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Tech Support: New Media Technical Assistance for Civil Society

In her remarks in November 2009 at the Forum for the Future, Secretary Clinton announced Civil Society 2.0, an initiative which will help grassroots organizations around the world use digital technology to tell their stories, build their memberships and support bases, and connect to their community of peers around the world.

With increased capacity, these organizations are better able to initiate, administer, and sustain their own programs and solutions to shared problems.

In response to the Secretary?s vision, The Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (NEA/PI) is seeking implementing partners to offer specialized technical assistance and support to civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Local CSOs and NGOs will apply for this technical assistance and support through two mechanisms: directly to the implementing organization or through U. S. Embassies.

The purpose of this assistance is to increase the understanding and use of new media by target CSOs and NGOs.

The main objectives of the project are to:

1) Increase CSO/NGO knowledge and build skills to use new, applicable media more effectively,
2) Improve communication between CSO/NGO leaders

and their constituents and between CSO/NGOs and their community of peers around the world, to promote more informed and engaged communities in the MENA region
3) Improve communication between CSO/NGOs and governments in the MENA region on social and political reform issues

The project should focus specifically on building skills in information and communication technologies (ICT) which will enhance the effectiveness of civil society organizations in advocating for social and political reform and in fostering civil engagement among their members, including women and youth.

The project should support requests for basic digital infrastructure as well as more complex economic and social factors affecting ICT in the target countries.

Technical assistance on specific ICT skills for target CSO/NGOs might address:

? Building an online community
? Text messaging campaigns
? Leveraging websites, blogs, and social networks for civic activism and engagement
? Digital film production
? Mobile generation and uploading of audio and video content

The project should also seek to increase CSO/NGO capacity, beyond skills related to new media tools, to build more pluralistic, participatory, and prosperous societies by following ICT best practices in the following areas:

? How to advocate for a specific cause
? How to promote civic engagement
? How to inform civil society using technology
? How to monitor elections

Agency: Department of State

Office: Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs

Estimated Funding: $2,400,000

Obtain Full Opportunity Text:
MEPI Website-Full Announcement Link

Additional Information of Eligibility:
Eligible applicants include any registered U. S. or foreign non-governmental organization, and U. S. or foreign private institutions or commercial entities.

Full Opportunity Web Address:
http://mepi.state.gov/opportunities/index.htm

Contact:
Katie Epp SIS/AM Division Support Phone 202-776-8874

Agency Email Description:
POC Email

Agency Email:
nea-grants@state.gov

Date Posted:
2010-06-22

Application Due Date:
2010-07-30

Archive Date:
2010-08-29

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