Legislative Assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Criminal Procedure Codes | INL18CA0059 INLEA CRIMINALCODES 062918

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL18CA0059 INLEA CRIMINALCODES 062918

The grant opportunity titled "Legislative Assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina's Criminal Procedure Codes" (Funding Opportunity Number INL18CA0059) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) initiative aimed at strengthening the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) by improving the country’s criminal justice framework. It is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the implementing partner would be expected to work closely with the U.S. government during planning and execution rather than operating fully independently. The funding is tied to CFDA 19.703 and is focused on law, justice, and legal services, with a single award anticipated.

At its core, the project is designed to support a Bosnian-led process to revise and modernize the Criminal Procedure Codes (CPCs) originally adopted in 2003. INL’s stated rationale is that updating these codes can help make criminal justice processes more efficient and effective, address practical problems that undermine prosecutions and fair proceedings, and ultimately increase public confidence in BiH governing institutions. The work is also explicitly linked to broader national and international goals: helping BiH fulfill commitments under the Bosnia and Herzegovina Justice Sector Reform Strategy 2014-2018 and supporting progress toward European Union accession by aligning domestic procedures with EU standards and wider international best practices.

The expected substance of the assistance goes beyond minor edits. The project is meant to help local experts and justice sector professionals identify and recommend amendments that remove contradictions, inconsistencies, and outdated provisions within the CPCs. Another major requirement is to ensure the revised codes reflect and incorporate relevant decisions of the BiH Constitutional Court, so that criminal procedure rules are not only modern in concept but also consistent with constitutional jurisprudence and the broader legal framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The final product should be compliant with BiH laws while also meeting EU expectations and internationally recognized procedural standards, balancing effectiveness in investigations and prosecutions with due process protections.

Implementation is intended to be collaborative and locally owned, with the U.S. side playing a facilitating role. The opportunity specifies that the U.S. Embassy’s OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor (RLA) will serve as the lead facilitator for the project, indicating hands-on coordination and guidance throughout the redrafting process. This suggests the project would likely involve structured working groups, technical drafting sessions, consultations with stakeholders, and iterative review to translate expert recommendations into coherent legislative text that can realistically move through BiH’s legislative and institutional channels.

A distinctive feature of this opportunity is its built-in educational and professional development component for future legal professionals. The project must create meaningful opportunities for law school students to intern, provide support, or observe the legislative updating process. Importantly, the solicitation stresses that the internship element cannot be treated as a superficial add-on; it is an integrated requirement intended to teach students and future practitioners how modern criminal procedure legislation is properly reviewed, updated, and aligned with constitutional decisions and international standards. In practical terms, this implies the implementing partner would need to design internship roles with real exposure to research, comparative analysis, drafting support, and structured observation of stakeholder deliberations, rather than limiting students to administrative tasks.

In terms of funding and timing, the opportunity was posted June 29, 2018, with an original closing date of August 29, 2018. The award ceiling listed is $700,000, with one award expected, signaling a single, relatively substantial project meant to concentrate expertise and deliver a coordinated outcome rather than fragmenting efforts across multiple grantees. Eligibility is broadly categorized as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement, which typically indicates that a range of capable organizations may apply depending on the detailed eligibility language (often including NGOs, academic institutions, or specialized technical assistance providers with legal reform experience).

Overall, the opportunity is a targeted rule-of-law and justice-sector reform project focused on helping Bosnia and Herzegovina modernize its criminal procedure legislation through a locally driven redrafting process, closely facilitated by an OPDAT legal advisor, and intentionally structured to build both institutional capacity and the next generation’s understanding of legislative reform work.

• 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 "Legislative Assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Criminal Procedure Codes" 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 Jun 29, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 29, 2018. (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 $700,000.00 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 INL18CA0059 INLEA CRIMINALCODES 062918

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