proposal.
The Open Society Foundations Arab Regional Office accepts grant proposal and concept notes on a rolling basis throughout the year.
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