Combating Wildlife Trafficking in Southeast Asia | INLEA INLTC 17 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for INLEA INLTC 17 001

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), through its East Asia and Pacific office (INL/EA), announced a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Combating Wildlife Trafficking in Southeast Asia" (Funding Opportunity Number: INLEA INLTC 17 001). The purpose of this funding is to strengthen criminal justice and rule-of-law capacity across Southeast Asia so governments are better able to deter, investigate, and prosecute wildlife crime. The opportunity is positioned around the idea that wildlife trafficking is not just a conservation issue but a serious transnational criminal problem that often depends on weak enforcement, limited prosecutorial capacity, and gaps in judicial processes.

The core focus is on building the criminal justice system's ability to respond effectively to wildlife trafficking networks. Projects are expected to identify key gaps in current approaches, explain why those gaps exist, and lay out practical strategies to close them. Applicants are encouraged to build on existing or prior efforts in specific countries when relevant, rather than duplicating work that has already been attempted, and to clearly explain how the proposed activities connect to or improve upon what is already in place. INL also signals openness to promising and innovative pilot projects, meaning proposals can test new approaches if they are credible, well-designed, and relevant to the region's needs.

While wildlife crime is the primary target, the solicitation explicitly allows projects to address related crimes that enable trafficking networks. This can include money laundering, corruption, illegal logging, and other offenses that support or conceal wildlife trafficking operations. In practice, that means proposals may focus not only on seizures and arrests, but also on the financial and governance structures that allow trafficking organizations to function, such as illicit profit flows, bribery, document fraud, or the exploitation of weak regulatory systems.

INL envisions a broad range of possible interventions. Projects may include training, technical assistance, and equipment support for the actors who shape outcomes across the enforcement and justice pipeline, including law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judges, and policymakers. The scope can cover regulatory and legislative responses, such as improving laws, penalties, evidentiary standards, procedures for asset seizure, or rules that govern wildlife trade and permitting. It can also focus on operational improvements tied to specific steps in patrol, investigation, or prosecution, for example strengthening investigative techniques, case development, chain-of-custody practices, interagency coordination, courtroom skills, or the ability to use intelligence and financial evidence in wildlife cases. Proposals may be tailored to particular geographic regions within Southeast Asia and can also target specific species and industries commonly linked to trafficking, reflecting INL's interest in practical, on-the-ground impact rather than purely conceptual reforms.

A key expectation is that proposals be specific and implementation-ready. INL indicates that strong submissions should spell out a clear approach, a realistic implementation plan, the partners involved, and the geographic areas where work will occur. In other words, applicants should show not just what they want to do, but how they will do it, who will do it, where it will happen, and how the pieces fit together into a coherent strategy to improve investigation and prosecution outcomes.

Administratively, the award instrument is a grant, categorized under the funding activity area of Law, Justice and Legal Services, with CFDA number 19.705. The opportunity listed an award ceiling of $3,000,000 and anticipated making approximately three awards. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced elsewhere in the full announcement. The opportunity was posted on February 24, 2017, with an original closing date of April 25, 2017.

• The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Combating Wildlife Trafficking in Southeast Asia" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.705.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 24, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 25, 2017 No Explanation. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for INLEA INLTC 17 001

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