Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAAC24MERC1002
The Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program is a U.S. government-funded assistance grant opportunity designed to strengthen practical scientific and technology collaboration between partners in Israel and eligible counterparts across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The program is meant to do more than support research for its own sake: it focuses on technology-led development and capacity building, with an explicit preference for work that addresses regional challenges and produces tangible benefits for communities in the MENA region, especially in developing countries where USAID has a presence and where populations may be resource-limited.
A core requirement of MERC is strong, direct cooperation between Israeli institutions and eligible MENA partner institutions. Proposals are expected to be genuinely collaborative, not parallel projects running in isolation. The program supports peer-reviewed, collaborative, applied scientific research as well as technical exchanges, aiming to turn shared regional priorities into workable solutions, improved know-how, and strengthened institutional capacity. Research topics are not narrowly pre-defined in the notice, but the emphasis is clearly on subjects of regional importance and relevance to development across the MENA, meaning applicants should be able to explain both the scientific merit and the real-world development value of the work.
Eligibility for MENA partners is listed as: Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and the West Bank and Gaza, alongside Israel as the required cooperating partner. The notice also highlights that eligibility and participation can be subject to change based on U.S. federal law and country-specific funding restrictions. Partner organizations can come from academia, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, or governmental entities, as long as they are eligible to receive U.S. foreign assistance. For applicants who are uncertain about whether an institution or country context qualifies, the program points them to merc@usaid.gov for eligibility questions.
While the program is centered on Israel-MENA cooperation, it leaves a narrow opening for involvement from partners outside the MENA region, including the United States. That said, outside participation is explicitly not a key feature of MERC and is only considered in exceptional cases where an essential technical capability cannot reasonably be found among the Israel and MENA partners. Even then, the role must be modest, and applicants need to provide a clear, well-justified rationale, with the understanding that MERC may ultimately decide not to support the outside party’s participation.
MERC is soliciting proposals under three main funding categories. First are applied research grants, typically multi-year cooperative research projects that bring Israeli and eligible MENA partners together around an applied scientific or technological objective. Second are continuation grants, intended to extend existing projects or projects that have recently ended, which can be a good fit for teams that have already demonstrated progress and can show why additional time or funding will produce meaningful added outcomes. Third are travel and workshop grants, which fund workshops, meetings, and researcher exchanges, supporting the relationship-building and technical coordination that often make regional research collaborations successful.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is a discretionary grant with an activity category listed as "Other" under CFDA 19.502. The funding opportunity title is Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC), with opportunity number NEAAC24MERC1002. The agency listed is Assistance Coordination. The original closing date is January 15, 2025. The award ceiling is $1,000,000, and the opportunity anticipates making about five awards, suggesting a competitive process with relatively selective funding. The posting/creation date for the opportunity is October 16, 2024.
Overall, MERC is best understood as a targeted mechanism for turning cross-border scientific cooperation into development-relevant outcomes, with a strong expectation that proposed work will matter on the ground in the MENA region, that Israeli and eligible MENA partners will share real responsibility and engagement, and that any participation by non-MENA partners will be rare, tightly limited, and thoroughly justified.Apply for NEAAC24MERC1002
- The Assistance Coordination in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.502.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-15. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program
What is the Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program?
MERC is a U.S. government-funded assistance grant opportunity designed to strengthen practical scientific and technology collaboration between partners in Israel and eligible counterparts across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It emphasizes technology-led development, capacity building, and tangible benefits for communities in the MENA region.
What is the main purpose of MERC funding?
The program is intended to support more than research for its own sake. MERC prioritizes collaborative applied science and technology efforts that address regional challenges and deliver real-world development value, especially in MENA developing-country contexts where USAID has a presence and where populations may be resource-limited.
Is collaboration between Israel and MENA partners required?
Yes. A core requirement is strong, direct cooperation between Israeli institutions and eligible MENA partner institutions. Proposals are expected to be genuinely collaborative, not separate or parallel projects operating independently.
What types of activities does MERC support?
MERC supports peer-reviewed, collaborative, applied scientific research as well as technical exchanges. It also supports workshops, meetings, and researcher exchanges when those activities strengthen collaboration and help translate shared priorities into workable solutions and improved capacity.
Are research topics pre-defined?
No narrow list of topics is specified in the notice. However, proposals are expected to focus on subjects of regional importance and relevance to development across the MENA region, and applicants should be able to explain both scientific merit and practical development impact.
Which MENA partners are eligible to participate?
Eligible MENA partners listed in the notice are: Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and the West Bank and Gaza. Israel is the required cooperating partner.
Can eligibility change due to legal or policy restrictions?
Yes. The notice highlights that eligibility and participation can be subject to change based on U.S. federal law and country-specific funding restrictions.
What kinds of organizations can serve as partners?
Partner organizations may come from academia, the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or governmental entities, as long as they are eligible to receive U.S. foreign assistance.
What if we are unsure whether our country or institution is eligible?
The opportunity directs applicants to email merc@usaid.gov with eligibility questions if they are uncertain about whether an institution or country context qualifies.
Can partners outside the MENA region participate (including the United States)?
Potentially, but only in exceptional cases. Outside participation is explicitly not a key feature of MERC and is considered only when an essential technical capability cannot reasonably be found among the Israel and MENA partners.
If an outside (non-MENA) partner is included, what limitations apply?
The outside party's role must be modest and applicants must provide a clear, well-justified rationale. The notice also makes clear that MERC may ultimately decide not to support the outside party's participation.
What funding categories are available under this opportunity?
MERC is soliciting proposals under three main categories: (1) applied research grants, (2) continuation grants, and (3) travel and workshop grants.
What are applied research grants?
Applied research grants are typically multi-year cooperative research projects that bring Israeli and eligible MENA partners together around an applied scientific or technological objective.
What are continuation grants?
Continuation grants are intended to extend existing projects or projects that have recently ended. They may be appropriate for teams that can demonstrate progress and explain how additional time or funding will produce meaningful added outcomes.
What are travel and workshop grants?
Travel and workshop grants fund workshops, meetings, and researcher exchanges. These are aimed at supporting relationship-building and technical coordination that can make regional research collaborations more successful.
What is the award ceiling for MERC?
The award ceiling listed in the notice is $1,000,000.
How many awards does MERC expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making about five awards, indicating a competitive and relatively selective process.
What is the opportunity number for this funding notice?
The opportunity number is NEAAC24MERC1002.
What is the official funding opportunity title?
The official title is Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC).
Which agency is listed for this funding opportunity?
The agency listed in the notice is Assistance Coordination.
What type of grant is this?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary grant.
What is the activity category and CFDA number?
The activity category is listed as "Other" under CFDA 19.502.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date listed in the notice is January 15, 2025.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting/creation date listed is October 16, 2024.
What does MERC mean by "tangible benefits" and "development value"?
Based on the notice, MERC expects projects to produce practical, on-the-ground benefits for communities in the MENA region, alongside strengthening know-how and institutional capacity. Applicants should be prepared to explain how the work translates into usable solutions or development-relevant outcomes.
How important is capacity building in MERC proposals?
Capacity building is a central emphasis. MERC focuses on technology-led development and strengthening institutional capacity, not only producing research results.
What is the overall emphasis of MERC compared with general research funding?
MERC is positioned as a targeted mechanism for turning cross-border scientific cooperation into development-relevant outcomes, with a strong expectation of real collaboration and practical impact in the MENA region.
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