Deadline: 01-Nov-2024
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 help North Macedonia fight corruption by maximizing whistleblower reporting.
Project Goal(s) and Objectives
- Goal: Government employees increase reports of misconduct through established channels without retribution.
- Objective: Authorities raise awareness about methods and channels for whistleblowing
- Objective: Government employees are aware of what constitutes criminal conduct that merits reporting through established channels.
- Objective: Authorities act on and credit whistleblower information to bring charges against corrupt actors.
- Objective: Whistleblowers are championed
- Goal: Relevant authorities (law enforcement, public integrity officers, prosecutors) enforce protection for whistleblowers under the law.
- Objective: Authorities gain credibility with whistleblowers by developing framework and applying best practices in handling reports.
- Objective: Authorities have the skills and knowledge to implement practices to shield whistleblowers from retaliation.
- Objectives: Agencies collaborate to implement laws
Funding Information
- Total available funding: $200,000
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $200,000
- Length of performance period: 18 to 24 months
- Anticipated program start date: December 10, 2024
- Number of awards anticipated: 1 award
Project Activities and Deliverables
- Design and release a whistleblower pilot program to proactively uncover criminal conduct in public sector.
- Train law enforcement and prosecutors to provide strong support for whistleblowers to come forward, report crimes, and cooperate in several critical areas – fraud, abuse, waste, and corruption.
- Design programs that encourage institutions to take responsibility for misconduct within their organizations. Offer early and voluntary self-disclosure of criminal conduct by individual participants in certain non-violent offenses to receive leniency.
- Boost methods and channels for whistleblowing and support and advise potential whistleblowers. Explore possibilities for open, confidential, and/or anonymous reporting. Alleviate implementation of main reporting channels: 1) internal to employer, 2) external to regulator or law enforcement agency, and 3) alternative external to media
- Support whistleblower advocates and other champions who defend whistleblowers.
- Based on local laws and international standards, design and help apply a framework for relevant authorities handling reports to ensure protective measures are in place for whistleblowers.
- Design and implement programs and practices to shield whistleblowers from retaliation.
- Design and implement safe haven for internal disclosure of crimes such as gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, and/or substantial and specific danger to public safety or health. Build capacity and credibility among authorities who receive reports.
Participants and Audiences
- Civil servants, media, civil society, legal practitioners, law enforcement, public integrity officers. Consideration should be given to ethnic, geographic, and gender diversity.
Priority Region
- North Macedonia
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 or section 26 US 115 of the U.S. tax code;
- Foreign-based non-profits/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
- Foreign-based educational institutions.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.