Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0002934
The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), is offering a discretionary grant competition titled "Combating Forced Child Recruitment by FTOs and TCOs" (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0002934). The opportunity funds a single project in Colombia aimed at reducing and disrupting the forced recruitment of children by illegal armed groups that fall under Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). The core idea is that preventing and punishing child recruitment weakens these groups by cutting off a pipeline of coerced members and, in turn, reduces their capacity to conduct criminal activity that the U.S. views as a threat to national security.
The project is designed to strengthen Colombia's ability to respond through the justice system rather than focusing only on prevention messaging or social services. INL emphasizes practical support that helps law enforcement and justice actors investigate recruitment networks, identify and apprehend those responsible, and successfully prosecute recruiters. In other words, the grant is oriented toward improving operational and institutional capacity to build cases, execute arrests, and carry prosecutions forward in a way that leads to accountability for those who recruit children.
This funding will be issued as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the U.S. government expects to have substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant. Applicants should be prepared for close coordination with INL and likely with Colombian counterparts, including alignment with Colombian government priorities, reporting expectations, and collaboration on work planning and performance monitoring.
The award has a ceiling of $4,000,000, and the agency expects to make one award. The opportunity was created on July 14, 2026, and the original application deadline is July 21, 2026. The funding activity category is listed as Law, Justice and Legal Services, and it is associated with CFDA number 19.705, reflecting INL's broader mandate to support rule of law, justice sector strengthening, and counter-crime and counter-terrorism capacity building overseas.
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S.-based nonprofits/NGOs, U.S.-based educational institutions that qualify under section 501(c)(3) or section 26 U.S.C. 115, foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs, foreign-based educational institutions, and for-profit organizations. In practice, this means both domestic and international implementers can compete, including organizations that specialize in criminal justice reform, investigative training and mentoring, prosecutorial support, child protection intersecting with justice outcomes, and capacity-building for specialized units dealing with recruitment and organized crime.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted rule-of-law and enforcement-support initiative in Colombia focused on one specific harm: the forced recruitment of children by FTO- and TCO-linked actors. The U.S. policy logic behind it is straightforward: improving investigations and prosecutions raises the costs of child recruitment for armed groups, disrupts recruitment pipelines, and contributes to broader efforts to weaken illicit organizations operating in Colombia.Apply for OFOP0002934
- The Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Combating Forced Child Recruitment by FTOs and TCOs" 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 2026-07-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-21. (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 $4,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Combating Forced Child Recruitment by FTOs and TCOs (OFOP0002934)
What is the name of this grant opportunity and who is offering it?
The opportunity is titled "Combating Forced Child Recruitment by FTOs and TCOs" (Funding Opportunity Number OFOP0002934). It is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to fund a single project in Colombia that reduces and disrupts the forced recruitment of children by illegal armed groups linked to Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs), primarily by strengthening justice system responses such as investigations, arrests, and prosecutions.
Where will the project take place?
The project is aimed at Colombia.
How many awards does INL expect to make?
INL expects to make one award.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is $4,000,000.
What type of award will be issued?
The funding will be issued as a cooperative agreement, which indicates the U.S. government expects substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for the selected implementer?
Based on the description provided, a cooperative agreement means the awardee should be prepared for close coordination with INL during implementation, including collaboration on work planning, performance monitoring, and meeting reporting expectations. Coordination with Colombian counterparts and alignment with Colombian government priorities is also anticipated.
What kinds of activities does INL want to support through this project?
The opportunity emphasizes strengthening Colombia's justice system response by providing practical support that helps law enforcement and justice actors investigate recruitment networks, identify and apprehend those responsible, and successfully prosecute recruiters to achieve accountability.
Is this opportunity mainly focused on prevention messaging or social services?
No. The project is described as oriented toward strengthening responses through the justice system rather than focusing only on prevention messaging or social services.
What outcomes is this project intended to achieve?
The intended outcomes include improved operational and institutional capacity to build cases, execute arrests, and carry prosecutions forward in ways that lead to accountability for those who forcibly recruit children.
Why is the U.S. government funding work on forced child recruitment in Colombia?
The policy logic described is that preventing and punishing child recruitment weakens FTO- and TCO-linked groups by cutting off a pipeline of coerced members, reducing their capacity to conduct criminal activity that the U.S. views as a threat to national security.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 19.705.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on July 14, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The original application deadline is July 21, 2026.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes U.S.-based nonprofits/NGOs, U.S.-based educational institutions that qualify under section 501(c)(3) or section 26 U.S.C. 115, foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs, foreign-based educational institutions, and for-profit organizations.
Can non-U.S. organizations apply?
Yes. Foreign-based nonprofits/NGOs and foreign-based educational institutions are listed as eligible.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations are included in the eligibility list.
What types of organizations are likely well-positioned for this opportunity?
The description indicates the competition is open to both domestic and international implementers, including organizations that specialize in criminal justice reform, investigative training and mentoring, prosecutorial support, justice-linked child protection outcomes, and capacity-building for specialized units dealing with recruitment and organized crime.
Is the project focused on a specific harm?
Yes. It is described as a targeted rule-of-law and enforcement-support initiative focused on the forced recruitment of children by FTO- and TCO-linked actors.
What is the overall approach emphasized by INL?
The approach emphasizes practical, justice-sector support aimed at improving investigations and prosecutions to raise the costs of child recruitment, disrupt recruitment pipelines, and weaken illicit organizations operating in Colombia.
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