State Department Awards Social Networking GrantsState Department Awards Social Networking Grants

The State Department plans to award up to $5 million in grants to expand the use of social networking in the Middle East and North Africa to drive citizen engagement and civic participation. The pilot program is part of a long-term effort to help bring democracy to the region, with a preference toward using existing technologies and social media platforms.The program, announced Sept. 25 and sponsored by the State Department's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), will award grants of $500,000 to $2.5 million to five organizations. MEPI provides support to the Middle East and North Africa for women's empowerment, educational advancement, economic development, and political participation.