Countering Foreign Terrorist Organization Use of Illicit Mining | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism is seeking proposals for a single cooperative agreement initiative focused on countering how violent Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) exploit illicit mining. The core aim is to reduce terrorist financing and operational capability generated through illegal extraction, control, taxation, smuggling, and trading of mined commodities in conflict-affected or weakly governed environments.

2) Which office is offering the award?

The funding opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism.

3) What is the funding instrument?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.

4) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (instead of a standard grant)?

A cooperative agreement typically implies a more active federal role in shaping or collaborating on implementation compared to a standard grant, meaning the U.S. Government may be more involved in working with the award recipient during the project.

5) What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is DFOP0018686.

6) What is the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number for this opportunity?

The CFDA (assistance listing) number is 19.701.

7) How many awards does the program expect to make?

The program anticipates making one award.

8) What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is $4,933,399, meaning proposals can be funded up to that maximum amount.

9) Is eligibility limited to certain types of organizations?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted.

10) What types of applicants are specifically mentioned as eligible?

The notice explicitly notes that a wide range of applicant types may apply, including nonprofit organizations (such as think tanks and NGOs), public and private educational institutions, for-profit organizations, and public international organizations and governmental institutions.

11) What specific problem is this initiative trying to address?

The initiative targets the exploitation of illicit mining by violent FTOs, including illegal extraction, control, taxation, smuggling, and trading of mined commodities. It aims to reduce the terrorist financing and operational capability that can be generated through these illicit mining-linked activities.

12) Does the opportunity focus only on security interventions?

No. The opportunity is designed for proposals that take an integrated, whole-of-system approach rather than treating illicit mining as a purely security issue.

13) What does a "whole-of-system approach" mean in this context?

Based on the description, it means proposals should bring together multiple parts of the civilian justice and governance ecosystem, potentially combining threat and network analysis, capacity building for investigations and prosecutions, regulatory strengthening, and measures that improve coordination and information sharing across institutions and borders.

14) What kinds of institutions are expected to be involved in strong proposals?

Competitive projects are expected to bring together multiple parts of the civilian justice and governance ecosystem, including civilian law enforcement entities, mining sector regulators, and judges and prosecutors who can pursue cases effectively through the courts.

15) Why are mining regulators relevant to a counterterrorism program?

The opportunity highlights mining sector regulators because they oversee licensing and compliance, which can be key leverage points for reducing illicit extraction and strengthening oversight in environments where illicit mineral supply chains operate.

16) Why are judges and prosecutors specifically mentioned?

Judges and prosecutors are included because the program emphasizes pursuing cases effectively through the courts, indicating that investigations and interdictions should be paired with the ability to prosecute and adjudicate cases.

17) Is civil society participation required?

Civil society engagement is encouraged where it makes sense, but the notice frames it as encouraged rather than universally required.

18) What kinds of civil society activities are suggested?

Examples mentioned include community-based monitoring, transparency efforts, or protection of vulnerable populations impacted by illicit mining and associated violence.

19) What role do transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) play in this problem?

A central emphasis is understanding and disrupting the connections between FTOs and TCOs, particularly where criminal networks provide logistics, laundering, procurement, or cross-border trafficking routes that enable illicit mineral supply chains to function.

20) What kinds of linkages between FTOs and criminal networks are of interest?

The opportunity specifically notes logistics, laundering, procurement, and cross-border trafficking routes as areas where transnational criminal organizations may enable illicit mineral supply chains connected to terrorist groups.

21) What types of project activities appear to be aligned with the opportunity?

The description suggests strong proposals will likely combine elements such as threat and network analysis, capacity building for investigations and prosecutions, regulatory strengthening, and improved coordination and information sharing across institutions and borders.

22) Does the opportunity emphasize cross-border cooperation?

Yes. The description references cross-border trafficking routes and highlights improving coordination and information sharing across institutions and borders.

23) What is meant by "disrupting illicit mineral supply chains" in this opportunity?

Based on the text, it refers to countering the systems that allow illicit minerals to be extracted, controlled, taxed, smuggled, and traded, including the networks that provide logistics, laundering, procurement, and trafficking routes.

24) What is the timeline for this notice (posting and closing dates)?

The posting was created on July 6, 2026, with an original closing date of July 15, 2026.

25) Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?

Yes. Administratively, it is described as a discretionary funding opportunity under the Bureau of Counterterrorism.

26) What is the overarching theory of change implied by the notice?

The notice implies that reducing terrorist financing and operational capability can be achieved by targeting illicit mining as a revenue stream and influence mechanism for terrorist groups, while simultaneously addressing the criminal ecosystems that help move and monetize illicit minerals.

27) What would likely make a proposal competitive based on the notice narrative?

Based on the description, strong proposals will likely show an ability to convene and support law enforcement, regulators, and justice sector actors in a coordinated strategy, and use civil society appropriately to improve legitimacy, transparency, and local resilience against exploitation.

28) Does the opportunity call out any specific operating environments?

Yes. It references conflict-affected or weakly governed environments where illicit extraction, control, taxation, smuggling, and trading of mined commodities can occur.