Increasing Access to Justice for Vulnerable Populations in the Central African Republic | INL24CA0083 AMECAR JUSTICEACCESS 060724

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL24CA0083 AMECAR JUSTICEACCESS 060724

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is soliciting proposals for a project focused on expanding basic access to justice for people living in rural, remote, and conflict-affected parts of the Central African Republic (CAR), with a strong emphasis on serving vulnerable and marginalized groups. The opportunity recognizes that many communities outside major urban centers still have little practical access to functioning courts or legal services, and that this gap leaves people exposed to ongoing abuse, exploitation, and physical violence. The project is meant to respond to both the limited reach of justice institutions and the everyday reality that many citizens do not know how the court system works, what legal protections exist, or where to go for help when crimes occur.

The grant is specifically framed around justice needs tied to crimes and harms affecting vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, widows and orphans, LGBTQI individuals, and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The notice highlights that, even with progress in recent years, CAR justice institutions still face major constraints such as insufficient infrastructure, limited resources, and weak operational capacity, which together prevent meaningful service delivery across large portions of the country. In practice, this can mean courts that are distant, understaffed, intermittently functional, or perceived as lacking credibility, creating barriers that discourage reporting and allow impunity to persist.

Funding will be provided through a cooperative agreement, which generally implies close engagement and coordination with the funding agency during implementation rather than a hands-off grant structure. The opportunity is listed under the law, justice, and legal services category (CFDA/Assistance Listing 19.703). INL anticipates making up to two awards, with an award ceiling of $2,000,000 per award. The original application deadline is August 5, 2024, and the funding opportunity number is INL24CA0083 (also referenced as AMECAR JUSTICEACCESS 060724).

Eligibility includes a range of nonprofit and educational entities, both U.S.-based and foreign-based. Eligible applicants include U.S. and foreign non-profit/non-governmental organizations, as well as public or private institutions of higher education (including those with 501(c)(3) status and other nonprofit statuses noted in the listing). A key additional requirement applies to all applicants: they must be able to demonstrate business registration in the Central African Republic. This requirement signals that implementers must have a recognized legal presence or registration standing in-country, which can affect partnership structures, compliance planning, and operational readiness.

Overall, the opportunity is geared toward practical, on-the-ground efforts that help rural and conflict-affected populations actually obtain legal help and justice services, while addressing the specific risks faced by vulnerable groups. The problem statement in the notice underscores that improving access is not just about expanding services, but also about making justice institutions more reachable and understandable to ordinary people who currently face distance, limited court functionality, and low awareness of legal rights and processes.

• The Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Increasing Access to Justice for Vulnerable Populations in the Central African Republic" 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 2024-06-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-05. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 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 INL24CA0083 AMECAR JUSTICEACCESS 060724

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