Deadline: 6 September 2019
The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs’ (OES) Office of Conservation and Water (ECW) at the Department of State, announces the Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) for Mapping Illicit Supply Networks to Combat Conservation Crimes at their Convergence, to work with developing countries and partners to gather data and build capacity to identify, analyze, and map the illegal and illicit supply networks associated with conservation crimes, and areas of convergence among them (whether convergence of actors, financial flows, geography, etc) in the Mekong region.
The program will focus on Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. The results aim to influence policy makers in this region, and will inform ongoing U.S. programs and the design and implementation of future interventions to assist developing countries in combating conservation crimes.
Program Goals
To understand the links between the different trafficking networks associated with conservation crimes in the Mekong region, in order to assist developing countries to combat conservation crimes at their convergence and stop the illegal extraction and trade in these resources, shifting illicit revenue streams away from criminal actors and directing benefits towards governments and communities.
The project aims to advance the initiative to combat conservation crimes by mapping illicit supply networks to combat conservation crimes at their convergence. OES aims to reduce conservation crimes in the Mekong through effective programming at the national, regional, and international levels to combat organized crime and illegal activities associated with wildlife trafficking, illegal logging and associated trade (ILAT), illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the illegal and illicit extraction and trade of precious metals and gemstones. For this funding opportunity, OES intends to focus on trafficking in all of these resources in the Mekong region. The program will include technical assistance to: 1) conduct research on the movement of trafficked resources within or through the Mekong region, 2) map the illicit supply networks associated with these resources to identify points of convergence among these illegal activities, and 3) deliver recommendations for policy and technical capacity development efforts to further address conservation crimes as a group.
This program will complement ongoing programs, funded by the U.S. Department of State, to combat wildlife trafficking, illegal logging and associated trade, IUU fishing, and illegal mining.
Expected Results
- A report of which resources are most threatened by conservation crimes in the Mekong countries individually and as a region, associated drivers of the illegal trade in these resources, and possible future trends for each of the conservation crimes in the region
- An understanding of links among all conservation crimes, as well as between conservation crimes and organized criminal networks in the Mekong region
- Identification of “convergence nodes” within the illicit supply networks associated with conservation crimes in the Mekong region, and a series of narrative case studies to illustrate these connections
- Recommendations, based on the above findings and analysis, to improve existing and inform future interventions to assist developing countries to address conservation crimes as a group
Program Activities
PHASE I: Scoping Conservation Crimes and Illicit Supply Networks
- Modality: Primarily desk review; data collection, consolidation, and analysis; primary research including field work as appropriate
- Suggested Period of Performance: 6-8 months
- Activity 1.a – Research and Analysis
- Activity 1.b – Mapping and Other Data Visualization
- Activity 1.c – Phase I Reporting and Selection of Convergence Nodes
PHASE II: In-Depth Reporting and Recommendations
- Modality: Research to include primary and secondary sources, including key informant interviews and field work as appropriate
- Suggested Period of Performance: 16-18 months
- Activity 2.a – In-Depth Research and Case Studies
- Activity 2.d – Develop/Deliver Final Program Report and Recommendations
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $1,137,500
- Award Floor: $1,137,500
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility is limited to U.S. or overseas-based Non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS and U.S. or overseas private/state institutions of higher education. Due to the nature of the program goal, partnerships and consortia are encouraged where additional expertise may be required to successfully carry out award activities.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via given website.
For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=319312