The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support greater inclusion of Kuwaiti women in public life and to increase their civic participation. This opportunity aims to advance U.S. foreign policy by encouraging inclusive governance through building the leadership and technical capacity of women in government and civil society; addressing persistent barriers that prevent women from accessing decision-making processes; and facilitating constructive engagement and collaboration between female civic actors and government officials.
NEA/AC seeks proposals that will enable women leaders and candidates to: 1. Increase their skills and ability to compete in political processes; 2. Launch strategic alliances with civic actors who are advocating issues of concern; 3. Develop communication skills and strategies to engage with the public and advocate to government representatives on issues of concern; and 4. Prepare young women for assuming leadership roles and increasing their civic engagement.
Successful applications will result in women leaders and candidates acquiring skills, knowledge and abilities to compete in Kuwaiti political processes; women civil society leaders being equipped with strategic planning and communication skills; and women civil society leaders and their allies forming a coalition on an agreed issue of concern, launching a public awareness campaign, and lobbying government representatives on a gender issue such as, but not limited to, domestic abuse or women’s legal rights.
Applications will be accepted only from organizations that have previously operated in Kuwait, or have personnel who have previously worked in Kuwait. Successful applications will complement the ongoing work with women candidates at Kuwait University’s Women’s Research and Studies Center.
Deadline: June 7, 2017
Eligible applicants include U.S. or foreign non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; private institutions of higher education; public or state institutions of higher education; and public international organizations with functional and regional experience in the areas of gender, candidate training, civil society, coalition building, and organizational strengthening in the MENA region. Applications will be accepted only from organizations that have previously operated in Kuwait, or have personnel who have previously worked in Kuwait. International non-governmental organizations with principal bases of operations outside the Middle East and North Africa are also encouraged to apply (provided the above condition related to working in Kuwait is satisfied), but the percentage of total budget actually spent in the region through local partners will be among the elements of evaluation for this competition.
