Opportunity Information: Apply for OFOP0001187
The Trinidad and Tobago Youth Development and Diversion Grant is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) funding opportunity aimed at reducing gang recruitment by supporting practical, community-based interventions in selected communities across Trinidad and Tobago. The central idea is to prevent young people from being drawn into gangs by strengthening local prevention and diversion options, improving community safety, and addressing the root conditions that make gang involvement more likely. The grant sits under a broader INL public safety and rule-of-law priority focused on "Enhanced Citizen Security and Rule of Law," with an emphasis on institutions and communities working together to tackle the drivers of crime, gang participation, and violent extremism.
The opportunity is framed around the reality that criminal gangs are a major contributor to violent crime and homicides in Trinidad and Tobago, with wider spillover effects that touch everyday life. INL highlights that violence and gang activity undermine public safety, disrupt livelihoods, reduce consumer confidence, deter foreign investment, and erode the ability of residents to live in stable, peaceful communities. A key pressure point identified in the notice is economic vulnerability: limited sustainable employment and income opportunities can make gangs more attractive, particularly for young males, and can reduce the long-term productive potential of people in the 18 to 35 age group.
The program description also spells out why prevention efforts must start early. Youth between 10 and 18 are described as especially susceptible to both "push" factors (negative conditions that drive them toward gangs) and "pull" factors (the perceived benefits or social draws within gang structures). The grant notice calls attention to family-level risks that are often strongly linked to later delinquency and gang involvement, including parental substance abuse, violence in the home, and parental criminality or existing gang ties. It also points to community-level drivers such as social disorganization, access to firearms, availability of drugs, and cultural norms that normalize or support gang behavior. In some cases, the notice suggests youth may gravitate toward gang culture as a way to cope with or resist the structural violence and hardship they experience in their neighborhoods. The existence of established gangs in a community is also noted as a factor that can reinforce and expand recruitment over time.
From a practical standpoint, this is a discretionary grant with a relatively small award size, designed to fund targeted projects rather than large multi-year national programs. The funding instrument is a grant, the activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services (CFDA 19.703), and it is administered by the Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Trinidad and Tobago. The listed award ceiling is USD 50,000, and the opportunity anticipated making about two awards, indicating a competitive process focused on selecting a small number of implementers. The eligible applicant type listed is small businesses. The opportunity was created on July 19, 2023, and the original application closing date was September 30, 2023.
Overall, the grant is essentially seeking implementable, local solutions that can show how youth development and diversion programming can reduce gang recruitment pressures in specific communities. While the notice does not list a detailed menu of required activities in the excerpt provided, it clearly signals the kinds of outcomes INL is aiming for: expanded youth development and diversion options that discourage gang involvement, stronger juvenile justice-related approaches that keep at-risk youth from entering deeper cycles of violence and crime, and improved relationships between law enforcement and at-risk communities so prevention and safety efforts are more credible and effective on the ground.Apply for OFOP0001187
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Trinidad and Tobago in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Trinidad and Tobago Youth Development and Diversion Grant" 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 Jul 19, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Trinidad and Tobago Youth Development and Diversion Grant?
The Trinidad and Tobago Youth Development and Diversion Grant is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It supports practical, community-based interventions in selected communities across Trinidad and Tobago with the goal of reducing gang recruitment.
What problem is this grant trying to address?
The grant is focused on reducing gang recruitment and the broader impacts of gang activity and violence in Trinidad and Tobago. INL describes criminal gangs as a major contributor to violent crime and homicides, with spillover effects that undermine public safety, disrupt livelihoods, reduce consumer confidence, deter foreign investment, and make it harder for residents to live in stable, peaceful communities.
What is the main goal of the program?
The central goal is to prevent young people from being drawn into gangs by strengthening local prevention and diversion options, improving community safety, and addressing root conditions that increase the likelihood of gang involvement.
What does "youth development and diversion" mean in this context?
Based on the notice description, "youth development and diversion" refers to programs and local options that steer at-risk youth away from gangs and deeper involvement in crime and violence. The opportunity emphasizes prevention and approaches connected to juvenile justice that help keep youth from entering or escalating within cycles of violence and criminal activity.
How does this grant fit into INL's broader priorities?
This opportunity sits under INL's public safety and rule-of-law priority area described as "Enhanced Citizen Security and Rule of Law." It emphasizes institutions and communities working together to address drivers of crime, gang participation, and violent extremism.
Which age groups are highlighted as a focus for prevention?
The notice highlights two key age ranges: youth between 10 and 18 are described as especially susceptible to factors that can push or pull them toward gangs, and the 18 to 35 age group is discussed in connection with economic vulnerability and long-term productive potential.
Why does the notice emphasize starting prevention efforts early?
The grant description states that youth ages 10 to 18 are particularly vulnerable to both "push" factors (negative conditions that drive them toward gangs) and "pull" factors (perceived benefits or social draws associated with gang structures). Starting early is framed as important to prevent recruitment before it becomes entrenched.
What "push" factors are mentioned as contributing to gang recruitment risk?
The notice points to negative conditions that can drive youth toward gangs, including family-level risks (such as parental substance abuse, violence in the home, parental criminality, or existing gang ties) and community-level drivers (such as social disorganization, access to firearms, availability of drugs, and cultural norms that normalize or support gang behavior).
What "pull" factors are mentioned as contributing to gang recruitment risk?
The notice describes "pull" factors as the perceived benefits or social draws within gang structures. It also notes that youth may gravitate toward gang culture as a way to cope with or resist structural violence and hardship in their neighborhoods.
What community-level drivers does the grant notice identify?
The notice identifies social disorganization, access to firearms, availability of drugs, and cultural norms that normalize or support gang behavior. It also notes that the presence of established gangs in a community can reinforce and expand recruitment over time.
What role does economic vulnerability play in this opportunity?
Economic vulnerability is identified as a key pressure point. The notice explains that limited sustainable employment and income opportunities can make gangs more attractive, particularly for young males, and can reduce the long-term productive potential of individuals in the 18 to 35 age group.
What types of outcomes is INL aiming for through this grant?
While the excerpt does not provide a detailed list of required activities, it clearly signals outcomes INL is aiming for, including expanded youth development and diversion options that discourage gang involvement, stronger juvenile justice-related approaches that keep at-risk youth from entering deeper cycles of violence and crime, and improved relationships between law enforcement and at-risk communities to make prevention and safety efforts more credible and effective.
Is this a formula grant or a discretionary grant?
This is described as a discretionary grant, meaning awards are made competitively rather than distributed by formula.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category and CFDA number listed for the grant?
The activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services, and the CFDA number listed is 19.703.
Who administers the grant?
The grant is administered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Trinidad and Tobago.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
The eligible applicant type listed is small businesses.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is USD 50,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated making about two awards, which suggests a competitive process selecting a small number of implementers.
Is this intended to fund large national programs?
No. The opportunity is described as a relatively small award size designed to fund targeted projects rather than large, multi-year national programs.
Where are projects expected to operate?
The grant supports interventions in selected communities across Trinidad and Tobago. The notice emphasizes local, community-based implementation.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on July 19, 2023.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was September 30, 2023.
What overall approach does the grant encourage?
The grant encourages implementable, local solutions that strengthen prevention and diversion options, address root conditions linked to gang recruitment, and support collaboration between institutions and communities to improve safety and reduce recruitment pressures.
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