NOFO: Countering the Trafficking of Protected Marine Species in South Asia

Deadline: 20-June-23

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 counter the trafficking of CITES listed marine species in maritime states within the Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and the Laccadive Sea.

Project Vision: This program aims to deepen the understanding of the impacts and extent of illicit trade networks associated with marine wildlife trafficking and to combat the trafficking of CITESlisted marine species within Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and Laccadive Sea surrounding India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Maldives. In addition, it aims to strengthen legal protections for marine species and enhance the capacity and ability of maritime law enforcement agencies and maritime border protection to identify, interdict, and investigate illegal trade in marine species.

Project Goal(s) and Objectives

• The goal of this program is to reduce the illegal extraction and trafficking of CITES-listed marine species surrounding India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Maldives and the ability of criminal groups to carry out and profit from these activities.
• They encourage proposals that are innovative, leverage existing partnerships and technologies, and engage, empower and support the development of local NGOs and partner organizations within the focus countries. Proposals with clear a clear vision for how activities, outcomes and outputs will be sustained beyond the life of the program will be considered highly.
  • Goal
    • Reduce the illegal extraction and trafficking of CITES-listed marine species in Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and Laccadive Sea surrounding India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives and the ability of criminal groups to carry out and profit from these activities.
  • Objectives
    • Deepen the understanding of the extent and impacts of trafficking of CITES-listed marine species in the Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and Laccadive Sea, including knowledge of targeted species, trafficking routes (sea, air, and ground) and criminal networks.
      • Activities could include but are not limited to;
        • A baseline assessment of commonly trafficked marine species within the region, including poaching hotspots, and an analysis and identification of marine trafficking routes including the documentation of source, transit, and destination cities or countries.
      • Note: Proposals should focus on commonly trafficked marine species and products in the region, including sharks, rays, abalone, shellfish, seahorses, sea turtles, sea fans, mollusks, crustaceans, cetaceans, sea cucumbers, and corals
    • Strengthen laws and protections for marine species in focus countries. Activities could include but are not limited to;
      • A baseline legal gap analysis, including but not limited to, alignment with CITES and CMS protections (e.g. sharks, rays and sea cucumbers) and recommendations for improvements.
      • Assessment of the effectiveness of marine protected areas and the extent to which these areas are subject to criminal activity related to CITES-listed species, including identification of opportunities and recommendations for improvement.
    • Enhance the ability and capacity of maritime states’ law enforcement agencies to interdict and investigate marine wildlife trafficking of CITES-listed marine species and disrupt/deter the criminal organizations that perpetrate illegal trafficking. Activities could include but are not limited to;
      • Baseline assessment on the capacity of marine enforcement agencies, including knowledge on CITES listed species.
      • Enhance capacity of focus countries to combat the online trafficking of CITES listed marine species, including mechanisms for interagency coordination.
      • Targeted training for maritime law enforcement organizations/agencies to increase maritime domain awareness, including capacity to conduct vessel board search and seizures (VBSS), specific marine species training modules/courses, and post training evaluation.

Funding Information

• Length of performance period: 24 months
• Anticipated program start date: Oct 1, 2023
• Number of awards anticipated: 1-3 awards
• Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $500,000.00 to a maximum of $1,500,000.00
• Total available funding: $1,500,000.00

Participants and Audiences

• The program should focus on maritime law enforcement agencies and organizations; including but not limited to; coast guard, port authorities, marine border protection agencies, fisheries authorities, marine protected area managers, agencies charged with investigating online crime, and additional agencies that may intersect with the marine environment (such as the Indian Forest Service, whose officers also manage coastal environments where marine species trafficking occurs). Proposals will ideally include details on how underrepresented groups (ex. gender, LGBTQI+, race, ethnicity, religion, disability) would be engaged and empowered, and not negatively affected by the activities outlined in this program.
• Applicants should identify additional target audiences, specific demographics, and the geographic areas in which the project will be implemented. It is particularly important to specify the approximate number of beneficiaries disaggregated by gender to be directly and indirectly impacted by project activities

Priority Region/Countries: Maritime states bordering the Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and Laccadive Sea, with a focus on India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Maldives. Proposals may include the entire focus area or a specific maritime state or multiple maritime states within the focus area.

Eligibility Criteria

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
• U.S.-based educational institutions subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code;
• U.S.-based educational institutions
• Foreign-based non-profits/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
• Foreign-based educational institutions

For more information, visit Grants.gov.