Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program

Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program is sponsored by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The MERC Program supports joint scientific research and innovation partnerships between the United States, Israel, and countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It funds applied research projects addressing shared regional challenges and advancing U.S. economic, technological, and strategic interests.

The program emphasizes collaboration, requiring projects to include organizations from Israel and at least one eligible MENA country or territory.

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gov Maintenance Calendar Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Document Type:Grants Notice Funding Opportunity Number:NEAAC24MERC1001 Funding Opportunity Title:Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Opportunity Category:Discretionary Opportunity Category Explanation: Funding Instrument Type:Grant Category of Funding Activity:Other (see text field entitled "Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity" for clarification) Category Explanation:Following the Camp David accords, a Congressional initiative brought about the Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program to be implemented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The program began in FY 1979, was included in the Foreign Aid Bill for FY 1981 and continues to be the subject of a Congressional directive in the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Program Appropriations Act (SFOAA) to support cooperative projects of a scientific and technological nature between the United States, Israel, and Middle East countries.

Since 1999, MERC has been managed and implemented through an Inter-Agency Agreement between USAID and the U.S. Department of State (DOS). Expected Number of Awards: Assistance Listings:19.

502 -- Middle East Regional Cooperation Program Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:No Last Updated Date:May 23, 2024 Original Closing Date for Applications:Jul 31, 2024 Current Closing Date for Applications:Jul 31, 2024 Archive Date:Aug 30, 2024 Estimated Total Program Funding: Eligible Applicants:Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification) Additional Information on Eligibility:All proposals must include at least one Israeli partner and one eligible MENA partner.

Only proposals developed jointly by investigators from the partner institutions are accepted. Proposals involving three or more partners are also allowed and encouraged. The proposal may be submitted by any party in the collaboration.

Please see NOFO document for additional details. ## Additional Information Agency Name:Assistance Coordination Description:The MERC Program is funded as assistance to promote scientific cooperation, technology-led development, and capacity building between partners in Israel and eligible countries/territories in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Subject to change based on U.S. federal law and country-specific restrictions on funding, those countries include: Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and the West Bank and Gaza (hereinafter “eligible MENA partners”). Emphasis is given to research and technology subjects of regional importance and relevance to the development in the MENA.

Moreover, benefits should target developing, USAID-presence countries in the MENA and resource-limited populations. Strong, direct cooperation between Israel and the eligible MENA partners is required for proposals receiving funding under the MERC Program.

Participation of partners from outside the MENA, including the United States, is not a key feature of the MERC Program, but they may be considered for modest roles in exceptional cases to meet an essential technical need that is not otherwise available among the partners.

Applicants must be prepared to provide a well justified case for the involvement of partners from outside the MENA and accept that the MERC Program may not support their participation. The overall goal of the MERC Program is to enhance research and development cooperation between Israel and its regional neighbors – in support of achieving a comprehensive and lasting Middle East peace.

As part of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the MERC Program is seeking to fund proposals in the following categories: 1. **Continuation grants**: Funding to extend existing or recently ended MERC awards. 2.

**Travel and workshop grants**: Support for workshops, meetings, and researcher exchange. Link to Additional Information:[](https://www. grants.

gov/search-results-detail/353928) Grantor Contact Information:If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact merc@usaid. gov. #### Health & Human Services * Frequently Asked Questions ## Your session will expire in 3 minutes. To continue working, click on the "OK" button below.

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