Developing A Framework To Counter Cyber-enabled Human Trafficking (CEHT) | H NOFO 23 103

Opportunity Information: Apply for H NOFO 23 103

The grant opportunity titled "Developing A Framework To Counter Cyber-enabled Human Trafficking (CEHT)" is a U.S. Department of State program, run through the U.S. Mission to India and specifically announced by the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad. It funds a single project designed to bring structure, shared terminology, and practical policy direction to the problem of cyber-enabled human trafficking, with a focus on how the issue is showing up in India and selected Asian countries. The core idea is to convene the right mix of experts and affected communities through a combination of virtual and in-person consultations, then translate what is learned into a concrete, India-focused draft National Plan of Action that can be presented to the appropriate government the following year for potential adoption.

The project is meant to do two tightly linked things. First, it should help define what "cyber-enabled human trafficking" means in practice, since online tools can facilitate trafficking at many stages, including recruitment, grooming, advertising, coordination, payments, coercion, and control. Second, it should document and analyze how CEHT is currently being observed in select Asian contexts, drawing on the experience of Indian and international practitioners. These consultations are not intended to be purely academic; they are meant to produce a working understanding of the threat landscape, the actors and methods involved, the gaps in detection and enforcement, and the barriers survivors face when seeking help or justice. The expectation is that this knowledge is captured and organized in a way that is usable for policy and operational planning, not just discussion.

A major deliverable is a draft National Plan of Action for India to counter CEHT, developed through a multi-stakeholder process. The opportunity explicitly calls for involvement from a broad cross-section of stakeholders across the country, including trafficking survivors, NGO leaders, cyber experts, lawyers, law-enforcement officers, and local government officials. That mix signals the program is looking for a plan that balances survivor-centered approaches with legal and technical realities, and that accounts for how trafficking and cybercrime are handled at different levels of government and across jurisdictions. The plan would ideally outline roles and responsibilities, recommend prevention and awareness strategies, propose improved reporting and referral mechanisms, address investigative and prosecutorial needs, consider victim protection and rehabilitation services, and suggest coordination models for government, civil society, and relevant private-sector stakeholders where appropriate.

Funding is offered under a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the funder typically expects ongoing engagement and coordination during implementation rather than a fully hands-off grant. The award ceiling is USD 150,000, with an expectation of one award. The activity categories listed for the opportunity include business and commerce, community development, education, and health, reflecting how CEHT intersects with multiple systems, from labor markets and online platforms to community vulnerability, public awareness, and trauma-informed support services. The assistance listing is under CFDA number 19.040.

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions). The opportunity was created on April 11, 2023, and the original closing date was May 26, 2023. In practical terms, this competition sought an organization capable of running high-quality convenings across disciplines and geographies, synthesizing diverse inputs into a coherent framework, and drafting a credible, actionable national plan that can stand up to scrutiny from government and practitioner communities.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the business and commerce, community development, education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Developing A Framework To Counter Cyber-enabled Human Trafficking (CEHT)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 11, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 26, 2023. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

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