Deadline: 05-Oct-20
The United States Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs INL is seeking applications from qualified Mexican non-governmental (NGOs)/nonprofit organizations Cooperative Agreement to implement a program entitled “Enhancing Accountability and Transparency Prosecutors Offices”.
The main goal of the project is to make Mexican state Attorneys General’s Offices (AGOs) more transparent and accountable through direct interaction and on-the-ground citizen monitoring of services, particularly of the criminal complaint filing process.
The grantee will oversee and assess the quality of services, transparency, and conduct of public prosecution authorities. This project´s intent focuses on two specific aspects:
- Criminal complaint filing process: The recipient will monitor and present recommendations to the AGO resulting in an improved criminal complaint filing process.
- Identifying and seeking sanctions for official misconduct: The recipient will seek to identify official misconduct, referring complaints or concerns to the appropriate office (Fiscalía Anticorrupción, Visitaduría, or other), for appropriate sanction of officials that committed acts of corruption and/or administrative faults. The project should follow up on cases referred to as encourage appropriate follow-up.
Project Goals & Objectives
- The overarching goal of this project is to hold accountable and transparent state prosecutors offices and improve their transparency through the implementation of an interactive citizen watchdog program, able to improve procedures and identify official misconduct. A variety of methods for gathering citizen input will be considered – including but not limited to the regular in-person presence of grantee staff in AGOs, citizen monitors, telephone hotlines, online or mobile tools, etc.
- GOAL 1: To ensure accountability of AGOs and transparency of procedures during the criminal complaint filing process through an on-the-ground interactive program implemented by a CSO.
- Objective 1: Implement an interactive citizen watchdog program within AGOs, able to identify areas of improvement, opportunities for corruption, and cases of official misconduct, while assessing the quality and functionality of the criminal complaint filing process.
- Objective 2: Based on the citizen watchdog program findings, produce specific recommendations for Attorneys General to improve procedures within the AGO criminal complaints process and measure their implementation and impact.
- Objective 3: Develop draft guidelines for the criminal complaints process that could be replicated in other states AGOs as accountability and transparency standards.
- GOAL 2: Hold accountable AGO officials responsible before the appropriate authority for committing acts of corruption or administrative faults
- Objective 4: Identify potential administrative or criminal violations by AGO officials during the criminal complaint filing process.
- Objective 5: Encourage citizens to present official complaints to AGOs on violations and misconduct by AGO officials during the criminal complaints process.
Funding Information
- The anticipated total federal funding amount is not to exceed $700,000.00.
- The period of performance is 2 years with an anticipated start date of October 2020.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for this NOFO is limited to:
- Mexican not-for-profits/non-governmental organizations (NGOs), with the ability to develop and successfully implement a project in Mexico and meet INL’s reporting requirements. Organizations must also be able to demonstrate current (or pending) country registration in Mexico if required by the country of project implementation.
- Applicants must have demonstrated experience implementing similar education or capacity building programs, preferably in Mexico. 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 course materials, deliver training, and conduct evaluations in Spanish 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 another status.
- Applications from organizations with projects that have been subject to termination by any USG agency will be considered on a case by case basis. This provision will be applicable to any potential sub-awardees under this award. 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.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=328557