Local Grants Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are companies registered as for profit eligible, can they apply?
Yes, as we consider for profits to be a private sector organization. Note: profit is unallowable on federal awards.
Will all costs be covered by the grant? Or applicants should have a cost share?
Costs that directly support the approved project will be reviewed to ensure they are reasonable, allowable, and allocable. As for cost-sharing, the PSI evaluation criteria indicates that “While cost-share is NOT a requirement, MEPI does encourage applicants to leverage organizational and/or other external resources where possible.”
Is there a cap on projects administrative cost? Or any of the budget main categories?
While there is no cap on administrative costs nor any of the budget categories, please review the evaluation criteria detailed under “Cost Effectiveness.”
Can applicants build on previous successful grants funded by other donors?
Existing funds for a project and its activities may be supplemented and supplanted by MEPI local grants: “Supplement” means to “build upon” or “add to”; “supplant” means to “replace” or “take the place of.”
Can applicants include M&E cost as part of the grant?
Yes. We highly encourage grant applications to include and budget for M&E activities.
Can applicants apply to more than one grant?
We require the local registration needed to operate in the country where the project will be implemented. APS Location Requirement: “Only organizations that have an established local office in the country or territory in which they propose to implement their project will be eligible to apply. Awards will be issued to the local office and not any partner or affiliate office that may be located outside of the country of implementation.”
What kind of local registration is required? Are local branches of International groups eligible?
The local registration required is what is needed to operate in the country where the project is seeking to be implemented. As the APS states, “Location Requirement: Only organizations that have an established local office in the country or territory in which they propose to implement their project will be eligible to apply. Awards will be issued to the local office and not any partner or affiliate office that may be located outside of the country of implementation.”
Are groups registered as quasi-government groups eligible to apply? Given that we worked with similar groups before, we assume its eligible.
As long as the group meets the eligibility criteria detailed in the APS, they would be eligible to apply. For reference, “Eligible applicants include local organizations of civil society, non-profit organizations, community groups, non-governmental organizations, professional associations, private sector organizations, and universities based in Algeria, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.”
