Accountability and Transparency Initiative

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MEPI seeks a single grantee (i.e., the applicant) with at least three other U.S. or foreign-based partners to establish and lead a consortium that will manage and implement projects under a regional umbrella mechanism in support of citizen-led accountability and transparency efforts across the MENA region. The grantee, as the lead organization within the consortium, will coordinate activities and projects with consortium partners and MEPI, and will be ultimately responsible for the management, monitoring, and evaluation of the consortium and umbrella mechanism. The umbrella mechanism should be designed to respond to a range of identified needs in the region and, where possible, build on transition-related opportunities and international and multilateral commitments that governments have made. Through this mechanism, the grantee and consortium partners will execute regional and country-specific projects that quickly respond to these emerging opportunities and needs, which could include, but are not limited to: new government accountability or transparency initiatives; national citizen-government dialogues; incidents of corruption, neglect of constituents? needs, or inefficient use of public resources; debates on legislation concerning fundamental freedoms; parliamentary votes affecting geographically isolated populations or ethnic and religious minority group interests; gaps in service provision; deficits of trust and understanding between citizens and municipal or national governments; and citizen concerns over specific policy impl ementation or service delivery issues. MEPI envisions a consortium that is capable and experienced, and that demonstrates a record of success, in implementing a broad spectrum of activities, particularly in the areas of access to information, new media, developing accountability networks, and promoting citizen participation and monitoring of government decision-making and performance. Drawing on the strengths, expertise, and networks of its members, the consortium will develop and propose potential activities and projects to MEPI to implement under the umbrella mechanism that respond to a range of emerging opportunities and needs in the MENA region, as well as formulate activities based on proposals generated by MEPI. Once the consortium and mechanism are established, the grantee and its consortium partners may propose projects and activities in the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank or Gaza, and Yemen. Regional and multi-country projects may include Iraqi participants, but we currently do not fund Iraq-specific projects. Applicants may propose potential activities in their submissions, but these activities will only be reviewed as examples of the consortium?s proposed approach. The grantee?s operation of this program will include substantial involvement from MEPI. As such, MEPI will work closely with the grantee on targets of potential assistance, including but not limited to, the selection of projects, sub-award mechanisms, and design of project work plans and objectives. In addition, the grantee and consortium partners will be expected to propose possible projects and sub-award mechanisms under this initiative. The grantee will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of all sub-grants and contracts to ensure complementarity of efforts, completion of activities, institutional strengthening, and financial propriety. Applicants should assemble and lead a consortium consisting of the applicant and at least three other implementing organizations. In their submissions, applicants should outline how the consortium will manage projects under the umbrella mechanism and describe the division of labor among the consortium partners; the organizational capacity and functional expertise of each consortium member; provide examples of successful activities completed by each consortium member that reflect the objectives outlined in the program description; demonstrate each consortium member?s experience and existing networks in the MENA region; and describe a strategy and capacity for carrying out assessments for regional, national, and local-level projects. Applicants may propose potential activities as examples of the consortium?s approach, but activities will be considered and approved separately once the consortium and mechanism are established. More information about what is required in your sub mission can be found in the copy of the full grant announcement.

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