Supporting Special Justice Sector Actors in Peru | INL23CA0049 WHPLIMA JUSACCESS 070623

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL23CA0049 WHPLIMA JUSACCESS 070623

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is soliciting proposals for a project in Peru focused on strengthening "special justice sector actors" and improving access to justice for rural and vulnerable populations. The opportunity is framed around the reality that in many remote areas of Peru there is limited state presence and few formal justice services, so community-level justice figures often become the main, and sometimes only, point of contact that people have with the justice system. The project is intended to operate primarily in the regions of Puno, Cusco, Callao, and Ica, with an emphasis on reaching underserved communities, including those where indigenous languages are widely spoken.

In this grant, "special justice sector actors" refers to groups and individuals who play a recognized role in the administration of justice but typically operate outside the standard professional legal career pipeline. The opportunity highlights three key categories: indigenous justice systems, justices of the peace (especially "non-lettered" justices of the peace who do not hold law degrees), and women judicial counselors (known in Spanish as orientadoras judiciales). These actors are described as essential to day-to-day justice delivery in many communities. For example, justices of the peace may serve as the only court available for hundreds of miles, which makes their capacity, resources, and community trust especially important for ensuring disputes can be resolved and basic legal protections are accessible.

The funding notice also provides the broader governance context driving the need for this work. Peru has experienced significant political instability in recent years, including frequent changes in national leadership and cabinet turnover. Combined with persistent corruption concerns, this has undermined long-term reform efforts in the justice sector and limited consistent improvements in access to justice, particularly in rural areas. In that environment, special justice sector actors become even more critical because they help fill gaps created by the limited reach of formal institutions, providing continuity and a practical justice option for communities that might otherwise be left without support.

A central focus of the project is addressing domestic violence and gender-based violence, which the notice describes as an acute issue in Peru. Because special justice sector actors are often the first point of entry into the justice system for victims in rural or marginalized communities, strengthening their ability to respond appropriately, connect survivors to services, and coordinate with formal justice institutions can directly affect outcomes in these cases. The opportunity emphasizes that improving access to justice is not just about increasing legal knowledge, but also about ensuring these local actors are better equipped to handle sensitive matters and can function effectively within the broader justice ecosystem.

The notice underscores that, even though these actors are supported by the Peruvian government, they remain under-resourced. According to the Peruvian judiciary's intercultural justice commission, special justice sector actors frequently lack regular access to the trainings and professional development opportunities that more traditional justice sector professionals receive. This gap is especially pronounced in areas with strong indigenous-language presence, where effective justice delivery may require language skills, culturally informed approaches, and practical tools for navigating both customary and formal legal frameworks. The project therefore aims to better understand the challenges these actors face, organize and support them, build their capacity through training resources, and elevate their profile within the justice system so they are recognized, integrated, and better supported.

Structurally, this is a discretionary funding opportunity with a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, meaning INL anticipates an active partnership role during implementation rather than a purely hands-off grant. The program falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category and is associated with CFDA number 19.703. The funding ceiling is $250,000, and INL expects to make one award under this competition. While the eligibility category is listed broadly as "Others" (with further details referenced in the original eligibility section), the opportunity is essentially aimed at organizations capable of designing and implementing capacity-building, coordination, and support activities that directly strengthen these community-based justice actors.

Finally, the project is explicitly tied to the U.S. Mission in Lima Integrated Country Strategy goals, particularly strengthening security, equity, and inclusive democratic governance. The notice indicates the program will coordinate with other special justice actors in rural areas, reinforcing the idea that success depends on collaboration, relationship-building, and strengthening linkages between community-level justice mechanisms and formal institutions. Overall, the grant is designed to make justice more reachable and effective for vulnerable Peruvians by investing in the people and systems that already serve as the practical front line of justice in underserved regions, with a specific emphasis on improving responses to gender-based violence.

• 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 "Supporting Special Justice Sector Actors in Peru" 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 07, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 05, 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 $250,000.00 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 INL23CA0049 WHPLIMA JUSACCESS 070623

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