Countering Cartel Recruitment in Mexico

Background
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the U.S. Department of State is issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support a project aimed at reducing recruitment by organized crime groups in Mexico. This initiative seeks to advance U.S. security interests through a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, prosecution, and legal reform.

The project will engage stakeholders in key Mexican states to implement strategies that disrupt criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, violence, and illegal migration, thereby fostering stability and rule of law in Mexico.

Grant Details
The project will focus on several key objectives:
1) Promoting legal reforms to criminalize organized crime recruitment;
2) Implementing standard legal procedures for enforcement;
3) Developing policies for deterrence and disengagement from cartel recruitment;
4) Training law enforcement and prosecutors to manage recruitment cases effectively.

Activities may include developing research-based deterrence programs, public advocacy campaigns, training for prosecutors, and designing disengagement programs for youth involved with cartels. Successful proposals must align with these objectives and include innovative activities with clear monitoring indicators.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include U.S.-based non-profit organizations, educational institutions under section 501(c)(3), foreign-based NGOs, and educational institutions. Cost sharing is recommended but not required. All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov. Applicants can only submit one proposal per organization but may form a consortium with a designated lead applicant.

Period of Performance
The initial project implementation period is set for 24 months, starting from June 2026.

Grant Value
The total funding available for this grant opportunity is $1,500,000, with individual awards ranging from a minimum of $1,000,000 to a maximum of $1,500,000.

Place of Performance
The project will be implemented in six priority states in Mexico: Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Jalisco, Michoacan, and Guerrero.