CWT--CITIES | F17AS00102

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00102

CWT--CITIES (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00102) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discretionary funding opportunity under the Department of the Interior that supports international and regional efforts tied to the United States National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking (issued February 11, 2014) and its Implementation Plan (released February 11, 2015). That Strategy is organized around three broad priorities: strengthening enforcement (both within the United States and globally), reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife, and expanding international cooperation and commitment. This grant is positioned mainly within the international cooperation and enforcement coordination side of that agenda, aiming to translate the Strategy into practical, on-the-ground collaboration in the Caribbean region.

The purpose of the award is to convene a focal points workshop for the Caribbean Wildlife Enforcement Network (CaribWEN), planned for Bridgetown, Barbados (or another suitable location). The workshop is intended to be a foundational step in designing how CaribWEN will function in practice, including its structure, country and territory representation, and day-to-day operational approach. A central expectation is that the convening will move beyond general discussion and produce concrete plans: how the network will be organized, what activities it will prioritize, what operational procedures it will use, and how it will build the political and diplomatic buy-in needed across the region to make the network functional and durable.

The workshop scope is explicitly regional and inclusive. It should bring together countries and territories that participated in a prior CaribWEN-related workshop held in Nassau in July 2016, while also expanding participation to other Caribbean governments and relevant partners. The opportunity calls for involvement from the CITES Secretariat (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and allows the organizers to include additional experts plus non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations as needed to meet the workshop goals. A practical component of the funding is to ensure that invited developing States and key organizations can participate fully, which includes covering participation-related costs and providing simultaneous interpretation so language is not a barrier to effective coordination and planning.

The longer-term intent is to use this workshop to design a network that measurably improves the region's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to wildlife trafficking involving both terrestrial and marine species. The anticipated benefits include stronger law enforcement cooperation among island governments and dependent territories and their associated home governments, better coordination for bilateral and multilateral enforcement actions, and improved information and intelligence sharing related to wildlife crimes. The network is also expected to serve as a platform for training and capacity building that reaches beyond frontline enforcement to include prosecutors and judicial authorities, recognizing that successful wildlife crime enforcement depends on the entire justice chain and not only interdiction.

In addition to operational enforcement outcomes, the opportunity emphasizes planning for strategy and sustainability. The workshop should support development of a formalized regional strategy to combat trafficking that can serve as a template or foundation for national strategies. It should also elevate the issue among stakeholders by framing wildlife trafficking as a serious regional conservation and security concern, and by encouraging commercial actors to participate in eliminating trafficking risks in legitimate trade and tourism. Public-facing awareness is part of the intended impact as well: the network design should help raise understanding among residents, visiting tourists, businesses, and the hospitality sector about the seriousness and consequences of wildlife crimes.

From a funding standpoint, this opportunity is offered as either a cooperative agreement or a grant, with one expected award and a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $25,000. It is associated with CFDA 15.679 and categorized under environment and natural resources. The posting indicates the opportunity was created January 13, 2017, with an original application closing date of January 18, 2017, reflecting a short turnaround typical of narrowly scoped convening support. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with specifics referenced in the opportunity's additional eligibility information, suggesting it may be open to certain types of organizations capable of organizing and administering an international workshop (for example, appropriate NGOs, IGOs, or other qualified entities), provided they can meet U.S. federal assistance and reporting requirements.

Overall, CWT--CITIES is best understood as targeted seed funding to get CaribWEN operational planning moving in a structured way: convene the right regional and international actors, agree on governance and operational mechanics, outline steps to secure political commitment and broad participation across Caribbean islands and territories, and develop a realistic funding plan covering short-, medium-, and long-term network operations. The deliverable is not just a meeting, but a clear pathway toward a functioning regional enforcement network capable of coordinated action against wildlife trafficking.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CWT--CITIES" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.679.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 13, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 18, 2017. (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 $25,000.00 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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