The U.S. Department of State has primary responsibility for foreign assistance, and builds capacity to prevent and counter transnational organized crime principally through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). INL combats crime by helping foreign governments build effective law enforcement and other criminal justice institutions that counter transnational crime and contribute to legitimate governance and resilience to transnational threats. INL leads the Department of State’s efforts to prevent and combat corruption globally by strengthening justice sector institutions, supporting reform efforts, and capacity building to hold governments accountable to anti-corruption standards. INL achieves these objectives through long-term bilateral capacity building partnerships and assistance to enable international cooperation to combat transnational criminal threats. INL also supports relevant international organizations—particularly to advance international norms and review mechanisms—and civil society, where appropriate.
Transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), including gangs and drug cartels, undermine border security, perpetuate crime, and inflict harm in communities throughout the Western Hemisphere. These organizations often exploit the region’s pervasive corruption and weak rule of law to facilitate criminal activity and siphon away public and private resources.
Proceeds from narcotics-related illicit activities are one of the most common sources of money laundering in the United States. INL also plays a key role in combating financial crimes globally through its capacity-building programs with partner nations. The Western Hemisphere accounts for about a third of the jurisdictions designated by the State Department as of primary concern for money laundering.
This project will provide assessments on anti-corruption and anti-money laundering as well as the impact of interventions on these topics in Central America, South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. This project will also support an assessment and mapping of criminal networks at the hemispheric, sub-regional, and national level.
Deadline: Aug. 8, 2020
This project consists of three major components. Applicants can apply to one, two or all three components listed below:
- Component I – Anti-corruption Baseline Analysis and Assessment of Best Practices
- Component II – Financial Crimes Baseline Analysis and Assessment of Best Practices
- Component III – Criminal Networks Research and Analysis
Eligible organizations may include: (U.S. based nonprofit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or educational institutions having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or overseas-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or private/state educational institutions.