Salvadoran Women in Citizen Security | OFOP0001253

Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0001253

The Salvadoran Women in Citizen Security grant opportunity (OFOP0001253) is a discretionary funding competition run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), focused on increasing the participation of women and other underrepresented groups within El Salvador's security sector. The core aim is to help more women and marginalized candidates enter the National Police Academy (ANSP) and successfully begin careers as police officers, ultimately increasing representation within the Policia Nacional Civil (PNC). INL is looking for an organization to design and implement a project that does not just encourage interest in policing, but also identifies and reduces the structural and personal barriers that keep qualified candidates from applying, enrolling, or completing the pathway into service.

A central feature of the project is an assessment component that examines systemic obstacles affecting recruitment and entry into the ANSP and the PNC. This can include institutional policies, recruitment practices, cultural and workplace dynamics, selection criteria, or other factors that may unintentionally exclude or discourage women and underrepresented communities. The opportunity emphasizes moving beyond surface-level outreach by pairing the assessment with practical interventions that address the barriers uncovered, so that the effort leads to measurable improvements in access and participation rather than awareness alone.

The project also includes a strong public communications element intended to increase applications from underrepresented groups. This typically implies strategic messaging and outreach designed to reshape perceptions of policing careers, highlight viable pathways into the academy, and communicate that women and underrepresented candidates are welcome and supported. The communications work is meant to translate into concrete recruitment outcomes, such as increased numbers of applicants and greater diversity among prospective academy entrants, rather than general public relations.

In addition to communications, the opportunity calls for targeted grants to help individuals overcome specific, real-world constraints that can prevent them from pursuing academy training or a policing career. These obstacles often include practical issues like financial hardship, transportation challenges, documentation costs, caregiving responsibilities, or other personal circumstances that can disproportionately affect women and marginalized applicants. By providing targeted support, the program is designed to make participation realistically achievable for candidates who might otherwise be screened out by economic or social barriers, even if they are otherwise qualified and motivated.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government expects substantial involvement in the direction or oversight of the funded project compared to a standard grant. The award ceiling is up to $2,000,000, with INL anticipating a single award. The opportunity is listed under CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) number 19.705. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," indicating that eligibility is broader than only governments or universities, but applicants would need to confirm the specific eligibility language in the full announcement. The funding opportunity was created on October 25, 2023, with an original closing date of December 1, 2023.

Overall, the grant is designed to produce practical changes in how women and underrepresented people access police careers in El Salvador by combining institutional diagnosis, targeted removal of participation barriers, and recruitment-focused communications. The intended outcome is a more inclusive pipeline into the ANSP and increased entry of underrepresented candidates into the PNC, supported by interventions that are grounded in evidence and responsive to the lived barriers candidates face.

• The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Salvadoran Women in Citizen Security" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.705.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 25, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 01, 2023. (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 $2,000,000.00 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).

Apply for OFOP0001253

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