Countering Wildlife Trafficking in South and Southeast Asia | SFOP0009001

Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0009001

The Countering Wildlife Trafficking in South and Southeast Asia grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0009001) is a discretionary U.S. Department of State program run through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It is structured as an open competition for grant proposals from eligible organizations (with eligibility clarified in the full notice under the additional eligibility information). The overarching purpose is to reduce wildlife trafficking by strengthening the criminal justice response across South and Southeast Asia, with a clear emphasis on treating wildlife trafficking as a serious organized crime issue rather than only a conservation concern.

INL is looking to fund projects that measurably improve both the political will and the operational capacity of governments and justice-sector institutions in the region to investigate, arrest, prosecute, and ultimately secure convictions and appropriate sentences against the criminal organizations driving wildlife trafficking. The focus is not limited to low-level interdictions; it explicitly prioritizes going after leaders and mid-level members of trafficking networks, reflecting an intent to disrupt and dismantle organized criminal groups rather than just seizing illegal shipments.

Programmatically, proposals are expected to provide technical assistance in one or more core capacity-building areas. These include strengthening legislative and regulatory frameworks so that laws and penalties are clear, enforceable, and aligned with combating organized wildlife crime; enhancing law enforcement and investigative capabilities so agencies can build stronger cases (including proactive investigations rather than reactive seizures); developing prosecutorial and judicial capacity so cases are effectively charged, argued, adjudicated, and sentenced consistent with the seriousness of the offense; and supporting cross-border law enforcement cooperation at multiple levels (provincial, national, regional, and international) to match the transnational nature of wildlife trafficking networks. The notice highlights that objectives are organized across multiple scopes, including two country-specific objectives, one regional objective, and one thematic objective, indicating that INL is open to projects targeted at specific national contexts as well as initiatives that improve coordination and shared approaches across borders.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted May 24, 2022, with an original closing date of July 25, 2022. The award ceiling is $2,000,000 per award, and INL anticipated making up to four awards. The funding activity category is listed as Law, Justice and Legal Services under CFDA 19.705, signaling that the intended work centers on rule-of-law, enforcement, prosecution, courts, and justice-sector cooperation rather than purely environmental programming.

• The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Countering Wildlife Trafficking in South and Southeast Asia" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.705.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 24, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 25, 2022. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for SFOP0009001

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