Response to Gender-Based Violence Justice Sector Reform | INL20CA0027 COSTARICA GBVJUSTICESECTOR

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL20CA0027 COSTARICA GBVJUSTICESECTOR

The grant opportunity titled "Response to Gender-Based Violence Justice Sector Reform" (Funding Opportunity Number INL20CA0027, also labeled COSTARICA GBVJUSTICESECTOR) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) discretionary funding program aimed at improving how Costa Rica's justice system responds to gender-based violence (GBV) and domestic violence (DV). The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the selected organization should expect close coordination with the U.S. government and strong collaboration with Costa Rican justice-sector counterparts throughout implementation. The funding opportunity was created on April 30, 2020, with an original closing date of July 15, 2020, and it anticipates making one award with a maximum value of $600,000 under CFDA 19.703.

At its core, the project is designed to strengthen the full "value chain" of the judicial response to GBV and DV, not just one isolated component. The description emphasizes a comprehensive, end-to-end approach that connects victim-centered services with effective law enforcement and court outcomes. This includes improving access to therapy and other supportive services for survivors, providing legal orientation so victims understand their rights and the justice process, and enhancing systems for tracing and monitoring high-risk victims to improve protection and reduce the likelihood of repeat harm. On the enforcement and adjudication side, the project also targets better police investigations, stronger prosecutorial performance, and convictions that are consistent with Costa Rica's current legal framework. In practice, the grant is trying to reduce the gaps that often appear between a report being made and a case being successfully handled in a safe, coordinated, and legally sound way.

A major expectation is tight, ongoing collaboration with key Costa Rican institutions, especially the Poder Judicial's Gender Unit and the Judicial Police Office for International Affairs. The implementer is expected to work directly with institutional leaders and unit chiefs, which signals that the project is not limited to technical trainings but also involves organizational change, coordination across units, and practical reforms inside the justice sector. The opportunity calls for identifying existing needs and weaknesses, planning and delivering trainings tailored to those needs, and helping the institutions adopt improved practices that can be sustained after the project ends.

Another key element is exposure to relevant models and partners in the United States. The grant explicitly mentions coordinating site visits to U.S. partners such as Family Justice Centers, which are known for coordinated, multi-agency approaches that bring victim services and justice responses together. These visits are meant to support learning, adaptation, and the design of workable improvements in Costa Rica, rather than copying a U.S. model directly. Alongside these exchanges, the implementer is expected to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) that translate lessons learned and best practices into day-to-day workflows that justice sector personnel can follow consistently. The SOP emphasis suggests the project is aiming for practical operational improvements such as clearer referral pathways for victims, consistent risk assessment and follow-up for high-risk cases, better case documentation and traceability, and more coordinated handoffs between police, prosecutors, and the courts.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text, indicating the competition may be open to a range of non-traditional applicants depending on the detailed requirements in the original announcement. Overall, this opportunity is focused on building capacity and systems across the justice response to GBV and DV in Costa Rica, with a strong emphasis on survivor support, improved coordination and investigative/prosecutorial quality, and institutionalized procedures that help produce lawful, consistent, and effective outcomes.

• 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 "Response to Gender-Based Violence Justice Sector Reform" 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 Apr 30, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 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 $600,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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