Anti-corruption project: Training and institution building | OFOP0001394

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this grant opportunity about?

This is a discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), to support an anti-corruption project in Pakistan. The project focuses on improving how public corruption crimes are investigated and prosecuted, with the overall goal of increasing accountability.

2) What is the main goal of the project?

The overall goal is to increase accountability by strengthening the quality, coordination, and effectiveness of investigators and prosecutors working on corruption cases in Pakistan. The project aims to improve case handling from investigation through prosecution and increase public confidence in reporting corruption.

3) What types of corruption cases are targeted?

The opportunity specifically emphasizes public corruption crimes, with improvements intended for the full lifecycle of a case (from investigation to prosecution and courtroom outcomes).

4) What agency is offering the grant?

The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of State through INL. The agency identified for this opportunity is the U.S. Mission to Pakistan.

5) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is OFOP0001394.

6) What is the CFDA number and program area?

The CFDA number is 19.703, and the funding activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services.

7) How much funding is available?

The award ceiling is $750,000.

8) How many awards does INL expect to make?

INL anticipates making one award under this funding opportunity.

9) When was the application due?

The original application closing date was July 18, 2024.

10) What are the main components of the project?

The opportunity is structured around three main components: (1) training and capacity building for investigators and prosecutors, (2) institutional support to modernize and strengthen internal systems, and (3) public awareness and outreach to raise confidence in anti-corruption mechanisms and encourage reporting.

11) What is included in the training and capacity-building component?

This component prioritizes direct training for anti-corruption investigators and prosecutors, mentoring, and the development of a cadre of master trainers. The intention is to build practical skills and create sustainable training capacity that continues after the project ends.

12) What outcomes are expected from the training activities?

The training focus is intended to translate into better evidence gathering, stronger case files, more appropriate charging decisions, and improved courtroom outcomes in public corruption cases.

13) What does "master trainers" mean in this opportunity?

It refers to developing a trained group of personnel who can continue delivering instruction after the project ends, helping ensure the training improvements are sustained over time.

14) What is meant by institutional support in this grant?

Institutional support includes helping participating bodies modernize and strengthen internal systems. This can involve policy-level changes, improvements to accountability mechanisms, and adoption of technological tools that make investigations and case management more effective and transparent.

15) Is the focus only on improving individual skills?

No. The opportunity explicitly emphasizes both individual capacity building (skills and training) and structural improvements (procedures, coordination, systems, and tools) that affect overall performance.

16) What kinds of structural gaps does the grant aim to address?

The description highlights issues such as weak procedures, limited coordination, and outdated processes that hinder investigators and prosecutors from working efficiently.

17) What types of technology or tools are contemplated?

The opportunity mentions adopting technological tools to make corruption investigations and case management more effective and transparent, but it does not specify particular platforms or products.

18) What is the public awareness and outreach component intended to achieve?

It aims to raise citizens' confidence in public service delivery and anti-corruption mechanisms, increase awareness of initiatives, strengthen trust in complaint mechanisms, and encourage more people to report corruption.

19) Does the project include work on citizen complaint mechanisms?

Yes. A key practical outcome tied to outreach is the development or improvement of policies and approaches that make it easier and safer for citizens to file complaints.

20) Why is encouraging reporting of corruption important to the project?

The opportunity links increased public reporting to generating stronger leads that can support more effective enforcement and case outcomes.

21) Where will the project take place?

The call is intended to scale up existing anti-corruption work already underway in Balochistan and expand benefits to anti-corruption establishments in Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

22) Does the opportunity require activities across multiple provinces?

Applicants are expected to propose activities that extend training for investigators and prosecutors across Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab, and KP, while also providing institutional support that promotes transparency and accountability.

23) What is meant by "scale up" in Balochistan?

Based on the description, the opportunity aims to build on existing anti-corruption work already underway in Balochistan and expand or broaden benefits beyond that starting point.

24) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include: U.S.-based non-profit NGOs, U.S.-based educational institutions that qualify under relevant U.S. tax code provisions (such as 501(c)(3)), foreign-based non-profit NGOs, and foreign-based educational institutions.

25) Is there an additional eligibility requirement related to Pakistan?

Yes. In addition to being in an eligible applicant category, applicants must be registered with Pakistan's Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to be eligible under this funding opportunity.

26) Can foreign organizations apply?

Yes. Foreign-based non-profit NGOs and foreign-based educational institutions are listed as eligible applicant types, provided they meet the additional requirement of EAD registration.

27) Can U.S.-based educational institutions apply?

Yes. U.S.-based educational institutions that qualify under relevant U.S. tax code provisions (such as 501(c)(3)) are eligible, provided they also meet the EAD registration requirement.

28) What does "discretionary grant" mean here?

The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant, indicating it is offered through INL as a competitive funding opportunity rather than an entitlement program. The description does not provide additional procedural detail beyond that label.

29) What is the project trying to improve across the justice chain?

The project is designed to improve handling of public corruption cases from investigation through prosecution, emphasizing practical skills, stronger institutional systems, and coordination between investigators and prosecutors.

30) What is the intended impact on public confidence?

The project intends to increase public confidence in reporting corruption by strengthening outreach and complaint mechanisms and by improving the effectiveness and transparency of anti-corruption investigations and prosecutions.