Program to Support the Criminal Justice System in Ecuador

Post Date

February 7th 2011

Application Due Date

February 18th 2011

Funding Opportunity Number

INL-11-CA-0002-WHA-02042011

CFDA Number(s)

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Cooperative Agreement

Funding Activity Categories

Law, Justice and Legal Services

Number of Awards

10

Eligibility Categories

Public and State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
Non-Profits With 501 (c) (3) Status With The IRS (Except Higher Education Institutions)
Private Institutions of Higher Education

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $800000

• Award Range:

  $500000 - $800000

Grant Description

The general purpose of the program is to assist the Government of Ecuador (GOE) to strengthen the effectiveness of the prosecution and adjudication capabilities of Ecuadorian criminal justice actors and support GOE initiatives to transition from the current mixed procedures code to a more accusatory model. Phase 1 of the program focused on disseminating the understanding of the accusatory model and training of operators –i.e. investigators, prosecutors and judges- in basic oral techniques and skills. Procedural rules, however, continue to impede expeditious, fair prosecutions and undermine human rights and due process. In October 2008, Ecuador approved a new Constitution that introduced substantive changes and created a new and more complex judicial sector environment. The 2008 Constitution introduced new standards for the prosecution of criminals and several new measures that allowed challenges to judicial rulings, including challenges before the newly created Constitutional Court. Phase 2 of the program continued training of criminal justice operators in basic oral techniques and skills, but also expanded upon this training by providing advanced skills training on effectively prosecuting major crimes, such as narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and trafficking in persons. This included supporting efforts on the establishment of a major crimes task force to prosecute more effectively these serious crimes. This program also focused efforts on strengthening the criminal justice system through discussions on the current constitutional and legal framework. Lastly, the criminal reform initiatives were enhanced with communication and outreach programs, to include law schools throughout Ecuador. The new phase of the program will build on the previous two phases to include training on oral advocacy skills and advanced training on serious transnational crimes as well as putting in place a network of qualified local persons who will be able to take over in the future when the program has completed its mission. The new phase will also incorporate activities dedicated to reducing corruption within the Ecuadorian judicial system. Applicants must submit proposals using www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. EDT on February 18, 2011. Please note that during the submission period www.grants.gov may experience higher than normal application volume due to Recovery Act-related opportunities. Difficulties encountered in using www.grants.gov will not be grounds for extending this deadline. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to email copies of all documents to HookerDJ@state.gov after the application package has been submitted via www.grants.gov. Please include a copy of the Grants.gov tracking number as well as the official date and time of the Grants.gov submission in your email to HookerDJ@state.gov. All applicants will be notified by the INL Grants Office that either negotiations are being initiated, that additional information is required, or that a negative decision has been reached. Awards are expected to be made (subject to the availability of funding) by March 23, 2011. Questions regarding this request for application must be submitted to points of contact no later than 5:00 p.m. by February 14, 2011. Questions received after this date cannot be addressed due to the scheduled closing date of this request for application. All questions and answers will be posted as an attachment to this RFA daily, if any.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of State

• Office:

  International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affair

• Agency Contact:

  Lourdes Stein
  Program Analyst
  Phone 202 776 8774

• Agency Mailing Address:

  DOS e-mail

• Agency Email Address:

  steinlf@state.gov