Opportunity Information: Apply for INL19GR0013 INLCOSTARICA 01142019
The grant opportunity titled "Employment readiness and market labor insertion of socially vulnerable youth in crime-ridden communities in Costa Rica" (Funding Opportunity Number INL19GR0013) was issued by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It is a discretionary grant focused on employment, labor, and job training, with the broader public safety goal of reducing youth involvement in organized crime and drug trafficking networks by expanding legitimate education and work pathways in high-risk communities.
The funding notice is rooted in a sharp deterioration in citizen security conditions in Costa Rica tied to organized crime. It cites a sustained rise in violent crime and increasingly complex offenses, including a reported homicide rate of 12.1 per 100,000 people in 2017, which is above the World Health Organization threshold often referenced as "epidemic" levels (10 per 100,000). The opportunity also points to national analysis attributing much of this violence to organized criminal groups, including COMESCO reporting that homicides connected to organized crime increased by more than 2,000 percent over a six-year period. In practical terms, the grant frames youth vulnerability, community insecurity, and organized crime as interconnected problems that require prevention-oriented solutions, not only policing.
A major part of the problem description centers on changes in regional drug trafficking dynamics. Rather than serving primarily as a transit corridor, Costa Rica and other Central American countries are described as increasingly being used as storage and logistics hubs, including fueling stations, with local collaborators often paid in drugs that are then sold domestically. The notice highlights the appearance of "high red" marijuana (high THC content) coming from Jamaica as another indicator that Costa Rica is also functioning as an importer and consumer market, not just a pass-through route. As trafficking activity grows and local markets expand, the opportunity argues that community harm follows: greater availability of drugs, more local dealing, and more violence associated with criminal competition and enforcement.
The grant also emphasizes that drug consumption has risen alongside trafficking and local distribution. It references Costa Rican data from the Institute on Alcoholism and Pharma Codependence (IAFA), noting an increase in illicit drug use between 2006 and 2012, from 10.6 to 17.8 (as presented in the cited provincial geographic analysis). This is used to support the case that prevention and social intervention are urgent, especially in communities where drugs are more available and recruitment into trafficking roles is easier.
Against that backdrop, the program rationale focuses on the everyday pressures faced by adolescents and young adults in socially vulnerable areas: poverty, limited access to quality education, and scarce formal employment opportunities. These conditions are described as drivers of school dropout, early entry into unstable work, or participation in gangs and the drug trade. The grant positions employment readiness and labor market insertion as key protective factors, aiming to help at-risk youth complete high school (or otherwise improve educational attainment) and secure legitimate jobs. The underlying theory is that improving employability and connecting young people to real work opportunities can reduce the incentive and need to participate in the "narcotraffic chain," thereby contributing to lower crime and stronger community resilience.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on January 14, 2019, with an original application deadline of March 15, 2019. The award ceiling was set at $150,000, and INL anticipated making one award. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice, which typically indicates the competition may be open to certain nontraditional applicants such as NGOs, community organizations, educational institutions, or other entities able to implement workforce-focused programming in targeted communities. Overall, the notice describes a relatively small, targeted investment intended to test or implement a focused intervention that links youth development and employment outcomes to crime prevention in Costa Rica.Apply for INL19GR0013 INLCOSTARICA 01142019
- The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Employment readiness and market labor insertion of socially vulnerable youth in crime-ridden communities in Costa Rica" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.704.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 14, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 15, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The grant opportunity is titled "Employment readiness and market labor insertion of socially vulnerable youth in crime-ridden communities in Costa Rica."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is INL19GR0013.
Which U.S. government office issued this funding notice?
The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
What type of funding is being offered?
This is a discretionary grant.
What is the primary focus area of the grant?
The grant is focused on employment, labor, and job training, specifically aimed at improving employment readiness and supporting labor market insertion for socially vulnerable youth.
What broader goal is this grant trying to achieve?
The broader public safety goal is to reduce youth involvement in organized crime and drug trafficking networks by expanding legitimate education and work pathways in high-risk communities in Costa Rica.
Why does the notice describe this as an urgent need in Costa Rica?
The notice ties the need to a deterioration in citizen security conditions linked to organized crime, including a sustained rise in violent crime and increasingly complex offenses.
What homicide rate is cited in the notice?
The notice cites a reported homicide rate of 12.1 per 100,000 people in 2017.
How does the notice contextualize that homicide rate?
It notes that 12.1 per 100,000 is above the World Health Organization threshold often referenced as "epidemic" levels (10 per 100,000).
What does the notice say about the role of organized crime in violence?
The notice points to national analysis attributing much of the violence to organized criminal groups and references COMESCO reporting that homicides connected to organized crime increased by more than 2,000 percent over a six-year period.
Is the grant framed as only a law enforcement response?
No. The notice frames youth vulnerability, community insecurity, and organized crime as interconnected problems that require prevention-oriented solutions, not only policing.
What regional drug trafficking changes does the notice highlight?
The notice describes Costa Rica and other Central American countries as increasingly being used not just as transit corridors, but also as storage and logistics hubs, including fueling stations.
How does the notice describe the impact of trafficking activity on local communities?
It argues that as trafficking activity grows and local markets expand, community harm follows, including greater availability of drugs, more local dealing, and more violence associated with criminal competition and enforcement.
What does the notice say about payments to local collaborators in trafficking networks?
It states that local collaborators are often paid in drugs, which are then sold domestically.
What is "high red" marijuana and why is it mentioned?
The notice highlights the appearance of "high red" marijuana (described as high THC content) coming from Jamaica as an indicator that Costa Rica is also functioning as an importer and consumer market, not just a pass-through route.
Does the notice claim drug consumption has increased in Costa Rica?
Yes. The grant emphasizes that drug consumption has risen alongside trafficking and local distribution.
What data source is cited regarding illicit drug use?
The notice references Costa Rican data from the Institute on Alcoholism and Pharma Codependence (IAFA).
What change in illicit drug use does the notice cite?
It notes an increase in illicit drug use between 2006 and 2012, from 10.6 to 17.8, as presented in the cited provincial geographic analysis.
Who is the program intended to support?
The program is intended to support socially vulnerable youth in crime-ridden or high-risk communities in Costa Rica, particularly adolescents and young adults facing barriers to education and formal employment.
What factors does the notice identify as increasing youth vulnerability?
The notice highlights poverty, limited access to quality education, and scarce formal employment opportunities, describing these as drivers of school dropout, early entry into unstable work, or participation in gangs and the drug trade.
What approach does the grant propose to reduce youth participation in the drug trade?
The grant positions employment readiness and labor market insertion as protective factors by helping at-risk youth complete high school (or otherwise improve educational attainment) and secure legitimate jobs, reducing incentives to participate in the "narcotraffic chain."
What outcomes does the notice imply the program should aim for?
Based on the description, the program is oriented toward improved employability, stronger connections to legitimate work opportunities, increased educational attainment (such as high school completion), and crime prevention impacts through reduced youth involvement in organized crime and trafficking networks.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on January 14, 2019.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was March 15, 2019.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $150,000.
How many awards did INL expect to make?
INL anticipated making one award.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice. The summary indicates the competition may be open to nontraditional applicants such as NGOs, community organizations, educational institutions, or other entities able to implement workforce-focused programming in targeted communities.
Is this grant described as a large-scale national program?
No. The notice describes a relatively small, targeted investment intended to test or implement a focused intervention linking youth development and employment outcomes to crime prevention in Costa Rica.
What is the geographic focus of the program?
The geographic focus is Costa Rica, specifically high-risk or crime-ridden communities described as socially vulnerable.
How does the notice connect employment programming to public safety?
It argues that expanding legitimate education and work pathways can reduce recruitment and participation in organized crime and drug trafficking, which in turn supports lower crime and stronger community resilience.
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