Opportunity Information: Apply for INL21CA0005 WHPMEXICO AGTAS 120720
The Mexican Attorneys' General Offices Technical Assistance and Support opportunity is a U.S. Department of State grant under the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) that aims to strengthen how Mexican state-level Attorneys General Offices (AGOs) manage prosecutions during Mexico's ongoing shift from a largely inquisitorial criminal justice approach to an accusatorial system. It sits within the broader Merida Initiative, a U.S.-Mexico partnership focused on reducing organized crime and related violence while reinforcing human rights protections and the rule of law. The central idea behind this funding is that better courtroom advocacy alone will not meaningfully raise prosecution outcomes if AGOs continue to struggle with the basic systems that determine what cases get prioritized, how staff are evaluated, and how workloads and resources are managed.
The program is designed to provide technical assistance that helps state AGOs establish clear prosecutorial priorities and then build the internal machinery needed to execute those priorities consistently. The description emphasizes several institutional gaps: many AGOs do not have well-defined prosecutorial priorities, lack performance evaluation plans that connect day-to-day work to those priorities, do not have strong performance monitoring systems to track progress, and do not offer incentives that align with structured personnel monitoring and evaluation. In practical terms, the grant focuses on helping AGOs put in place evaluation systems, procedures, and management practices that make it possible to measure performance, monitor results, and adjust strategy based on data rather than relying on ad hoc decision-making. This includes improving caseload and resource management practices so that offices can handle cases more strategically and effectively, rather than being overwhelmed by volume and inefficiencies.
Structurally, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government expects to have substantial involvement in the project rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The funding activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services, and it is listed under CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) number 19.703. The opportunity anticipates a single award, with an award ceiling of $6,000,000, indicating one primary implementer would likely coordinate the technical assistance approach, potentially working with multiple partners or subcontractors.
Eligibility is broad within the nonprofit and higher education space. Applicants may include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in the nonprofit categories specified). The opportunity was created on December 7, 2020, and originally closed on January 19, 2021, reflecting a defined application window typical for INL programming cycles.
Overall, the grant is best understood as an institutional capacity-building effort targeted at the management and accountability backbone of prosecutorial offices. Its purpose is to help Mexican state AGOs modernize how they set priorities, measure performance, and manage personnel and caseloads, so that improvements in litigation skills and other training investments can actually translate into more effective, consistent prosecutions aligned with rule-of-law and human-rights objectives.Apply for INL21CA0005 WHPMEXICO AGTAS 120720
- The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mexican Attorneys’ General Offices Technical Assistance and Support" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.703.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 07, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 19, 2021. (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 $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Mexican Attorneys' General Offices Technical Assistance and Support (INL)
What is the "Mexican Attorneys' General Offices Technical Assistance and Support" opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity under the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It supports technical assistance aimed at strengthening how Mexican state-level Attorneys General Offices (AGOs) manage prosecutions and related internal systems during Mexico's transition from a largely inquisitorial criminal justice model to an accusatorial system.
Who is the funding agency?
The funding agency is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
What broader initiative does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity sits within the broader Merida Initiative, a U.S.-Mexico partnership focused on reducing organized crime and related violence while reinforcing human rights protections and the rule of law.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to help Mexican state AGOs build the management and accountability backbone that supports effective prosecutions. The funding focuses on strengthening the internal systems that determine prosecutorial priorities, how staff performance is evaluated and monitored, and how workloads and resources are managed.
Why does the opportunity emphasize management systems rather than only courtroom advocacy training?
The opportunity is based on the idea that courtroom advocacy improvements alone will not significantly increase prosecution outcomes if AGOs continue to struggle with fundamental institutional systems. Without clear priorities, performance evaluation, monitoring, and resource management, training investments may not translate into consistent, improved results.
What kinds of problems or gaps is the grant trying to address within AGOs?
The description highlights several gaps, including AGOs that:
- Do not have well-defined prosecutorial priorities
- Lack performance evaluation plans tied to those priorities
- Do not have strong performance monitoring systems to track progress
- Do not offer incentives aligned with structured personnel monitoring and evaluation
- Struggle with caseload and resource management, leading to inefficiencies and being overwhelmed by volume
What types of activities does the technical assistance support?
Based on the description, the technical assistance is intended to help AGOs establish clear prosecutorial priorities and build systems and procedures to carry them out consistently. This includes developing evaluation systems, performance monitoring approaches, management practices, and improved caseload and resource management so decisions can be guided by data rather than ad hoc approaches.
What is meant by "establish clear prosecutorial priorities" in this context?
In this context, establishing clear prosecutorial priorities means helping AGOs define which cases, outcomes, or enforcement objectives should be prioritized, and then aligning daily work, staffing, and management practices so those priorities are consistently implemented across the office.
What is meant by "performance evaluation" and "performance monitoring" for AGO staff and units?
Performance evaluation refers to structured approaches for assessing whether staff work aligns with prosecutorial priorities and expected outputs. Performance monitoring refers to systems that track progress and results over time, enabling offices to see what is working, what is not, and where adjustments are needed based on data.
Does the opportunity include incentives for personnel?
The description notes that many AGOs do not offer incentives that align with structured personnel monitoring and evaluation, and the grant emphasizes building systems that connect incentives to priorities and performance frameworks.
How does this opportunity relate to Mexico's shift to an accusatorial criminal justice system?
The opportunity is intended to support AGOs as Mexico continues transitioning from a largely inquisitorial system to an accusatorial system. It focuses on institutional and management capacity so prosecutorial offices can operate effectively and consistently within the evolving legal framework.
Is this a discretionary or formula funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity.
What is the award instrument type?
The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for the project?
A cooperative agreement means the U.S. government expects to have substantial involvement in the project, rather than providing funds with minimal engagement. In practice, this typically indicates more hands-on collaboration, coordination, and oversight during implementation.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA (Assistance Listing) number 19.703.
How many awards does the opportunity anticipate?
The opportunity anticipates a single award.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $6,000,000.
Does "single award" mean only one organization will be involved?
The opportunity anticipates one primary award recipient (a single award). The description also suggests that the primary implementer could coordinate the technical assistance approach and potentially work with multiple partners or subcontractors, even though only one award is expected.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad within the nonprofit and higher education space. Eligible applicants may include:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on December 7, 2020, and originally closed on January 19, 2021.
Is this grant primarily about increasing conviction rates or improving prosecution outcomes?
The description frames the effort as improving the institutional systems that support consistent, effective prosecutions. It notes that improving courtroom advocacy alone is unlikely to meaningfully raise prosecution outcomes if AGOs lack the management systems needed to prioritize cases, evaluate performance, monitor progress, and manage resources.
What is the overall focus of the grant in plain terms?
In plain terms, the grant is an institutional capacity-building effort aimed at helping Mexican state AGOs modernize how they set priorities, measure performance, monitor results, and manage personnel and caseloads so operations are more strategic, consistent, and data-informed.
How does this opportunity connect to human rights and rule of law objectives?
Because the opportunity is part of the Merida Initiative, it is framed within goals of reducing organized crime and violence while reinforcing human rights protections and the rule of law. The program supports these goals by strengthening prosecutorial office management and accountability systems.
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