U.S. Department of State Grants: Combating Wildlife Trafficking in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a project to combat wildlife trafficking and illegal logging in Sub-Saharan Africa. Informed by the U.S. National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking and its associated implementation plan, and in consultation with other offices in the U.S. government, INL has identified four priority objectives for funding in Sub-Saharan Africa. These programming priorities are listed below under the FY 2020 Programming Objectives section starting on Page 6.

INL will allocate funding through an open, two-stage competitive process. In the first stage of competition, U.S.-based and foreign non-profits, non-governmental organizations, and institutes of higher education were invited to submit two page statements of interest (SOI) and one page budget summaries for projects designed to address the programming objectives highlighted in the funding opportunity. Upon completion of a technical and programmatic review, INL selected a limited number of SOIs for further consideration.

During this second stage of competition, INL invites those selected applicants from the first phase (funding opportunity number SFOP0007434) to submit full proposals (NOTE: the email inviting applicants to submit proposals is a required document. Applications that do not attach the email invitation letter will be deemed ineligible). The selected applicants should submit proposals that build on the concepts described in their SOIs. Full proposals should fully describe the problem statement and the links to transnational organized crime in the landscape, country, or region. The narrative should clearly demonstrate how the proposed objectives, sub-objectives, and activities directly and cohesively address those threats. Finally, the proposal should provide a detailed explanation of other CWT programs working in the proposed landscape, country, or region, and describe how the proposed project will complement and not duplicate those efforts. 

Applications will be judged and selected on their ability to achieve the objectives and gain host country buy-in and commitment to implement the proposed activities. Letters of support from host government are encouraged, and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between the applicant and the host government lead agency are preferred. INL will prioritize proposals with the highest demonstrated government buy-in and support.

Applicants who received multiple invitations based on their SOIs will be eligible to submit a proposal for any or all of the SOIs that received an invitation, but each of the proposals should have all the required documents to be deemed eligible. All applications selected for funding will be awarded pending the availability of appropriated funds.

1.     Priority Region/Countries

Applicants who applied for bilateral programs in Kenya, Tanzania, or South Africa are eligible to apply for this NOFO. Proposals outside of the three countries listed or that would propose regional (i.e. multi-country) work are not eligible under this NOFO.

2.     Project Goal(s)

To reduce the ability of criminal groups to carry out and profit from poaching and trafficking of protected animals and their body parts originating from or transiting Africa.