U.S. Department of State, Bureau of INL: Strengthening Moldova’s Capacity to Address Child Online Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (COSESA)

Deadline: 16 September 2019

The United States Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is seeking applications from qualified U.S. and non-U.S. based non-governmental (NGOs)/non-profit organizations or Educational Institutions for a Grant to implement a program entitled “Strengthening Moldova’s Capacity to Address Child Online Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (COSESA)”.

The purpose of this award is to strengthen the legal efforts to protect children against online exploitation and trafficking through awareness raising campaigns and training law enforcement and justice sector practitioners on the new COSESA criminal procedure codes.

Project Goals

The goal of the project is to build a community of professionals, including government officials, academia, and NGO’s, in order to successfully counter online child exploitation and sexual abuse.

Project Objectives

The project is comprised of the following objectives and corresponding activities. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Objective 1: Promote a unified national legal response to Child Online Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.
  • Analysis of international legal norms pertaining to child online sexual exploitation and sexual abuse;
  • Analysis of Moldovan judicial practices in handling previous COSESA cases.
• Objective 2: Build capacities of law enforcement and justice sector officials to effectively identify, investigate, and prosecute COSESA cases and protect children victims.
  • Training of Trainers in partnership with National Institute of Justice and pilot seminars for judiciary specialists under the National Institute of Justice training module;
  • Organizing study visits, regional events and trainings for multi-stakeholder group of legal professionals, including judges, prosecutors, judicial clerks, criminal investigators, defense attorneys and psychologists.
• Objective 3. Ensuring technical assistance to law enforcement and judiciary agencies to effectively respond to COSESA cases.
  • Recommended and commended guidelines and SOPs for investigating, prosecuting and judging COSESA cases;
  • Recommended assessment on Criminal Behavioral Analysis for law enforcement agencies and judiciary in understanding criminal behavior of aggressors.
• Objective 4. Implementing a public awareness raising campaign on protecting children online
  • Raising awareness about child online protection, focusing on the dangers of online child sexual exploitation

Award Information

• The anticipated total federal funding amount is not to exceed $200,000.
• The period of performance is two (2) years with an anticipated start date of September 2019.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility for this NOFO is limited to:
  • Applicants that qualify to receive U.S. grants (such as U.S. not-for-profit/nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) or U.S.-based educational institutions subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code; foreign not-for-profits/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or foreign-based educational institutions, with the ability to develop and successfully implement a project in Moldova and meet INL’s reporting requirements. Organizations must also be able to demonstrate current (or pending) country registration in Moldova, if required by the country of project implementation.
  • Applicants must have demonstrated experience implementing similar programs. INL reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering similar programs and/or federal grant awards.
  • Applicants must have the ability to produce materials, deliver training, and conduct evaluations in Romanian and English. The applicant’s staff should be proficient in English in order to fulfill reporting requirements.
  • Applicants must have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with stakeholders in order to successfully carry out the proposed program.
  • Organizations may form a consortium and submit a combined proposal. However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant and other members as sub-award partners.
  • Applicants must be able to respond to the NOFO and be able to mobilize in a short period.
• NOTE: Public International Organizations (PIOs) and For-Profit Organizations are excluded from applying to this grant announcement.
• To be eligible for a grant award, in addition to other conditions of this NOFO, organizations must have a commitment to non‐discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. INL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in  all of its programs and activities. INL welcomes applications irrespective of an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status.
• Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the legal responsibility of the recipient to ensure compliance with these Executive Orders and laws. This provision must be included in any sub‐awards issued under this grant award.
• INL encourages applications from potential new partners.

How to Apply

Applicants can download the application package available on the given website.

For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=318433