Strengthening Bosnia and Herzegovina's Anti-Money Laundering System to Combat Transnational Organized Crime Networks

The U.S. Department of State, through its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity to support a program focused on strengthening Bosnia and Herzegovina’s anti-money laundering system to combat transnational organized crime networks. INL’s broader mission is to enhance global stability and security by countering illicit drugs, crime, and instability abroad, and this funding opportunity aligns with that mission by addressing financial crime vulnerabilities that have implications for U.S. national security. Bosnia and Herzegovina is identified as a key node in transnational criminal financial networks, particularly along the Balkan route, where illicit proceeds from drug trafficking and other organized crimes are laundered through weak institutional systems. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to improve Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutional capacity to detect, investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate complex money laundering operations linked to transnational criminal organizations. The program aims to address systemic gaps in financial crime enforcement, including weaknesses in suspicious transaction reporting, limited digital forensic capacity, and insufficient interagency coordination. Through a combination of training, technical assistance, and institutional development, the program seeks to enhance the country’s ability to combat illicit financial flows and strengthen its compliance with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards. Funding for this opportunity totals 500000 U.S. dollars, with a single anticipated award ranging from 400000 to 500000 U.S. dollars. The project period is expected to last between 30 and 36 months, with an anticipated start date of October 2026. Funds may be used for a wide range of programmatic activities, including training workshops, development of analytical tools, technical assistance for legal and regulatory reforms, and facilitation of international collaboration. Applicants are expected to budget for all necessary costs associated with program delivery, including travel, lodging, training materials, and expert consultants. Cost sharing is not required but is encouraged and must be properly documented if proposed. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and for-profit entities with demonstrated expertise in anti-money laundering, financial intelligence, and criminal justice reform. Public international organizations are explicitly excluded. Applicants must also meet administrative requirements such as obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier and maintaining active registration in SAM.gov. Only one application per organization is permitted, although partnerships and consortium applications are allowed with a designated lead applicant. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov and include a comprehensive set of required documents, such as standard federal forms, a proposal narrative of up to 30 pages, a performance monitoring plan, a project risk analysis, and detailed budget documentation. The proposal narrative must address project context, theory of change, implementation plan, evidence base, prior organizational experience, and sustainability strategy. Evaluation criteria emphasize project design, monitoring and risk management, institutional capacity, and cost effectiveness, with a total of 100 possible points. Key deadlines include a question submission deadline of July 8, 2026, and a final application deadline of August 10, 2026. Successful applicants are expected to begin implementation in October 2026 and will be required to submit quarterly performance reports through INL systems. Award decisions are expected to be communicated by November 2026. The program is not described as recurring, and funding is subject to availability. Applicants may contact designated INL representatives via email for inquiries, and all application materials must be prepared in English and comply with federal formatting and regulatory requirements.

Ensure strong evidence based theory of change align implementation plan with objectives clearly define measurable outcomes and demonstrate institutional capacity and prior experience