Liberia Law Enforcement Strategic Communications Project | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Liberia Law Enforcement Strategic Communications Project?

The Liberia Law Enforcement Strategic Communications Project is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity (through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, INL) focused on strengthening how the Liberia National Police (LNP) communicates with its own personnel and with the Liberian public. The project is built around the idea that effective policing depends on public trust, and that trust is heavily influenced by clear, consistent, and transparent communication.

What problem is this project trying to address?

The opportunity highlights that policing works best when police and the community collaborate directly to improve safety and security. That collaboration requires a reliable two-way flow of information, not one-sided messaging. The project aims to improve the overall system the LNP uses to share information, respond to public concerns, and maintain credibility during routine operations and during crises.

Who is offering and administering this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). The project is being run through the INL office at the U.S. Embassy in Liberia.

Who is the primary beneficiary or focus of the project activities?

The primary focus is the Liberia National Police (LNP), including support to the LNP Press and Public Affairs Department, with the broader intent of improving how the LNP communicates with citizens, civil society, and the media.

What are the main goals of the project?

The project aims to help the LNP modernize and professionalize its communications capacity. It is intended to improve internal communications within the police and external communications with the public. A major theme is transparency as a practical requirement of public service, meaning communications should be responsive, effective, and timely.

Is the goal simply to produce more press releases?

No. The opportunity explicitly emphasizes that the intent is not simply to produce more press releases. The focus is on improving the overall communications system the police use to share information, engage with the public, address concerns, and maintain credibility in both routine and crisis situations.

Why does the opportunity emphasize trust and transparency?

The opportunity frames trust as essential to effective policing and explains that trust is strongly shaped by whether the police communicate clearly, consistently, and transparently. Stronger communications are positioned as a way to improve community confidence in the police, which can increase the public willingness to share information with law enforcement and support crime prevention and responses to security threats.

What does “two-way flow of information” mean in this context?

Based on the description, it means communications should not be limited to one-direction announcements from police to the public. Instead, it should include approaches that enable ongoing community outreach and feedback, so that the police can receive, consider, and respond to public concerns and information.

What kinds of activities are included in the scope of work?

The scope described includes assessing how Liberians currently receive news and information and how much they trust different information sources. Using those findings, the project would support upgrades to the LNP public communications strategy so the police can communicate more directly with the public and more effectively through the news media.

Does the opportunity call for research or assessment work?

Yes. A specific element of the scope is to assess the local media and information environment, including how Liberians receive news and information and how much they trust different sources. The description suggests an evidence-based approach that examines reach and credibility across multiple channels.

What communication channels does the opportunity reference?

The opportunity references a range of potential channels, including radio, print, television, community networks, and digital or social platforms, as examples of how different audiences may be reached.

How might the findings from the media and information assessment be used?

The opportunity indicates that findings would inform upgrades to the LNP communications strategy. This could involve shaping how the LNP communicates directly with the public and how it engages through the news media, based on which channels reach different audiences and how credibility is perceived.

What are examples of practical improvements mentioned for police communications?

The description suggests possible improvements such as better messaging during incidents, clearer public-facing procedures, refined approaches to press engagement, and establishing routines for ongoing community outreach and feedback. These examples are presented as ways to strengthen credibility and responsiveness.

How does improved communication relate to crime prevention and security?

The opportunity links stronger communications to increased community confidence in the police. It states that greater confidence can increase the public willingness to share information with law enforcement, which is described as an important ingredient for preventing crime and addressing security threats.

What type of funding mechanism is being used?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

As described in the opportunity, a cooperative agreement means the U.S. government would expect to remain actively involved in shaping or overseeing implementation, rather than issuing a hands-off grant.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The opportunity falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 19.703.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status.

Is 501(c)(3) status required for nonprofit applicants?

No. The eligibility description explicitly includes nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status.

How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated a single award.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling listed for the opportunity is $500,000.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is INL17CA0002 (INLAMELIBERIA 10042016).

When was the opportunity released?

The opportunity was released on October 4, 2016.

What was the original application closing date?

The original application closing date was November 30, 2016.

What is the underlying theory of change described by the opportunity?

The description lays out a chain of logic: stronger, clearer, and more transparent police communications can improve public trust; increased trust can lead to greater public cooperation and information-sharing; and improved cooperation can support crime prevention and responses to security threats.

Is this project focused on internal communications, external communications, or both?

Both. The opportunity emphasizes improving communications within the police (internal) and with citizens, civil society, and the media (external), and it highlights the need for timely and effective communication in routine operations and crises.