Action to Reduce and Respond to Exploitation and Trafficking (ARRETE) | 72066023RFA00005

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72066023RFA00005

The Action to Reduce and Respond to Exploitation and Trafficking (ARRETE) opportunity is a USAID cooperative agreement aimed at strengthening the Democratic Republic of the Congo's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to trafficking in persons. The program is designed as a comprehensive counter-trafficking intervention that focuses on three connected results: improving the institutional capacity of key Congolese institutions, expanding access to coordinated and survivor-centered services, and shifting community norms and behaviors that allow trafficking and exploitation to persist. In practical terms, the activity is meant to lay durable foundations for long-term Countering Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) capacity across the DRC, rather than delivering only short-term assistance.

USAID plans to make a single award for a five-year period under full and open competition. The total potential funding ceiling listed for the award is up to USD 18,000,000, and USAID expects to fund one implementer that best meets the program objectives based on the merit review criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), with the final selection also subject to a risk assessment. Because this is a cooperative agreement rather than a grant, the award structure typically implies substantial engagement from USAID during implementation, meaning the selected organization should be prepared for close collaboration, iterative planning, and active agreement officer and technical team involvement as described in the NOFO.

The opportunity is categorized under Law, Justice and Legal Services and is associated with CFDA number 98.001. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, which generally means a broad range of applicant organizations may apply as long as they can meet USAID requirements and demonstrate the technical, financial, and managerial capacity to carry out a complex, multi-year national program. The issuing office is USAID-Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo USAID mission). The funding opportunity title is "Action to Reduce and Respond to Exploitation and Trafficking (ARRETE)," and the funding opportunity number is 72066023RFA00005, which applicants would use to locate and reference the official solicitation package and any amendments.

From a program design standpoint, ARRETE emphasizes a systems approach to trafficking. Building institutional capacity suggests strengthening policies, coordination mechanisms, case management pathways, data or referral systems, and the operational ability of relevant government and justice-sector actors to prevent trafficking and address cases effectively. Expanding access to multidisciplinary services signals an integrated service response for survivors, which commonly involves coordinating medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance, protection services, safe shelter, and reintegration support in ways that reduce retraumatization and improve outcomes. The behavior transformation component indicates community-level and societal efforts to change attitudes and practices that contribute to exploitation and trafficking, typically through awareness, social and behavior change strategies, engagement with community leaders and local structures, and targeted prevention messaging for at-risk populations.

The original closing date listed for applications is August 2, 2023, and prospective applicants are directed to read the NOFO carefully to understand the specific program approach USAID is seeking, the required application components, the submission instructions, and how proposals will be evaluated. The summary information points to a competitive process where technical merit and implementation feasibility will be central, and where USAID's evaluation criteria and risk review will shape the final award decision.

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo USAID-Kinshasa in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Action to Reduce and Respond to Exploitation and Trafficking (ARRETE)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-06-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-08-02. (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 $18,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

Apply for 72066023RFA00005

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: