Deadline: 21-Sep-20
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 Cooperative Agreement to implement a program entitled “Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Children in Conflict with Law Project – Herat.”
The goal of this program is to build the capacity of the Herat Juvenile Rehabilitation Center staff and improve juvenile offender’s access to justice. The program will provide educational and vocational services to increase the juvenile offenders to successfully reintegrate back in to school or vocational programs upon release; employ social workers to advocate on juvenile justice issues, help mediate the child’s safe return to home, and conduct follow up interviews with families upon the release of the juvenile offender; and employ lawyers to assist inmates and detainees with appeals, defense cases, and earning early release.
The juvenile rehabilitation system in Afghanistan currently consists of 33 Juvenile Rehabilitation Centers (JRCs), most of which are located in rented structures not intended to house juvenile offenders. Challenges to JRCs include limited educational, recreational and vocational programming, very limited utilization of alternative sanctions for eligible children in conflict with law, overcrowding, intermingling of pre-trial and convicted juveniles, crumbling infrastructure, underfunding, insufficient staffing, and severely limited recreational space. Devoting even minimal resources to juveniles now is more cost effective than addressing their potential criminal and insurgent activity as adults. Programming directed toward juveniles can implant a sense of belonging and divert juveniles from criminal activity to lead more productive, peaceful livelihoods.
To address these problems, INL plans to support programming at the Herat Juvenile Rehabilitation Center (HJRC). HJRC houses the second largest population of juvenile offenders in Afghanistan, with a population of 75 to 150 children at one time. As one of only six purpose built juvenile rehabilitation centers in Afghanistan, HJRC has adequate space and infrastructure to support educational and vocational training programs.
Project Goals
- Increase juveniles literacy and education level
- Increase inmates’ knowledge and mastery of useful vocational skills
- Ensure that prisoners nearing release have identified a safe environment in which to live and a method of economic support
- Improve access to legal services by providing defense services during trial, facilitating appeals and early and conditional release when applicable for juveniles through alternatives to detention (ATD)
- Improve access to warm clothing, and hygiene supplies for juveniles
Project Objectives
- Improve the conditions for juvenile inmates at HJRC as well as the ability of incarcerated children in conflict with the law to safely establish themselves in society after their release and meet their families’ basic needs.
- Provide rehabilitation and reintegration services to juvenile offenders at HJRC.
- Lead efforts to establish a sustainable capacity to continue to provide rehabilitative and reintegration services after grant funding ends.
- Facilitate alternative sanctions (probation and parole) for eligible children in conflict with the law in coordination with juvenile justice system stakeholders and Office of Prison Administration (OPA).
Funding Information
- The anticipated total federal funding amount is not to exceed $400,000
- The period of performance is two years with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2020.
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 Country X and meet INL’s reporting requirements. Organizations must also be able to demonstrate current (or pending) country registration in Country X, if required by the country of project implementation.
- Applicants must have demonstrated experience implementing similar education or capacity building programs, preferably in Country X. 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.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=328746