Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC)

Only proposals developed jointly by Arab and Israeli investigators are accepted. All proposals must include at least one institutional partner in Israel and one in an Arab country/territory eligible to receive U.S. foreign assistance. Proposals involving three or more regional partners are also allowed and encouraged. The proposal may be submitted by any party in the collaboration. Partners may come from academic, private sector, non-governmental, or governmental institutions.Subject to change based on U.S. federal law and country-specific restrictions on funding, the following countries/territories are eligible to apply as Arab partners: Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank & Gaza.MERC projects involving Israel and another relatively affluent Arab country (e.g., Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) must include a developing country from the region as a partner and/or a beneficiary of the products and processes developed by the research in order to achieve development impact. These affluent countries must adhere to budgetary restrictions, such as cost-sharing in support of salaries and cost of living, maintain the spirit of Arab-Israeli cooperation opposed to primarily engaging foreign expatriates, and target benefits and outcomes of the project to countries and populations of limited income. Satellite or portal campuses of foreign (e.g., U.S., India) institutions are not considered eligible Arab partners.MERC does not encourage the involvement of U.S. partners nor participation of individuals or institutions from outside the Middle East and North Africa region (e.g., Europe). U.S. partners may be considered for modest roles in exceptional cases to meet an essential technical need that is not available in the region. Applicants must be prepared to provide a very well justified case for the participation of partners or individuals from outside the MENA region, and accept that MERC may not support the participation of any non-regional partners. The use of any non-regional partner to lead or administer the overall project is discouraged.

merc@usaid.gov