Building Cross-Border Capacity for Transnational Criminal Organizations, financial Investigations and Asset Recovery

The U.S. Department of State, through its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, is offering a funding opportunity to strengthen cross border capacity for transnational criminal organization financial investigations and asset recovery in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This initiative is part of the Bureau’s broader mission to counter crime, illicit finance, and instability abroad in ways that support U.S. security interests. The program is designed to address systemic gaps in inter agency coordination, investigative capacity, and international cooperation that currently limit the effectiveness of financial crime enforcement in the region. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish sustainable mechanisms that enhance collaboration among prosecutors, law enforcement, financial investigators, and regulatory bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The program emphasizes the creation of joint investigation teams, the provision of mentorship from U.S. practitioners, and the delivery of technical assistance for complex financial investigations. It also focuses on strengthening asset management systems to ensure effective seizure, tracking, and forfeiture of criminal assets, thereby disrupting illicit financial networks tied to organized crime and corruption. Funding under this opportunity supports a wide range of allowable activities, including training programs, study tours, mentorship exchanges, development of asset tracking systems, and implementation of investigative tools such as financial analysis and digital forensics. Applicants are expected to budget for travel, lodging, and per diem for participants, as well as costs associated with U.S. experts providing in country support. Additional allowable costs include translation services, monitoring and evaluation activities, and development of operational procedures and training materials. Construction costs are not allowable, and all expenditures must align with federal cost principles. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to U.S. based nonprofit organizations and U.S. based educational institutions that meet specific tax code requirements. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to facilitate partnerships between U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina institutions. While cost sharing is not required, it is encouraged and must be properly documented if included. Applicants must also meet federal registration requirements, including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier and maintaining an active registration in SAM.gov. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and include a comprehensive set of required documents. These include standard federal forms, a detailed proposal narrative, a performance monitoring plan, a risk analysis, organizational information, and a full budget with narrative justification. The proposal narrative must address project context, theory of change, implementation strategy, evidence base, prior experience, and sustainability planning. Applications are evaluated based on technical merit, monitoring and risk planning, organizational capacity, and cost effectiveness. The application timeline includes a question submission deadline of July 8, 2026 and a final application deadline of August 10, 2026. The anticipated project start date is October 2026, with an implementation period of 30 to 36 months. Award decisions are expected to be communicated by November 2026. The funding opportunity is not explicitly recurring, and only one award is anticipated. Applicants are encouraged to maintain communication with program contacts for clarification and to ensure compliance with all submission requirements. Key contacts for this opportunity include Marco Horta and Lejla Begtasevic Rudalija at the U.S. Department of State. The program operates under a cooperative agreement model, meaning the funding agency will maintain substantial involvement in oversight, planning, and implementation. This includes approval of work plans, monitoring progress, and participating in program activities, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and accountability standards throughout the project lifecycle.

Ensure strong evidence based theory of change; align activities with outcomes; demonstrate partnership capacity; provide detailed monitoring and risk plans