The Assistance Coordination has announced the applications for Moroccan Voices Empowering Youth in Marrakech-Safi to pursue this objective by training and empowering youth, amplifying key local leaders, and promoting positive social media engagement to counter radical narratives and provide a positive alternative narrative.

Advancing stability and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is critical to the achievement of the United States’ foreign policy. One part of this broader objective is reducing youth vulnerability to radicalization. There is a shared U.S. and Moroccan interest in Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) in Morocco and in the region.

The United States and Morocco have robust and long-standing Counter Terrorism (CT) cooperation and recognize combatting the threat of violent extremism as a top priority. This includes supporting Morocco’s comprehensive CVE strategy that, among other components, prioritizes countering radicalization and fostering economic and human development, particularly among youth who have not reaped the benefits of economic growth.

Achievable Objectives

A successful project will result in:

• Successful social media campaigns countering violent extremism
• Increased skills in conflict mitigation, critical thinking, and countering extremist disinformation among project participants
• Increased support for religious tolerance and freedom of speech among project participants

Project Design

NEA/AC seeks proposals that will successfully counter violent extremism in the Marrakech-Safi region and promote moderation and religious tolerance. Project activities can include:

• Training youth in critical thinking skills, conflict mitigation, religious tolerance, and how to use social media to counter radical narratives.
• Implementer-led social media campaigns to promote alternative narratives and counter extremist propaganda.
• Support and amplifying local leaders who are active in CVE efforts.

Funding Information

• Estimated Number of Awards: 1
• Estimated Total Program Funding: $180,000
• Award Floor: $150,000
• Estimated Length of Project Period: 12-24 Months

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants include:

• U.S. or foreign
  • Non-profit organizations;
  • For-profit organizations;
  • Private institutions of higher education;
  • Public international organizations;
  • Small businesses with function and regional experience in the areas of education and human development in the MENA region.
• U.S. Embassy Rabat is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all its programs and activities. They welcome applications irrespective of an applicants’ race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. They encourage applications from organizations working with underserved communities, including women, people with disabilities, and youth.
• NEA/AC strongly encourages applications from Moroccan organizations and organizations with permanent local offices in Morocco. International non-governmental organizations with principal bases of operations in the Middle East and North Africa and beyond are also encouraged to apply, but the percentage of total budget actually spent in Morocco through local partners will be among the elements of evaluation for this competition.
• Prime Applicant
  • To be considered for funding under this opportunity, applicants SHALL:
    • Have demonstrable previous experience working in the MENA region. This should be addressed within the project narrative section of your application.
    • Meet ALL of the registration requirements.
    • Meet any requirements listed as MANDATORY in Additional Eligibility Considerations.
• Local Partners
  • International applicants are strongly encouraged to submit projects that include partnerships with local organizations that would work together on specific programmatic objectives or priorities and that utilize local expertise. In particular, U.S. Embassy Rabat strongly encourages applicants not based in the MENA region to partner with local organizations