Rule of Law Assistance in Democratic Republic of Congo - Strengthening Forensic Medicine, Law Enforcement, and Legal Capacity | INL 16 GR 0062 AMEDRCONGO ROL 08082016

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL 16 GR 0062 AMEDRCONGO ROL 08082016

The grant opportunity titled "Rule of Law Assistance in Democratic Republic of Congo - Strengthening Forensic Medicine, Law Enforcement, and Legal Capacity" is a U.S. Department of State program administered through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It is designed to strengthen the Democratic Republic of Congo's rule-of-law and criminal justice capabilities, with a clear emphasis on improving how the justice system handles sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases. The central idea is that better forensic medicine capacity, combined with stronger law enforcement and legal coordination, can improve the documentation, investigation, and prosecution of SGBV crimes, leading to greater accountability and improved access to justice for survivors.

This opportunity builds on INL-supported efforts that began in 2009, during which INL programs focused on expanding access to justice for SGBV survivors and increasing the capacity of key frontline and justice-sector actors. Those actors include civilian law enforcement personnel, healthcare workers who may conduct medical examinations and document injuries, and judicial officials who must evaluate evidence and build prosecutable cases. The grant continues that trajectory by targeting a specific gap that often undermines SGBV prosecutions: the limited ability of criminal justice systems to properly collect, preserve, analyze, and present forensic medical evidence in a way that meets legal standards and supports successful prosecutions.

The total funding available for this program is up to USD 1,000,000, provided through International Counternarcotic and Law Enforcement (INCLE) funds. The award structure anticipates a single grant recipient (ExpectedAwards: 1), meaning one organization is expected to carry the main implementation responsibility, potentially working with partners or subrecipients as appropriate. The grant falls under the "Law, Justice and Legal Services" activity category and is offered as a discretionary funding opportunity, which typically means applicants compete based on merit and alignment with the program's goals rather than receiving funds by formula or entitlement.

Eligible applicants are relatively broad across the nonprofit and academic sectors. They include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status, and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions). This eligibility range suggests INL is open to implementers with technical expertise in forensic medicine, criminal justice reform, capacity-building, training, and institutional strengthening, including universities or medical-legal organizations capable of delivering specialized programming and professional development.

Administratively, the opportunity is identified by the funding opportunity number INL 16 GR 0062 AMEDRCONGO ROL 08082016, with a CFDA number of 19.703, associated with Department of State assistance programs. The original posting date (CreationDate) is 2016-08-08, and the original application deadline (OriginalClosingDate) is 2016-09-09. The award ceiling is set at USD 1,000,000, which aligns with the total amount stated in the description and reinforces that the program expects one award at or below that level.

In practical terms, while the notice does not list specific required activities in the excerpt provided, the description points to a program likely centered on strengthening the end-to-end chain of evidence in SGBV cases. That can include improving medical documentation practices, reinforcing forensic protocols and standards, building investigative skills within civilian police, and strengthening the ability of prosecutors and judicial actors to use forensic medical evidence effectively in court. The overarching outcome the funding is aiming for is a criminal justice sector that can more consistently produce credible evidence, build stronger case files, and prosecute SGBV offenses more effectively, thereby improving survivor access to justice and supporting broader rule-of-law objectives in the DRC.

• The Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rule of Law Assistance in Democratic Republic of Congo - Strengthening Forensic Medicine, Law Enforcement, and Legal Capacity" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.703.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-08-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-09-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for INL 16 GR 0062 AMEDRCONGO ROL 08082016

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