Combating Forced Child Recruitment by FTOs and TCOs

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a project titled "Combating Forced Child Recruitment by FTOs and TCOs." This Request for Federal Assistance Award Applications seeks one organization to implement a 24-month cooperative agreement in Colombia, starting September 2026, with total funding of $4,000,000 (awards ranging from $3,500,000 to $4,000,000). The project aims to strengthen Colombian law enforcement's capacity to investigate and prosecute forced child recruitment and the criminal use of minors by Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). Eligible applicants include U.S. and foreign non-profit/non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, and for-profit entities with prior criminal justice project experience in Colombia. Applications are due July 6, 2026, via www.grants.gov, and must include a detailed proposal, performance monitoring plan, risk analysis, budget, and organizational information, adhering to specific formatting and federal regulations. A voluntary cost-share contribution is encouraged.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a cooperative agreement to combat forced child recruitment by Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) in Colombia. This initiative, under the CFDA program 19.705 (Transnational Crime), is supported by $4,000,000 in FY24 INCLE funding. INL plans to issue a single award ranging from $3,500,000 to $4,000,000 for a 24-month project starting in September 2026. The project's goal is to strengthen the capacity of the Colombian National Police (CNP) and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to investigate, arrest, and prosecute recruiters exploiting minors under 18 years of age. Specifically, the program addresses both "Forced Recruitment" (Article 162) and "Criminal Use of Children" (Article 188D) under the Colombian criminal code. Key objectives include enhancing operational capabilities through specialized training, technology, and strategic coordination, as well as fostering collaboration with local faith-based organizations and private sector social media companies used by criminal networks. Eligible applicants include U.S. and foreign non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and for-profit entities with proven experience in criminal justice projects and operations within Colombia. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by July 15, 2026, and must include a proposal narrative, a performance monitoring plan, a project risk analysis, and a detailed budget. Proposals will be evaluated based on technical design, monitoring and risk management, institutional capacity, and cost-effectiveness.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a cooperative agreement to combat forced child recruitment by foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) in Colombia. Armed with $4,000,000 in total available funding, the initiative anticipates making a single award for a 24-month project starting in September 2026. Eligible applicants include U.S. and foreign non-profits, educational institutions, and for-profit organizations with documented experience in criminal justice and Colombian programming. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of the Colombian National Police (CNP) and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to investigate, arrest, and prosecute recruiters under Colombian law, specifically targeting forced recruitment (Article 162) and the criminal use of children (Article 188D). Key objectives involve enhancing specialized training, deploying technological tools for online evidence collection, and fostering collaboration with local faith-based organizations and private sector social media companies. Geographically, efforts will focus on high-risk departments and cities, including Cauca, Valle del Cauca, Nariño, Chocó, Cali, and Medellín. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by July 21, 2026, and must include a detailed proposal narrative, a performance monitoring plan, a project risk analysis, and a comprehensive budget. Under the cooperative agreement framework, INL will maintain substantial involvement, including approving annual work plans and target geographic selections. All activities are subject to standard federal compliance, including Leahy Amendment vetting for participating security forces.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a cooperative agreement to combat forced child recruitment by Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) in Colombia. With a total available funding of $4,000,000, the project expects to issue one award with a 24-month implementation period starting in September 2026. Eligible applicants include U.S. and foreign non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and for-profit entities with demonstrated criminal justice experience in Colombia. The project's primary goal is to strengthen Colombian law enforcement’s capacity to identify, investigate, and prosecute illicit child recruitment under Colombian law, specifically targeting Forced Recruitment (Article 162) and Criminal Use of Children (Article 188D). Key objectives involve enhancing the analytical and investigative capabilities of the Colombian National Police (CNP) and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), alongside fostering collaboration with local faith-based organizations and private sector social media companies to disrupt recruitment networks. Program activities will prioritize high-rate departments and cities, including Cauca, Valle del Cauca, Nariño, Chocó, Cali, and Medellín. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by July 21, 2026. Submissions will be evaluated based on the quality of project design (50 points), program monitoring and risk analysis (20 points), institutional capacity (15 points), and cost-effectiveness (15 points). The recipient will be subject to strict federal regulations, including Leahy Amendment human rights vetting and quarterly performance reporting through INL's DevResults system.