The State Department’s Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is inviting proposals from eligible organizations for establishing local chapters of MEPI Alumni Network in Algeria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. All the Local Alumni Chapters of MEPI will work together to create the region-wide MEPI Alumni Network with the aim of strengthening MEPI alumni in creating an environment to make positive contributions in the region.
Goals of the MEPI Alumni Network
- Goal 1: Strengthen Connections among Alumni, Activists, and Civil Society Organizations
- Increase links among MEPI alumni and with other U. S. Government alumni networks
- Promote and support activities that further MEPI’s mission among alumni and active citizens across the region
- Goal 2: Enhance Alumni Skills to Seize Opportunities for Civic Engagements
- Provide professional development and leadership training
- Strengthen civic engagement and advocacy skills
- Promote innovation through mentoring
- Goal 3: Maintain and Strengthen Relationships with MEPI Alumni
- Forge ongoing relationships between MEPI alumni, MEPI staff, and Embassy officials
- Expand MEPI projects to new audiences, by identifying new grantees and new program participants
- Facilitate Alumni feedback of MEPI projects and activities
- Facilitate the collection of follow-up data for evaluation and monitoring MEPI long-term activities Goal 4: Encourage MEPI Network Alumni to Remain Active in Civic Life
- Organize volunteer and community service activities for MEPI Alumni
- Inform alumni of opportunities to become involved in community service and advocacy projects
- Establish links among MEPI alumni that focus on activism, advocacy, civic engagement, and social entrepreneurship
Activity Requirements
- At least one skill-building training activity per year
- At least one training activity per year focused on a thematic issue of interest to alumni
- A survey to identify skill-building and thematic interests of alumni
- At least one networking event per year
- At least one training activity per year focused on volunteerism and community involvement to prepare for an “Alumni Day of Service”
- At least one “Alumni Day of Service” per year where alumni are encouraged to participate in volunteer activities in their communities
- Travel costs of sending the Local Coordinator to a three-day MEPI Alumni Network Regional meeting in Istanbul, Turkey in Year One of the grant award
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include any registered U.S. or foreign non-profit organization, non-governmental organization, private sector organization, and institution of higher education (such as colleges or universities). The Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative strongly encourages applications from experienced civil society organizations in the Middle East and North Africa region. International partners (non-governmental organizations with principal bases of operations outside the Middle East and North Africa) are also encouraged to apply.
Last date for submitting the proposals is January 12, 2012.
For more information, visit this link and search by the Funding Opportunity Number NEAPI-11-AW-038-MENA-121611.
