Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005795
The Strengthening Effective Counter Terrorist Financing Compliance opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0005795) was a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism discretionary grant program aimed at helping partner countries improve how they prevent, detect, and disrupt terrorist financing and money laundering. The focus is on practical capacity building that strengthens Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) systems, not just on paper compliance. In other words, the program emphasizes both meeting technical standards and making sure those standards are actually used effectively in real-world supervision, investigations, and enforcement.
At its core, the opportunity targets countries that have the desire and commitment to upgrade their AML/CFT approach and align it more closely with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) framework. The activities envisioned include convening key stakeholders across government and relevant sectors to build a shared understanding of AML/CFT risks and responsibilities, improving coordination among institutions that often need to work together (for example, financial intelligence units, prosecutors, central banks and supervisors, law enforcement, border authorities, and policy ministries). Another major objective is supporting the design and implementation of FATF technical requirements, which generally means helping partners translate international standards into workable laws, regulations, supervisory practices, and operational procedures.
The grant also highlights the development of toolkits or practical resources that can be used to disrupt terrorist financing and money laundering networks. That can include guidance, training curricula, operational playbooks, or other structured materials that make it easier for a host nation to identify suspicious activity, follow financial trails, and take action through regulatory measures, administrative sanctions, or criminal justice tools. A particular emphasis is placed on strengthening a country s ability to regulate and interdict the informal money sector, recognizing that informal value transfer systems and cash-based or unregistered financial activity can be exploited for illicit finance when oversight is weak.
From an administrative standpoint, this was structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government would typically expect substantial involvement during implementation rather than a hands-off grant. The listed award ceiling was up to 5,000,000 USD. The opportunity was created on April 26, 2019, with an original closing date of June 10, 2019. The CFDA number associated with it was 19.701. Eligibility was broadly described as "Others" with additional details referenced in the full announcement, indicating it was not limited strictly to one narrow applicant type and may have been open to certain organizations capable of delivering international AML/CFT capacity building. The notice lists expected awards as 0, which often reflects that awards were not predetermined at posting time or were dependent on funding availability and the quality of proposals received.
Overall, this opportunity can be summarized as a capacity-building initiative intended to help partner countries strengthen AML/CFT technical compliance and effectiveness, improve stakeholder coordination and understanding, operationalize FATF requirements, create usable tools to counter illicit finance, and increase oversight and interdiction capabilities in informal money channels that are frequently exploited for terrorist financing and money laundering.Apply for SFOP0005795
- The Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Effective Counter Terrorist Financing Compliance" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.701.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 26, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 10, 2019. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Strengthening Effective Counter Terrorist Financing Compliance opportunity?
It was a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism discretionary grant program focused on helping partner countries improve their ability to prevent, detect, and disrupt terrorist financing and money laundering through practical Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) capacity building.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number was SFOP0005795.
What is the main goal of the program?
The main goal was to strengthen real-world AML/CFT performance, not just paper compliance. The opportunity emphasized both meeting technical standards and ensuring those standards are used effectively in supervision, investigations, and enforcement.
Which U.S. government office ran this opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism.
What does the program mean by focusing on “effectiveness” rather than only “technical compliance”?
Based on the description, the program was not limited to drafting laws or policies. It prioritized operational results, such as improving how institutions supervise, investigate, coordinate, and enforce AML/CFT measures in practice.
What international framework or standards does the program reference?
The opportunity specifically referenced alignment with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) framework, including supporting the design and implementation of FATF technical requirements.
What kinds of countries were targeted by this opportunity?
The opportunity targeted partner countries that had the desire and commitment to upgrade their AML/CFT approach and align it more closely with FATF standards.
What types of activities were envisioned under this grant?
Activities included convening key stakeholders to build shared understanding of AML/CFT risks and responsibilities, improving coordination among institutions, supporting implementation of FATF technical requirements, and developing toolkits or practical resources to disrupt illicit finance networks.
Who are the typical stakeholders that could be convened under the program?
The description highlighted stakeholders such as financial intelligence units, prosecutors, central banks and supervisors, law enforcement, border authorities, and policy ministries, along with other relevant sectors involved in AML/CFT.
What does “improving coordination among institutions” refer to in practice?
It refers to strengthening how key agencies and sectors work together on AML/CFT risks and responsibilities, particularly where effective action depends on cooperation between supervisory bodies, investigative authorities, prosecutors, and other government entities.
What does “operationalizing FATF requirements” mean in this opportunity?
It means helping partner countries translate international standards into workable national systems, including laws, regulations, supervisory practices, and operational procedures that can be used in real supervisory and enforcement settings.
What kinds of “toolkits” or practical resources were mentioned?
The opportunity referenced guidance, training curricula, operational playbooks, and other structured materials designed to help host nations identify suspicious activity, follow financial trails, and take action using regulatory measures, administrative sanctions, or criminal justice tools.
How would funded work help disrupt terrorist financing and money laundering networks?
By strengthening practical capacity to identify suspicious activity, trace financial flows, and take action through regulatory, administrative, and criminal justice mechanisms, supported by training, guidance, and improved institutional coordination.
Was there a specific emphasis on any particular financing channel?
Yes. The opportunity placed particular emphasis on strengthening a country’s ability to regulate and interdict the informal money sector, recognizing that informal value transfer systems and cash-based or unregistered financial activity can be exploited when oversight is weak.
What is meant by the “informal money sector” in the context provided?
The notice described it in terms of informal value transfer systems and cash-based or unregistered financial activity that may fall outside effective oversight and can be exploited for terrorist financing and money laundering.
What kind of award instrument was used?
It was structured as a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award was a cooperative agreement?
It means the U.S. government would typically expect substantial involvement during implementation, rather than a hands-off relationship associated with some other grant types.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling was up to 5,000,000 USD.
What was the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with the opportunity was 19.701.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on April 26, 2019.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was June 10, 2019.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broadly listed as "Others," with additional details referenced in the full announcement. This suggests it was not limited to a single narrow applicant category and may have been open to organizations capable of delivering international AML/CFT capacity building, subject to the full notice terms.
The notice lists “expected awards” as 0. What does that indicate?
The description notes that “expected awards” being 0 often reflects that awards were not predetermined at posting time and/or depended on funding availability and the quality of proposals received.
Is this opportunity primarily about writing new laws and regulations?
Not exclusively. While supporting FATF technical requirements could include laws and regulations, the opportunity emphasized practical implementation and real-world use through supervision, investigations, enforcement, and operational procedures.
Does the program support enforcement and investigative capacity, or only policy work?
It explicitly emphasized effectiveness in supervision, investigations, and enforcement, and described resources aimed at helping partners identify suspicious activity and take regulatory, administrative, or criminal justice action.
What is the overall summary of what this opportunity was trying to accomplish?
It was a capacity-building initiative designed to help partner countries strengthen AML/CFT technical compliance and effectiveness, improve stakeholder coordination and understanding, operationalize FATF requirements, develop usable tools to counter illicit finance, and increase oversight and interdiction capabilities in informal money channels often exploited for terrorist financing and money laundering.
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