Gender Based Violence (GBV) reduction in Pakistan through increased justice system capacity | INL22GR0021 GENDERBASED PAKISTAN 032922

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant competition from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It is titled "Gender Based Violence (GBV) reduction in Pakistan through increased justice system capacity" and is focused on improving how gender-based violence cases are handled across Pakistan's criminal justice system.

What problem is the program trying to solve?

The program targets persistent breakdowns in GBV case handling, such as weak cooperation between investigators and prosecutors, insufficient investigative capacity for complex cases, limited crisis-handling skills, and overall limited capacity within police and prosecutors offices to investigate and prosecute crimes against women. The goal is to improve accountability and strengthen end-to-end case processing so outcomes improve and survivors are more likely to report.

What is the main goal of the project?

The central goal is to reduce GBV in Pakistan by strengthening justice system capacity and improving the full lifecycle of GBV case handling, from reporting and investigation through prosecution, court proceedings, and outcomes. INL frames this as increasing accountability throughout the criminal justice process so that cases are handled more effectively and efficiently, with improved prosecution and conviction rates.

What does "end-to-end" handling of GBV cases mean in this grant?

"End-to-end" refers to improving how GBV cases move through every stage of the criminal justice process, not just one part of it. Based on the grant description, this includes practical bottlenecks such as evidence gathering, case file quality, referral pathways, survivor support, charging decisions, courtroom management, and case timelines.

Which country and region does the program focus on?

The geographic focus is Pakistan. The program is designed to launch with a pilot in Punjab and then scale into a nationwide initiative, signaling an intent to test approaches in one major province and replicate successful elements across the country.

Why does the opportunity start with a pilot in Punjab?

The opportunity is structured to begin with a pilot in Punjab and then scale nationally. The stated intent is to pilot approaches in one province first and then replicate what works across Pakistan as part of a nationwide initiative.

Who is expected to be trained or engaged under this project?

INL emphasizes concurrent and integrated training across a wide range of justice and community actors who influence GBV case outcomes. The opportunity specifically mentions police and other law enforcement personnel, investigative officials, prosecutors, legal aid providers, victim advocates, local jirga officials, and judicial officers.

Why does INL emphasize "concurrent and integrated" training?

The grant description suggests GBV cases often fail when justice-sector actors operate in isolation, such as when investigators and prosecutors do not coordinate, when evidence collection is weak, or when procedures retraumatize survivors. Concurrent and integrated training is intended to reduce these gaps by building aligned GBV awareness and practical skills across the system at the same time.

What is meant by a "survivor-centered" approach in this program?

In this opportunity, survivor-centered approaches are practices that prioritize survivor safety, dignity, informed consent, confidentiality, and access to support, while still enabling strong case building and effective legal action.

How does the grant connect GBV reduction to justice system performance?

INL links GBV reduction to improved accountability and effectiveness across the criminal justice process. The logic presented is that when survivors are treated appropriately and cases are investigated and prosecuted effectively, survivors are more likely to come forward, case handling improves, and prosecution and conviction outcomes increase.

What social or structural factors does INL cite as contributing to GBV in Pakistan?

The grant description points to systemic inequality, discrimination, and entrenched violence against women reinforced by social, cultural, political, and patriarchal norms. It also cites strict notions of family privacy and tribal practices that can reduce intervention opportunities, contribute to underreporting, and channel cases into informal dispute resolution mechanisms that may not protect survivors.

What role does women's representation in the justice sector play in this opportunity?

The opportunity explicitly highlights underrepresentation of women in Pakistan's criminal justice institutions and ties improved access to justice to increased participation of female legal professionals. INL indicates it seeks to include as many women as possible in project activities to support inclusion and trust-building for survivors.

What statistics are provided about women's representation in Pakistan's justice institutions?

The grant description states that women make up less than 2 percent of police officers and roughly 6 percent of judges in Pakistan.

How is the program expected to influence reporting of GBV?

INL frames improved survivor treatment and stronger justice-sector capacity as factors that can make survivors more likely to come forward. The program's emphasis on survivor-centered practices and improved case handling is intended to reduce retraumatization, improve trust, and increase accountability.

What outcomes does INL want to improve?

The opportunity emphasizes improved investigation and prosecution, more efficient court handling, and improved outcomes in terms of prosecution and conviction rates for GBV cases.

What kind of funding instrument is this?

The instrument type is a grant, and it is described as a discretionary grant competition.

What is the opportunity number and CFDA number?

The funding opportunity is listed as INL22GR0021. The CFDA number provided is 19.703.

What category does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity is categorized under Law, Justice and Legal Services.

How much funding is available per award?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $1,000,000.

How many awards did INL expect to make?

INL anticipated making two awards.

When was the opportunity issued and when did it originally close?

The opportunity was issued on March 29, 2022, and the original closing date was May 31, 2022.

How does this grant align with broader U.S. government strategy?

The opportunity states it supports U.S. government Integrated Country Strategy goals, specifically strengthening rule of law (goal 1.3) and promoting a more inclusive society (goal 3.2). The framing connects justice-sector reform with broader inclusion and social stability objectives.

Does the opportunity address informal justice mechanisms?

Yes. The grant description references local jirga officials as part of the broad set of actors shaping outcomes in GBV cases, and it notes that tribal practices and informal dispute resolution may contribute to underprotection of survivors and underreporting.

What practical case-processing issues does the opportunity suggest may be targeted?

The description highlights likely bottlenecks such as evidence gathering, case file quality, coordination between investigators and prosecutors, referral pathways, survivor support, charging decisions, courtroom management, and case timelines.

What is the long-term vision described for the program?

The stated vision is that building institutional capacity to engage survivors appropriately and process GBV cases effectively will, over time, reduce public acceptance of GBV as a social norm.