Opportunity Information: Apply for INL20CA0058AMELIBERIACORRECTIONS082520
The Strengthening Corrections Institutions in Liberia opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number INL20CA0058AMELIBERIACORRECTIONS082520) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) discretionary grant designed to improve how Liberia's corrections system operates in practice, particularly in facilities selected for support. The underlying problem the program is trying to address is that Liberia faces a difficult operating environment with very limited infrastructure, and many citizens have historically had trouble accessing basic justice services. Within the criminal justice sector, corrections institutions are described as struggling with gaps in professional skills, shortages of basic office equipment, and disruptions caused by delayed salary payments, all of which weaken day-to-day operations and reduce the system's ability to meet community needs.
At its core, the project aims to increase consistent adherence to standardized procedures and best practices, with a strong emphasis on human rights-based methods and facility security. Rather than focusing only on hardware or construction, the opportunity centers on institutional strengthening: building staff capacity, improving management systems, and ensuring that rules and processes are applied consistently across the corrections system. The intent is to create more predictable, professional, and rights-respecting operations inside targeted facilities, which in turn supports broader criminal justice goals such as lawful detention practices, improved accountability, and safer custodial environments.
A major component of the work is training and mentoring for corrections staff across all levels of the organization. This includes executive leadership, mid-level managers, and rank-and-file personnel, reflecting an understanding that sustainable change requires alignment from top leadership down to daily frontline practice. Training and mentoring are meant to improve professional conduct and reinforce standardized procedures, while also embedding practical skills that staff can apply immediately in their roles. The emphasis on mentoring suggests ongoing guidance and reinforcement rather than one-off workshops, which is often critical in environments where institutional practices need to shift over time.
Another central area is records management, specifically systems and procedures that can track pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates. Strengthening detainee and inmate tracking is important for basic legal compliance and human rights protections, since poor recordkeeping can contribute to unlawful detention, extended pre-trial confinement, or lost case information. By improving records management, the program seeks to support more transparent custody processes, better coordination with the rest of the justice system, and clearer visibility into detention status and facility population management.
The opportunity also calls for development and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) that are applied system-wide. This indicates the program is not just looking for facility-level fixes but also for broader institutional coherence, where consistent rules guide staff behavior and decision-making across sites. The SOP focus is tied directly to ensuring both human rights standards and security, suggesting the program expects operational guidance that balances humane treatment with safe, controlled facility operations.
In administrative terms, the award is structured as a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means the funding agency anticipates being more actively involved in the project compared to a standard grant. The program falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 19.703. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status. The opportunity was created on August 25, 2020, with an original closing date of October 26, 2020. The award ceiling is listed as $1,000,000, and the announcement anticipated making one award, indicating a single, relatively substantial project intended to deliver focused results in Liberia's corrections sector.Apply for INL20CA0058AMELIBERIACORRECTIONS082520
- 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 "Strengthening Corrections Institutions in Liberia" 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 Aug 25, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 26, 2020. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Strengthening Corrections Institutions in Liberia.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is INL20CA0058AMELIBERIACORRECTIONS082520.
Which U.S. government office is offering this grant?
This is a U.S. Department of State opportunity offered by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
What type of award is this?
The award is a Cooperative Agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a Cooperative Agreement?
Based on the announcement description, a Cooperative Agreement typically means the funding agency expects to be more actively involved in the project than it would be under a standard grant.
What is the primary goal of the project?
The core goal is to improve how Liberia's corrections system operates in practice, particularly in facilities selected for support, by increasing consistent adherence to standardized procedures and best practices with a strong emphasis on human rights-based methods and facility security.
What problem is this opportunity trying to address?
The opportunity aims to respond to challenges in Liberia's corrections environment, including limited infrastructure, historical difficulty accessing basic justice services, and within corrections specifically: gaps in professional skills, shortages of basic office equipment, and operational disruptions linked to delayed salary payments.
Is this opportunity focused on construction or hardware purchases?
The description emphasizes institutional strengthening rather than focusing only on hardware or construction. The intent centers on building staff capacity, improving management systems, and ensuring consistent application of rules and processes.
What are the main program activities expected under this award?
The announcement highlights several central areas: (1) training and mentoring for corrections staff at all levels, (2) strengthening records management to track pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates, and (3) developing and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) applied system-wide.
Who is the project intended to support within corrections institutions?
The work targets corrections staff across all levels, including executive leadership, mid-level managers, and rank-and-file personnel, reflecting the expectation that sustainable change requires alignment from leadership through frontline practice.
Why does the opportunity emphasize training and mentoring (not just training)?
The description suggests mentoring is important because it provides ongoing guidance and reinforcement rather than one-off workshops, supporting longer-term shifts in institutional practices.
What kinds of improvements are expected from training and mentoring?
The training and mentoring components are intended to improve professional conduct, reinforce standardized procedures, and embed practical skills staff can apply immediately in their roles.
What does the opportunity mean by records management improvements?
Records management improvements refer to strengthening systems and procedures that can track pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates, improving visibility into detention status and population management.
Why is detainee and inmate tracking important in this program?
The announcement links tracking and recordkeeping to basic legal compliance and human rights protections, noting that poor recordkeeping can contribute to unlawful detention, extended pre-trial confinement, or lost case information.
What are SOPs in the context of this grant?
SOPs are standard operating procedures that guide staff behavior and decision-making. The opportunity calls for development and implementation of SOPs that are applied system-wide.
What is the intent of system-wide SOP implementation?
The intent is broader institutional coherence so that consistent rules guide operations across sites, with SOPs specifically tied to balancing human rights standards and security in facility operations.
Where will the project take place?
The opportunity is focused on Liberia, particularly corrections facilities selected for support under the project.
What funding activity category is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services funding activity category.
What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 19.703.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status.
Is 501(c)(3) status required to apply?
No. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as $1,000,000.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The announcement anticipated making one award.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 25, 2020.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date listed is October 26, 2020.
What kinds of outcomes is this project trying to support in the broader justice context?
The description indicates the project is meant to support broader criminal justice goals such as lawful detention practices, improved accountability, and safer custodial environments by creating more predictable, professional, and rights-respecting operations inside targeted facilities.
Is the project limited to a single facility?
The announcement references improving operations in facilities selected for support and implementing SOPs system-wide, which suggests the work is not framed as a single-facility effort only.
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