Countering Weaponized Migration to Central and Eastern Europe

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, is offering the Countering Weaponized Migration to Central and Eastern Europe funding opportunity under opportunity number DFOP0019651 and Assistance Listing Number 19.345. The program is funded through the FY25 Democracy Fund and is subject to the availability of funding. DRL seeks to support analysis that increases understanding of how malign foreign governments and their proxies weaponize migration to advance geopolitical objectives. The notice describes state and state-backed criminal actors as exploiting migration from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia and conflict-affected populations in ways intended to weaken or destabilize Central and Eastern European democracies. The program goal is to identify and document how malign state actors and state-backed actors weaponize migration flows to Eastern Europe. Its objective is to identify the push and pull factors associated with weaponized migration, make findings available to the public, and develop recommendations for addressing the problem. Illustrative activities include identifying regions and populations targeted for exploitation; documenting, tracking, and countering propaganda used to lure migrants into European Union countries; determining the roles of security forces, militias, criminal gangs, border guards, and other state-backed actors in violence or displacement; exposing foreign actors that deliberately create conditions that uproot populations; and developing practical recommendations for policymakers to mitigate and deter weaponized migration and strengthen communities against exploitation. Total available funding is 1,973,359 U.S. dollars, with one to two awards anticipated depending on award amounts. The notice states that awards may range from a minimum of 1,973,359 U.S. dollars. The overview lists a performance period of a minimum of 24 months and maximum of 36 months, while a separate project performance period statement says proposed projects should be completed in 24 months or fewer. The anticipated project start date is September 30, 2026. Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not required and does not improve an application's competitive ranking. Award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages. Funds also cannot be provided to UNRWA or used to encourage, mobilize, publicize, or manage mass-migration caravans toward the United States southwest border, provide legal counseling on the U.S. asylum process, or provide referrals to legal representation in the United States. Additional federal restrictions and award certifications described in the notice also apply. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based and international not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society or non-governmental organizations; public and private educational institutions; for-profit organizations; individuals; public international organizations; and governmental institutions. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier and an active SAM.gov registration and must maintain the registration as required. Individuals do not need a UEI or SAM.gov registration. The notice states that SAM.gov registration or renewal may take four to eight weeks. Subrecipients must obtain a UEI before an award is processed or directed to them, although the UEI is not required for subrecipients at the application stage. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov or MyGrants no later than August 28, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT. Required forms are the SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B. An optional summary page may be included. The proposal is limited to 15 pages and must address the proposal summary, applicant background and capacity, problem statement, goals and objectives, activities, methods and design, schedule and timeline, key personnel selection criteria, project partners, monitoring and evaluation, sustainability, and security planning. Applicants must also provide a budget justification narrative and attachments including a line-item budget, key personnel position descriptions, partner letters of support, the latest NICRA when applicable, and official permission letters when required. Documents must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and Microsoft Word documents must be single-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman with at least one-inch margins. Applications will be evaluated for the quality and feasibility of the program idea, organizational capacity and record on previous grants, program planning and ability to achieve objectives, budget quality, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. A DRL review committee evaluates technically eligible applications and may recommend conditions or revisions involving costs or activities. Risk review considers financial stability, management systems, performance history, audit findings, ability to implement requirements, and organizational capacity to manage DRL funds. If applications receive equivalent scores, the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate receives preference as a tie-breaking mechanism. Unsuccessful applicants are expected to be notified by September 30, 2026. Questions about the application process may be directed to DRL-PRU-Solicitation@state.gov. Awards require quarterly financial and progress reporting through the applicable federal systems.

Directly address the stated goal and objective; provide a well-developed and feasible program idea with a reasonable implementation timeline; demonstrate organizational capacity and federal-funds controls; make goals and objectives clear and measurable; provide a detailed and realistic budget; include output and outcome indicators with milestones; show sustainability; avoid activities contrary to standing Executive Orders; if scores are equivalent, a lower indirect cost rate receives tie-breaking preference.