Deadline: 16-Jul-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 strengthen the ability of the Salvadoran justice system to combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and support survivors and victims.
The purpose of this project is to equip justice institutions to recognize and investigate TIP without causing further harm or re-traumatizing victims.
Project Goal(s) and Objectives
- Project goal: Increased real and perceived access to justice for victims of trafficking in persons and reduce impunity for traffickers.
- Objective 1: Justice institutions are equipped to support victims of TIP and ensure basic standards are met for victims and refer them to appropriate support resources.
- Objective 2: Justice institutions are equipped to recognize TIP and initiate and effectively conduct investigations without causing further harm to victims.
Funding Information
- Total available funding: $500,000.00
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $400,000.00 to a maximum of $500,000.00.
- Length of performance period: 24 months
- Anticipated program start date: September 2024.
- Number of awards anticipated: 1 award (dependent on amounts)
Project Activities and Deliverables
- Activity 1.1: Within six months, and in coordination with the National TIP Council, standardize procedures across GOES institutions by reviewing, updating, or creating as needed, the contents of current protocols and guidelines of institutions providing services to victims of TIP to reduce revictimization. Within the first year, and after the conclusion and approval of protocols and guidelines, conduct socialization workshops across GOES institutions, to make sure implementation is on track.
- Activity 1.2: Within ten months, and in coordination with the National TIP Council, review, update or create as needed contents of current protocols and guidelines of GOES institutions providing shelter services to TIP victims. Right after the conclusion and approval of protocols and guidelines, conduct socialization workshops across GOES institutions to make sure implementation is on track.
- Activity 1.3: Within the second year, create a victim’s support network system among justice institutions and civil society organizations to ensure basic standards are met for victims and refer them to appropriate support resources. Right after the creation of the victim’s support network system, conduct training across GOES institutions ensuring implementation is on track.
- Deliverable 1.1: During the first year, update and standardize protocols and guidelines of institutions providing services to TIP victims to reduce revictimization and conduct appropriate socialization workshops.
- Deliverable 1.2: Within the first year, review and update protocols and guidelines of institutions providing shelter services to TIP victims and conduct appropriate socialization workshops.
- Deliverable 1.3: Within the second year, create a victim’s support network system among justice institutions and civil society organizations and conduct appropriate training.
- Activity 2.1: Within nine months, and in coordination with the National TIP Council, standardize TIP procedures across GOES justice institutions by reviewing, updating, or creating as needed, the contents of current protocols and guidelines of institutions investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating TIP cases. Institutions to be included are Attorney General’s Office, National Civilian Police, and the judiciary. Right after the conclusion and approval of protocols and guidelines, conduct socialization workshops across GOES institutions ensuring implementation is on track.
- Activity 2.2: Within the first year of the project, and in coordination with the National TIP Council, design and implement training for a minimum of 100 first responders, justice officials, migration officials, social workers, psychologists, and responders from civil society/academic institutions working with victims. Train an additional 200 personnel in the second year. Trainers from all the institutions should be identified and included in the first group so they can replicate the course in their agencies.
- Topics of the trainings should include, but are not limited to:
- New protocols and procedures as devised in prior activities.
- Identifying victims.
- Identify and understand different forms of TIP.
- Attention to LGBTQI+ and other vulnerable groups.
- Referring victims to appropriate resources.
- Strategies to reduce re-victimization.
- The grantee should conduct a short assessment to contextualize the training to El Salvador and suggest other topics.
- Topics of the trainings should include, but are not limited to:
- Activity 2.3: Within the first year of the project, and in coordination with the National TIP Council, design and implement training for a minimum of 100 investigators, prosecutors, and judges, focused on access to justice and criminal procedures. Train an additional 200 personnel in the second year. Trainers from all the institutions should be identified and included in the first group so they can replicate the course in their agencies.
- Topics of the trainings should include, but are not limited to:
- New protocols and procedures as devised in prior activities.
- How to interview victims without retraumatizing.
- How to gather physical and digital evidence, and initiate investigations without causing further harm to victims.
- Differences between TIP and human smuggling.
- Investigative techniques for TIP cases.
- Adjudication of cases.
- The grantee should conduct a short assessment to contextualize the training to El Salvador and suggest other topics.
- Topics of the trainings should include, but are not limited to:
- Deliverable 2.1: Within the first year, standardize and update protocols and guidelines for all institutions investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating TIP cases.
- Deliverable 2.2: Within the first year, develop and implement training for first responders, justice officials, migration officials, social workers, psychologists, and responders from civil society/academic institutions working with victims. A minimum of 100 officials will be trained during the first year, and 200 officials in the second year.
- Deliverable 2.3: Within the first year, develop and implement training for investigators, prosecutors, and judges, focused on access to justice and criminal procedures. A minimum of 100 officials will be trained during the first year, and 200 officials in the second year.
Participants and Audiences
- The project will work directly with Salvadoran government institutions to include Attorney General’s Office, Supreme Court of Justice, Ministry of Justice and Public Security, National Civilian Police, Salvadoran Migration Directorate, Public Defender’s Office, National Council for Infancy, Childhood, and Adolescence, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism, and others as needed.
Priority Region/Country
- El Salvador
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 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.