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

FAQs: Response to Gender-Based Violence Justice Sector Reform (INL20CA0027)

1. What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Response to Gender-Based Violence Justice Sector Reform" and is also labeled "COSTARICA GBVJUSTICESECTOR."

2. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is INL20CA0027.

3. Which U.S. government office is offering this funding?

This is a U.S. Department of State program administered by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

4. Is this a discretionary program or a formula entitlement?

It is a discretionary funding program.

5. What type of award is anticipated?

The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which means the implementer should expect close coordination with the U.S. government during implementation.

6. What does a cooperative agreement imply for project implementation?

Based on the opportunity description, the selected organization should plan for close coordination with the U.S. government and strong collaboration with Costa Rican justice-sector counterparts throughout the project, rather than operating independently.

7. What country is the project focused on?

The project is focused on Costa Rica and aims to improve how Costa Rica's justice system responds to gender-based violence (GBV) and domestic violence (DV).

8. What is the primary purpose of the project?

The core goal is to strengthen the justice-sector response to GBV and DV in Costa Rica, using a comprehensive approach that links survivor support services to improved law enforcement and court outcomes.

9. What is meant by strengthening the full "value chain" of the justice response?

It means addressing the end-to-end pathway of a case and survivor support, not just one piece. The opportunity emphasizes connecting victim-centered services (like therapy and legal orientation) with improved investigations, stronger prosecutions, and lawful, consistent court outcomes.

10. What survivor-centered components are highlighted in the opportunity?

The description specifically references improving access to therapy and other supportive services for survivors, providing legal orientation so victims understand their rights and the justice process, and improving systems to trace and monitor high-risk victims to strengthen protection and reduce repeat harm.

11. What justice-sector performance improvements does the project aim to support?

The opportunity targets better police investigations, stronger prosecutorial performance, and convictions that are consistent with Costa Rica's current legal framework.

12. What problem is the grant trying to address in practical terms?

It aims to reduce gaps that often occur between a report being made and a case being handled safely and effectively, including gaps in coordination, follow-through, and legally sound case progression from investigation through court outcomes.

13. Which Costa Rican institutions are expected to be key counterparts?

The opportunity highlights ongoing collaboration with the Poder Judicial's Gender Unit and the Judicial Police Office for International Affairs.

14. What level of engagement with Costa Rican institutions is expected?

The implementer is expected to work directly with institutional leaders and unit chiefs, indicating involvement beyond standalone trainings and extending into coordination, organizational change, and practical reforms inside justice-sector institutions.

15. What activities does the opportunity describe for identifying and addressing needs?

The project is expected to identify existing needs and weaknesses, plan and deliver trainings tailored to those needs, and support adoption of improved practices designed to be sustained after the project ends.

16. Are trainings the only expected deliverable?

No. The description indicates the work goes beyond trainings and includes organizational change, cross-unit coordination, and practical reforms, including the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs).

17. What role do U.S. partner organizations play in this project?

The opportunity includes exposure to relevant U.S. models and partners through coordinated site visits, explicitly mentioning Family Justice Centers as an example of coordinated, multi-agency approaches.

18. Are U.S. models expected to be copied directly in Costa Rica?

No. The description indicates site visits are intended to support learning, adaptation, and the design of workable improvements in Costa Rica rather than direct replication of a U.S. model.

19. What are standard operating procedures (SOPs) expected to accomplish?

SOPs are intended to translate lessons learned and best practices into consistent day-to-day workflows that justice-sector personnel can follow. The opportunity suggests SOPs could help clarify referral pathways for victims, standardize risk assessment and follow-up for high-risk cases, improve case documentation and traceability, and strengthen coordinated handoffs between police, prosecutors, and courts.

20. Does the opportunity emphasize high-risk victim tracing and monitoring?

Yes. The description specifically calls out enhancing systems for tracing and monitoring high-risk victims to improve protection and reduce repeat harm.

21. How many awards does the opportunity anticipate making?

The opportunity anticipates making one award.

22. What is the maximum funding amount?

The maximum value anticipated for the single award is $600,000.

23. What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.703.

24. When was the opportunity created and when did it originally close?

The opportunity was created on April 30, 2020, and the original closing date was July 15, 2020.

25. Who is eligible to apply, based on the information provided?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text. The summary indicates it may be open to a range of non-traditional applicants depending on the detailed requirements in the original announcement.

26. What does the opportunity suggest about sustainability after the project ends?

The description emphasizes helping institutions adopt improved practices that can be sustained after the project ends, including institutionalized procedures such as SOPs and improved coordination mechanisms.

27. How does the opportunity define successful outcomes in the justice system?

Success is framed as improved coordination and end-to-end case handling that is victim-centered and results in better investigations, stronger prosecutions, and convictions consistent with Costa Rica's current legal framework.

28. What kinds of coordination improvements are implied between justice-sector actors?

The opportunity implies improved handoffs and coordination between police, prosecutors, and courts, supported by consistent workflows and clearer referral and follow-up processes for victims.

29. Is the project limited to one agency or unit within the justice sector?

No. The language emphasizes a comprehensive approach across the justice response "value chain" and highlights collaboration across multiple justice-sector counterparts.

30. What is the overarching theme of the opportunity?

The overarching theme is improving Costa Rica's justice-sector response to GBV and DV by strengthening survivor support, improving investigative and prosecutorial quality, enhancing coordination, and institutionalizing practical procedures that lead to consistent and effective outcomes.