Strengthening Nicaraguan Communities' Capacity to Resist Drugs | SFOP0008967

Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0008967

Strengthening Nicaraguan Communities' Capacity to Resist Drugs is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). The program is designed to sustain constructive engagement with Nicaraguan society by strengthening community-level resilience and practical capacity to prevent drug use through inclusive cooperation. In plain terms, the grant supports initiatives that help communities organize, educate, and build local systems that make drug prevention more effective, especially in places where drug use is reported to be higher and where services and resources are limited.

The core purpose of the project is prevention-focused, with an emphasis on reaching underserved regions and communities through a mix of material investments and capacity-building. Material investments can be understood as tangible inputs that help a prevention effort function day to day (for example, basic equipment, supplies, or improvements that support community programming), while capacity-building points to training, program development, and strengthening local organizations so they can deliver prevention work more consistently and sustainably. The opportunity also signals that the project should be inclusive and cooperative, meaning it should bring together relevant community actors rather than working in isolation.

A major element of the program is awareness-raising about the dangers of drug use. The opportunity description highlights the need for educational outreach that can inform individuals and families, shape healthier norms, and reduce the likelihood of first-time use. Alongside awareness, the grant explicitly seeks to reduce stigmatization of prior drug users, which suggests a community approach that avoids shame-based messaging and instead supports reintegration and constructive support. This is important because stigma can discourage people from seeking help, isolate families, and undermine prevention by pushing the issue into silence rather than addressing it openly.

The opportunity places a particular focus on Nicaraguan youth, aiming to provide young people with tools and knowledge to prevent and reduce drug abuse in their communities. That framing suggests interventions that go beyond one-time presentations and instead equip youth with practical skills, credible information, and pathways to participate in prevention efforts. It also implies community-based strategies where youth are not only recipients of messaging but can be engaged as peer leaders or contributors to local prevention initiatives.

From an administrative standpoint, this funding opportunity is identified as SFOP0008967, with a CFDA number of 19.704, and it was issued by INL on May 12, 2022. The original closing date for applications was July 12, 2022. The award structure indicates an expected single award (ExpectedAwards: 1) with an award ceiling of $325,000, meaning the grant is intended as one primary project rather than multiple smaller awards. Eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice, which typically indicates that applicants may include certain types of organizations beyond standard categories, depending on the specific guidance in the announcement.

Overall, the grant is aimed at reducing drug consumption and strengthening prevention ecosystems in high-need Nicaraguan areas by combining community cooperation, practical resources, organizational strengthening, stigma reduction, and youth-centered prevention education.

• The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Nicaraguan Communities' Capacity to Resist Drugs" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.704.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 12, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 12, 2022. (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 $325,000.00 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 SFOP0008967

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