Drug Demand Reduction | INL23CA0064 PERU DRUGDEMAND 07192023

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) grant opportunity?

The Drug Demand Reduction grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number INL23CA0064) is a discretionary program of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), administered through U.S. Embassy Lima. It supports efforts to reduce drug use and drug-related offenses in Peru by strengthening prevention and treatment for substance use disorders, especially in communities that have historically had limited access to services.

Who is administering this opportunity?

The opportunity is administered through U.S. Embassy Lima under the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is INL23CA0064.

What type of funding instrument will be used?

The award instrument is a cooperative agreement. This means the U.S. government expects to remain actively involved in the program's direction and implementation, rather than providing a fully hands-off grant.

What is the primary goal of the program?

The primary goal is to reduce drug use and drug-related offenses in Peru by strengthening the country's ability to prevent and treat substance use disorders, with a focus on expanding access and improving quality and consistency of services.

What approach does the program emphasize?

The program centers on capacity building to expand evidence-based prevention and treatment nationwide, while prioritizing underserved and vulnerable communities. It emphasizes standardized training and professionalization of services using established international training frameworks.

Which training frameworks are highlighted in this opportunity?

The opportunity highlights the Universal Prevention Curriculum (UPC) and the Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC) as key training frameworks to standardize and professionalize prevention and treatment services.

How do UPC and UTC fit into the program design?

UPC and UTC are used to train practitioners in research-backed, replicable methods. The intention is to improve the quality of care and increase consistency of prevention and treatment services across different regions of Peru.

What geographic areas are prioritized?

A major emphasis is expanding access to substance abuse treatment in rural areas of Peru, where gaps are often largest due to distance, limited clinical workforce, and fewer specialized facilities.

How does this opportunity relate to existing services in Peru?

The broader DDR portfolio in Peru already includes work through approximately 250 community mental health centers nationwide. This opportunity seeks to build on that foundation by developing local capacity, improving referral pathways, and extending reach beyond major urban areas.

What populations are specifically prioritized for improved access and inclusion?

The opportunity prioritizes underserved and vulnerable groups, including communities with historically limited access to services. It specifically notes targeted training for health professionals to better serve women and girls and the LGBTQI community, who may be under-served or face stigma in health systems.

Does the program address public safety or justice-related outcomes?

Yes. The program aims to break the cycle linking substance use, crime, and incarceration. It promotes treatment and counseling as alternatives to incarceration for eligible juvenile offenders, supporting public safety outcomes by reducing drug-related offending.

What does "alternatives to incarceration" mean in the context of this grant?

In this opportunity, it refers to promoting treatment and counseling options instead of detention for eligible juvenile offenders, where appropriate, as part of efforts to reduce drug-related offenses and related harms.

How does this opportunity align with Peru's Integrated Country Strategy?

The opportunity aligns with Peru's Integrated Country Strategy, particularly Goal 2 (creating a more secure and equitable country and region) and Objective 4.2 (expanding protections and inclusive opportunities for youth, women, gender and other minorities, and other historically marginalized populations).

What does the alignment with equity and inclusion imply for applicants?

Based on the stated framing, applicants are expected to address not only clinical service delivery, but also how their approach improves equity, inclusion, and protections for vulnerable groups, while contributing to public safety outcomes.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based non-profit and non-governmental organizations, overseas-based non-profit and non-governmental organizations, and overseas-based private or state educational institutions.

Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

The eligibility list provided includes non-profit and non-governmental organizations and overseas-based private or state educational institutions. No additional eligibility categories are specified in the provided information.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is up to USD 300,000.

When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on July 19, 2023.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date was December 8, 2023.

What is the application process described in the opportunity?

The competition begins with a statement of interest (SOI). The SOI typically functions as an initial concept submission used to gauge fit with program priorities before more detailed technical and budget proposals are requested.

What is a Statement of Interest (SOI) in this competition?

An SOI is an initial concept submission used to assess whether an applicant's proposed approach aligns with the program priorities, before the applicant is invited or requested to submit more detailed technical and budget information.

What kinds of activities does the grant appear to support?

Based on the information provided, supported activities include capacity building to expand evidence-based prevention and treatment, training practitioners using UPC and UTC, improving referral pathways, strengthening service quality and consistency across regions, and increasing access to treatment in rural areas, including for underserved and stigmatized populations.

Is the program focused only on treatment, or also on prevention?

It focuses on both. The opportunity emphasizes evidence-based prevention and treatment, including the use of UPC (prevention) and UTC (treatment) to train practitioners and strengthen systems.

What does "capacity building" mean in the context of this grant?

In this context, it refers to strengthening local and national ability to deliver prevention and treatment services by training practitioners, professionalizing and standardizing practices, improving referral pathways, and expanding service reach, particularly in underserved and rural areas.

Why is rural access highlighted as a major emphasis?

Rural areas are highlighted because service gaps are often largest there due to distance, limited clinical workforce, and fewer specialized facilities, making access to substance abuse treatment more difficult outside major urban areas.

What is the intended impact on service quality and consistency?

The grant emphasizes improving service quality and consistency across different regions by using standardized, research-backed training curricula (UPC and UTC) to build a more professional and replicable prevention and treatment workforce.

How does the cooperative agreement structure affect implementation?

Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, the U.S. government expects to be actively involved in the program's direction and implementation, rather than providing funding with minimal involvement.