Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005770
The 2019 MEPI Local Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0005770) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of State (Assistance Coordination). It is designed to reinforce the United States commitment to building direct, practical partnerships with local actors in order to promote prosperity and participatory governance. In plain terms, the program is looking to fund locally rooted organizations and initiatives that are close to community needs and that can translate those needs into workable solutions and stronger civic participation.
The core purpose of the program is to support civil society organizations as they design and carry out solutions that communities identify for themselves. The opportunity emphasizes locally designed responses to environmental, economic, and social problems, rather than one-size-fits-all projects. It also places a strong focus on inclusive economic growth, specifically growth that reaches groups that are often left out of development gains, including marginalized communities, youth, and women. Projects that connect economic opportunity with broader inclusion goals are clearly aligned with the program's intent.
A major theme is strengthening participatory governance. The program aims to increase meaningful citizen engagement while also encouraging decision-makers to be more willing and able to work with citizen groups and civil society organizations. Another related objective is improving how well civil society represents citizen needs through collective local action, which points to supporting networks, coalitions, community organizing, and other approaches that help communities advocate for their priorities in coordinated ways. Beyond participation, the program explicitly calls out working toward gender parity in both economics and politics, signaling that proposals that remove barriers to women's participation and leadership, and that promote equitable outcomes, are central to the grant's goals. Youth engagement is also prioritized, with an emphasis on connecting young people to meaningful economic and civic activities rather than superficial participation.
The opportunity also encourages innovation, indicating that creative or non-traditional approaches to persistent social, economic, or political challenges are welcome, especially when they are grounded in local context and led by local stakeholders. While the activity category is listed as "Other," the description makes clear the intended focus areas: community-driven problem solving, inclusive growth, civic engagement and responsiveness, collective action, gender parity, youth engagement, and innovative solutions that strengthen prosperity and governance at the local level.
In terms of logistics, the announcement was created on April 19, 2019, with an original closing date of May 21, 2019. The award ceiling is $500,000, and the program anticipated making around 35 awards, suggesting support for a sizable cohort of projects rather than only a small number of large grants. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 19.500. Eligibility is broadly described as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, which typically means applicants should consult the official solicitation for the specific types of organizations and any geographic or registration requirements that apply.Apply for SFOP0005770
- The Department of State, Assistance Coordination in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2019 MEPI Local Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.500.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 19, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 21, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 35 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: 2019 MEPI Local Grants (SFOP0005770)
What is the 2019 MEPI Local Grants opportunity (SFOP0005770)?
The 2019 MEPI Local Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0005770) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of State (Assistance Coordination). It is intended to reinforce the United States commitment to building direct, practical partnerships with local actors to promote prosperity and participatory governance.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The core purpose is to support civil society organizations as they design and carry out solutions that communities identify for themselves. The program emphasizes locally designed responses to environmental, economic, and social problems, rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.
What types of organizations does the program aim to support?
The opportunity is designed to fund locally rooted organizations and initiatives that are close to community needs and can translate those needs into workable solutions and stronger civic participation. It specifically references supporting civil society organizations.
What kinds of problems or issues can projects address?
Projects can address environmental, economic, and social problems, as long as the response is locally designed and grounded in community-identified needs. The announcement highlights community-driven problem solving and practical solutions at the local level.
How important is local leadership and local context in proposed projects?
Local context and local leadership are central. The opportunity prioritizes locally designed responses and encourages solutions led by local stakeholders, reflecting an emphasis on direct partnerships with local actors.
What does the opportunity mean by "inclusive economic growth"?
Inclusive economic growth is described as growth that reaches groups often left out of development gains, including marginalized communities, youth, and women. Projects that connect economic opportunity with broader inclusion goals closely align with the program's intent.
Which groups are specifically highlighted for inclusion?
The program explicitly highlights marginalized communities, youth, and women as groups that should benefit from inclusive growth efforts and broader inclusion goals.
What is meant by "strengthening participatory governance" in this grant?
Strengthening participatory governance refers to increasing meaningful citizen engagement and encouraging decision-makers to be more willing and able to work with citizen groups and civil society organizations.
Does the program support projects that improve government responsiveness to citizens?
Yes. A stated aim is to encourage decision-makers to be more willing and able to work with citizen groups and civil society organizations, which aligns with improving responsiveness to citizen engagement.
Does the opportunity support coalitions, networks, or collective local action?
Yes. The announcement highlights improving how well civil society represents citizen needs through collective local action. This points to support for networks, coalitions, community organizing, and other coordinated approaches that help communities advocate for their priorities.
How does gender parity factor into the program goals?
Gender parity is explicitly called out as a goal in both economics and politics. Proposals that remove barriers to women's participation and leadership and promote equitable outcomes are described as central to the grant's goals.
Is youth engagement a priority under this opportunity?
Yes. Youth engagement is prioritized, with an emphasis on connecting young people to meaningful economic and civic activities rather than superficial participation.
What does the program mean by "innovation"?
The opportunity encourages innovation and welcomes creative or non-traditional approaches to persistent social, economic, or political challenges, especially when those approaches are grounded in local context and led by local stakeholders.
What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The activity category is listed as "Other." However, the description clarifies the intended focus areas, such as community-driven problem solving, inclusive growth, civic engagement and responsiveness, collective action, gender parity, youth engagement, and innovative solutions that strengthen prosperity and governance at the local level.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling for this opportunity is $500,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated making around 35 awards, suggesting support for a sizable cohort of projects rather than only a small number of large grants.
When was the announcement created?
The announcement was created on April 19, 2019.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date listed for the opportunity was May 21, 2019.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 19.500.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly described as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. Applicants are expected to consult the official solicitation for the specific types of organizations and any geographic or registration requirements that apply.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility requirements?
The summary indicates that additional eligibility details are provided in the full announcement. To confirm eligible applicant types and any geographic or registration requirements, applicants should consult the official solicitation.
What kinds of project approaches appear most aligned with the program's intent?
Approaches that appear most aligned include locally designed, community-driven solutions; initiatives that connect economic opportunity with inclusion for marginalized communities, youth, and women; efforts that strengthen meaningful citizen engagement and decision-maker responsiveness; collective local action through coalitions or networks; work that advances gender parity in economics and politics; and innovative, locally grounded methods to address persistent challenges.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
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Previous opportunity: Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program - Region 5
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