Opportunity Information: Apply for PRMECON 14 GR 001 WHA 030414
Apply for PRMECON 14 GR 001 WHA 030414
- The U.S. Mission to Costa Rica in the agriculture business and commerce community development education employment, labor and training other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CARSI ESF" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 25, 2014 and posted on Mar 4, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 10, 2014 500PM Eastern Standard Time. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,310,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Overseas based NGOs Public International Organizations (PIOs)
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Opportunity Summary:
The CARSI ESF grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PRMECON 14 GR 001 WHA 030414) is a U.S. Mission to Costa Rica funding program focused on community and economic development as a practical way to reduce the influence and incentives of the drug trade. In plain terms, the program is aimed at supporting projects that strengthen local economies, expand legitimate employment and training pathways, and build community resilience in places where narcotics trafficking and related criminal economies can take hold. The opportunity is categorized as an earmark and uses a standard grant instrument, signaling that it is part of a targeted set of U.S. foreign assistance priorities rather than an open-ended general fund.
The activity areas covered by this funding are broad, which gives applicants room to propose projects that fit local needs while still aligning with the program goal of combating the drug trade through development. The listed funding activity categories include agriculture, business and commerce, community development, education, employment/labor/training, and regional development, along with an “other” category tied to community and economic development. The emphasis on women and youth indicates the program is particularly interested in efforts that create safer, more stable opportunities for groups that are often disproportionately impacted by economic exclusion and recruitment pressures from illicit networks. Projects that combine workforce preparation with entrepreneurship support, local value-chain development, community-based prevention approaches linked to economic opportunity, or education-to-employment pipelines would naturally fit the stated themes, so long as they clearly connect back to reducing vulnerability to the drug trade.
Financially, the opportunity is relatively modest but designed to support multiple on-the-ground initiatives. The estimated total funding amount is $1,310,000, with an expectation of approximately seven awards. Individual awards are planned to range from $100,000 to $200,000, setting clear boundaries for project scope and budgeting. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the barrier for capable organizations that may not have access to additional cash match funding, and allows the proposal to focus on measurable outcomes rather than leveraging requirements.
Eligibility is oriented toward organizations with demonstrated capacity to carry out development programming. Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), private institutions of higher education, “overseas based NGOs,” and Public International Organizations (PIOs). This mix suggests the Embassy expected proposals from both academic implementers and experienced nonprofit or international organizations already operating in the region. Because the sponsor is the U.S. Mission to Costa Rica, the geographic and programmatic intent is tied to Costa Rica and U.S. policy objectives in the region, and applicants would typically be expected to show strong local partnerships, realistic implementation plans, and credible monitoring and evaluation methods that demonstrate how economic and community interventions can reduce susceptibility to illicit trafficking economies.
Key timeline details show this was a time-limited competition in 2014. The opportunity was posted on March 4, 2014, with a creation date of March 25, 2014. The application deadline was April 10, 2014 at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, and the opportunity was archived on May 10, 2014. While these dates indicate the competition is no longer open, the structure and parameters are still useful as a reference point for how the Embassy framed CARSI-related economic development programming and the typical award sizes and eligible applicant types used for this kind of work.
For applicants that needed help accessing the full announcement at the time, the contact listed was Rebecca Hyleman, Economic Assistant at the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, reachable by phone at 506-2519-2000, with reference to the “CARSI ESF Mailbox.” The announcement also pointed to an additional information link associated with the U.S. Embassy San Jose, indicating that program details, required forms, and submission instructions were maintained through embassy channels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the CARSI ESF grant opportunity?
The CARSI ESF grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PRMECON 14 GR 001 WHA 030414) is a U.S. Mission to Costa Rica funding program that supports community and economic development as a practical way to reduce the influence and incentives of the drug trade.
What is the main goal of this program?
The goal is to reduce vulnerability to narcotics trafficking and related criminal economies by strengthening local economies, expanding legitimate employment and training pathways, and building community resilience in areas where the drug trade can take hold.
Who is the funding sponsor?
The sponsor is the U.S. Mission to Costa Rica (U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica).
What does it mean that the opportunity is categorized as an "earmark"?
It means the funding is part of a targeted set of U.S. foreign assistance priorities rather than a broad, open-ended general fund. Proposals are expected to align closely with the stated purpose of combating the drug trade through community and economic development.
What grant instrument is used for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses a standard grant instrument.
What activity areas are eligible under this funding opportunity?
The funding activity categories listed for this opportunity include agriculture, business and commerce, community development, education, employment/labor/training, and regional development, plus an "other" category tied to community and economic development.
How broad is the scope of eligible projects?
The activity areas are described as broad, giving applicants flexibility to propose projects that fit local needs as long as they clearly align with the program goal of reducing the influence and incentives of the drug trade through development.
Does the opportunity emphasize particular populations or groups?
Yes. The opportunity notes an emphasis on women and youth, reflecting interest in efforts that create safer and more stable opportunities for groups often disproportionately impacted by economic exclusion and recruitment pressures from illicit networks.
What kinds of project approaches appear to fit the stated themes?
Approaches that naturally fit the stated themes include those that combine workforce preparation with entrepreneurship support, local value-chain development, community-based prevention approaches linked to economic opportunity, or education-to-employment pipelines, provided the proposal clearly connects these activities to reducing vulnerability to the drug trade.
How much total funding is estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding amount is $1,310,000.
How many awards were expected?
The opportunity anticipated approximately seven awards.
What is the expected award size for individual grants?
Individual awards were planned to range from $100,000 to $200,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching funding required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Why does the absence of cost-sharing matter for applicants?
Because no match is required, organizations without access to additional cash match funding can still compete, and proposals can focus more directly on measurable outcomes rather than meeting leveraging requirements.
Which organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), private institutions of higher education, overseas based NGOs, and Public International Organizations (PIOs).
Are U.S. nonprofit universities eligible under the 501(c)(3) category?
The eligibility statement specifies U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. Separate eligibility is listed for private institutions of higher education.
Does the opportunity suggest a geographic focus?
Yes. Because the sponsor is the U.S. Mission to Costa Rica, the geographic and programmatic intent is tied to Costa Rica and U.S. policy objectives in the region.
What implementation expectations are implied by the announcement summary?
The summary indicates applicants would typically be expected to demonstrate strong local partnerships, realistic implementation plans, and credible monitoring and evaluation methods showing how economic and community interventions can reduce susceptibility to illicit trafficking economies.
When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?
The opportunity was posted on March 4, 2014. The application deadline was April 10, 2014 at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.
What are the "creation date" and "archived" dates listed for this opportunity?
The creation date is listed as March 25, 2014, and the opportunity was archived on May 10, 2014.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. Based on the 2014 deadline and the archived date, the competition is no longer open.
Does the archived status make the opportunity irrelevant?
Even though it is no longer open, the structure and parameters can still be useful as a reference for how the Embassy framed CARSI-related economic development programming, including typical award sizes and eligible applicant types for this kind of work.
Who was listed as the contact for questions at the time?
The contact listed was Rebecca Hyleman, Economic Assistant at the U.S. Embassy in San Jose.
How could applicants contact the listed point of contact?
The phone number provided was 506-2519-2000, with reference to the "CARSI ESF Mailbox."
Where were additional program details and submission instructions maintained?
The announcement referenced an additional information link associated with the U.S. Embassy San Jose, indicating required forms, program details, and submission instructions were maintained through embassy channels.
What is the funding opportunity number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PRMECON 14 GR 001 WHA 030414.
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