SFOP0007747: Economic Empowerment in Dakhla, Laayoune, and the Surrounding Regions
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Assistance Coordination notices from 2021.
Assistance Coordination offered grants of up to $450,000 (at least $400,000) to nonprofits. It expected to make one award worth $1.4 million in total. Applications closed on May 9, 2021.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed March 8, 2021. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$450,000
- Award floor$400,000
- Total funding$1.4 million
- Expected awards1
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
Key dates
| Posted | March 8, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | May 9, 2021 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to nonprofits.
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
This opportunity is open to both U.S. based and Foreign entities. Public International Organizations are eligible to apply to this opportunity. Eligible applicants include: - U.S. or foreign o Non-profit organizations; o For-profit organizations; o Private institutions of higher education; o Public international organizations; o Small businesses with function and regional experience in the areas of education and human development in the MENA region.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Middle East Partnership Initiative awards averaged $1.4 million; this notice allows up to $450,000 per award.
- Most of the program's money (71% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs’ Office of Assistance Coordination’s (NEA/AC) Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) seeks proposals that support inclusive economic growth in Dakhla, Laayoune, and the surrounding areas. Competitive proposals will support activities targeting specific demographics: women, youth, and People With Disabilities (PWD). The beneficiaries should receive some combination of soft- and job-skills along with English language training. Proposals that have an innovative approach and/or have concrete outcomes such as jobs obtained or businesses created will be looked on favorably. Relevant past experience can also be referenced in the proposal. This is not a follow-on to previously implemented awards. Past projects have also had an economic focus, however this project will be the first to contain an English-language component.
Who has won Middle East Partnership Initiative grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Middle East Partnership Initiative (19.500) awarded $115 million across 80 grant awards, an average of $1.4 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American University of Beirut | 8 | $30.1 million | |
| Lebanese American University | New York | 6 | $24.5 million |
| The American University in Cairo | New York | 6 | $20.8 million |
| Family Health International | North Carolina | 3 | $12.5 million |
| World Learning Inc. | Vermont | 4 | $4.2 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is SFOP0007747 still open?
No. It closed on May 9, 2021.
Who can apply for Economic Empowerment in Dakhla, Laayoune, and the Surrounding Regions?
Assistance Coordination accepted applications from nonprofits. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Economic Empowerment in Dakhla, Laayoune, and the Surrounding Regions?
Closed May 9, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $450,000 each. About $1.4 million in total for one award.
Who has won Middle East Partnership Initiative grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were American University of Beirut, Lebanese American University, The American University in Cairo. The program made 80 awards worth $115 million in that time.
Similar open grants
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- 2027 Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program – Selection
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- Charles B. Rangel Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program Selection Grant
- 2027 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program Administration Grant