Local Grants

The MEPI local grants program directly supports organizations at the grassroots or community level that are advancing democratic change and strengthening civic institutions.  The program establishes partnerships with a wide range of local civil society groups, including NGOs and universities, as they undertake reform projects and play an increasingly vital role in expanding political participation in their countries.

To apply for a MEPI Local Grant, please fill in the following four forms:

1. Application for Federal Assistance SF-424; (Click on this sample to guide you in the filling process of your application) An Arabic version of this form is provided as a reference, but cannot be used to apply for funding. | Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

2. Project Narrative; An Arabic version of this form is provided as a reference, but cannot be used to apply for funding.

3. Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 A (Budget - Click on this sample to guide you in the filling process of your application)  

4. Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 B    

Typed applications are accepted in English and 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. Click here to see descriptions of current local grants projects.

Grant amounts will usually range between $25,000 and $100,000, but individuals and organizations applying for these grants are encouraged to write their budgets to actual costs.  The period of the grant can take from 3 months to two years.  All applicants should apply directly to the U.S. Embassy located in their country, copying the MEPI Regional Office at ABUDHABIMEPI [at] state.gov.  Below is a list of email addresses of the U.S. embassy located in the applicants' respective countries.  Applications are accepted in English and Arabic.

Bahrain: MEPIManama [at] state.gov

Kuwait: KuwaitMEPI [at] state.gov

Oman: MEPIMuscat [at] state.gov

Qatar: QatarMEPI [at] state.gov

Saudi Arabia: SaudiArabiaMEPI [at] state.gov

UAE: UaeMEPI [at] state.gov

Yemen: YemenMEPI [at] state.gov

Jordan: MEPI_Amman [at] state.gov

Allowable Expenses:

Activities that are typically funded 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:

• Social welfare projects;
• Organizational start-up costs;
• Ongoing operating costs or capital improvements;
• Buying furniture and office decorations;
  Buying vehicles;
• Setting up a center unless part of a broader project;
• Paying to complete activities begun with other funds;
  Projects that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to individual or single party electoral campaigns;
• Academic or analytical research (if not part of a larger project); Scholarships;
  International travel, unless specifically justified within the project.
• Citizen exchange programs with foreign countries;
• One-of-a kind events such as conferences and round tables (if not part of a larger project);
• Medical and psychological research, and clinical studies;
• Provision of health care services;
• Projects of a commercial or profit-making nature;
• Cultural presentations, cultural research, cultural clubs, and festivals etc.;
• Language training courses
• Entertainment costs (receptions, social activities, ceremonies, alcoholic beverages, cocktail parties, guided tours).
• Political party activities