Deadline: 21-Apr-23
The Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to enhance border security cooperation and coordination between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Government of Kenya (GoK) to prevent, disrupt, and respond to al-Shabaab activity along the border.
Goals
The program will contribute to the following Department of State strategic goals:
- Goal 1: Civilian security and justice authorities in East Africa – including Somalia and Kenya – prevent, disrupt, degrade, respond to, investigate, and prosecute terrorist activity.
- Goal 2: Existing or emerging terrorist groups are contained and their operational capabilities are degraded, with a particular focus on Somalia and Kenya.
Objectives
- Objective 1: The FGS, GoK, U.S. government, and international community have a better understanding of relevant stakeholders and units; baseline law enforcement operational and intelligence capabilities; key vulnerabilities along the border; training and equipment needs; and opportunities for enhanced cooperation.
- The proposal must include a comprehensive assessment that maps:
- The terrain along the Kenya-Somalia border;
- Existing infrastructure/equipment and deficiencies at land border crossing points and outposts, including but not limited to: Mandera/Belet Hawo, Liboi/Dhobley, and Kiunga/Raskamboni;
- Baseline capabilities and critical gaps of law enforcement units (tactical, investigative, and intelligence) operating on both sides of the border;
- Key vulnerabilities along the border, including major al-Shabaab transit and smuggling routes;
- Community dynamics and relationship with law enforcement entities;
- Ongoing border security assistance provided by the international community in Somalia and Kenya.
- The assessment must provide findings and recommendations for enhancing capabilities and ability to conduct cross-border joint operations, investigations, and intelligence-sharing.
- The assessment must consider relevant, ongoing assistance efforts in this space; and how they might be leveraged and complemented to augment cross-border synergies.
- The proposal must include a comprehensive assessment that maps:
- Objective 2: The FGS and GoK have increased dialogue and conduct joint planning on crossborder security cooperation.
- The proposal must demonstrate ability to conduct stakeholder engagement and ensure buy-in with both the FGS and GoK, including previous experience.
- The proposal must include regular dialogues and/or working groups with key stakeholders at both the national/senior and local/working levels.
- Initial dialogue(s)/working group(s) should be held in advance of or as part of the assessment design phase. Follow on dialogues/working groups should be held after the assessment to discuss findings and come up with a joint action plan.
- The proposal must include steps to develop a joint FGS-GoK action plan to operationalize border security cooperation.
- Objective 3: The FGS and GoK have the training, equipment, and/or technical know-how to successfully conduct joint law enforcement operations, information sharing, and investigations.
- The proposal must reserve a portion of the budget to execute high-yield rapid interventions to respond to and address some of the key assessment findings.
- Interventions may include but are not limited to technical assistance/advisory support, training, equipment procurement, and infrastructure augmentation.
- The proposal must reserve a portion of the budget to execute high-yield rapid interventions to respond to and address some of the key assessment findings.
Funding Information
- Length of performance period: 24-36 months
- Number of awards anticipated: 1 award
- Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $1,500,000 to a maximum of $4,938,271
- Total available funding: $4,938,271
- Anticipated program start date: October 1, 2023
Participants and Audiences
- Federal and local governments in Somalia and Kenya
- Border security and law enforcement officials
- Border communities
Priority Country or Region: Somalia and Kenya
Eligibility Criteria
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Public and private educational institutions
- For-profit organizations
- Public International Organizations (PIOs) and Governmental institutions
- Consortiums
For more information, visit Grants.gov.