Afghanistan Legal Education | INL 17GR0048 INLAPAFGHANISTAN 06 07 2017

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL 17GR0048 INLAPAFGHANISTAN 06 07 2017

The Afghanistan Legal Education grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number INL 17GR0048 INLAPAFGHANISTAN 06 07 2017) was a discretionary funding program run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). Released on June 7, 2017, with an original application deadline of August 6, 2017, it aimed to fund a single project (one expected award) to strengthen legal education pathways for Afghans preparing for careers in the justice sector. The assistance mechanism was set up as either a cooperative agreement or a grant, under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category (CFDA 19.703), with a maximum award size (ceiling) of $3,000,000.

At its core, the opportunity was designed to build on and complement INL programs already working with Afghan public and private universities, U.S. law schools, and legal professionals. The emphasis was not simply on expanding access to legal education, but on improving the quality and relevance of that education for real-world justice work. A major theme running through the description is the push toward practical skills and critical thinking, specifically by promoting interactive teaching methods rather than relying solely on lecture-based instruction. In other words, the program was structured to help aspiring Afghan justice professionals develop the kind of applied legal reasoning, problem-solving, and practice-oriented competencies needed in professional settings, whether they were studying inside Afghanistan or in educational environments outside the country.

A central focus of the project was the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) and its four-year Bachelor of Art and Law degree program. The grant sought continued refinement and improvement of that degree program, along with broader improvements to the legal studies curriculum. This included upgrading course content and program structure so that legal education at AUAF would be more rigorous, coherent, and aligned with professional expectations. The opportunity also prioritized the production of high-quality, original instructional materials. Specifically, it called for continued research, drafting, and publication of textbooks and other teaching resources, signaling a need for locally relevant, academically sound materials that could support instructors and students over the long term, including in contexts where existing resources may be limited, outdated, or not well tailored to the Afghan educational environment.

Another major objective was institutional sustainability, framed in the description as transitioning the AUAF law department in its entirety to AUAF, including both funding and administration. This indicates that the project was not meant to operate as a permanent externally managed program. Instead, it aimed to strengthen AUAFs capacity to fully own, manage, and finance the law department over time. In practical terms, that kind of transition typically involves building internal administrative systems, supporting budget and fundraising capabilities, improving academic governance, and ensuring that staffing and program management functions can be maintained without ongoing external control.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text, suggesting the competition may have been open to a range of organizations depending on the governments detailed requirements. Overall, the opportunity reflects a capacity-building approach: improving legal education quality, expanding access for future justice professionals, developing durable teaching materials, and helping a key Afghan institution take full responsibility for operating and sustaining a law program.

• The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Afghanistan Legal Education" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.703.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 07, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 06, 2017. (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 $3,000,000.00 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 INL 17GR0048 INLAPAFGHANISTAN 06 07 2017

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