U.S.-Afghan LLM/Certificate Program for Afghan Legal Educators

The summary for the U.S.-Afghan LLM/Certificate Program for Afghan Legal Educators grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affair, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

U.S.-Afghan LLM/Certificate Program for Afghan Legal Educators: Executive Summary: ? The United States Government, represented by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) at the Department of State, is seeking proposals from qualified ABA-accredited U.S. law schools with the requisite capability and experience to develop and implement a year-long LLM or certificate program (for a duration of 3 years), within an established LLM program, for Afghan legal professionals. The award stipulates close connections with Kabul University law school. ? Afghans participating in the program must fulfill a commitment to return to Afghanistan and work at least two years, barring extenuating circumstances. At least a portion of time during the two years (60%) includes working or volunteering directly with an Afghan law school. Specific guidelines will be worked out with the Afghan Ministry of Higher Education. Failure of participants to complete this requirement will result in repayment of services rendered. ? INL encourages institutions with previous experience hosting international LLM students, particularly from developing and/or post-conflict situations, to apply under this announcement. INL further encourages applications from law schools that have the ability, either through the law school or affiliated university, to offer courses specific to Afghan law, Islamic law, Afghan politics, and/or South Asian regional politics. ? The following program parameters should be viewed as guideposts. INL encourages creative and innovative ideas. o Applicants should have a demonstrated expertise and/or ability to offer Afghan students courses, seminars, or training programs that serve to enhance the students? professional development as lawyers, critical analysis of legal texts and concepts, understanding of the U.S. legal and governmental system, exposure to comparative legal traditions and rule of law development, and ability to apply modern pedagogical methods to Afghan law schools. o Proposals should display a general understanding of the challenges facing Afghanistan in the area of judicial development and legal reform. o Programs should aim to graduate a cadre of well-trained Afghan legal educators and lawyers equipped with the tools to meaningfully participate in Afghan justice sector reconstruction in the broadest sense. o Programs should have some element of focus on the criminal justice system, including due process rights and procedural norms. o Programs should have a practical element, as well as an academic focus, such as the opportunity to partake in internship programs, training seminars, and site visits to judicial institutions. ? The following requirements must be met: o Applicants must spend a portion of the award on sponsoring English language training in Kabul prior to participants embarking on the program. Study should include legal terminology. With the assistance of Kabul University Law School and Embassy-Kabul, a test will be administered to participants to determine if the requisite English language requirement is met. o Applicants must spend the first year of the grant developing the program and creating a meaningful relationship with Kabul University Law School. o Following Year One, the award must sustain two years of student sponsorship. In their budgets, applicants must account for supplies, equipment, programs, travel, etc. estimated to be used in Year One in determining the number of students that will be sponsored in Years Two and Three. o Applicants must substantively demonstrate how best efforts are used to ensure continuation of the program following the cessation of the award. o Proposals demonstrating initial cost-sharing will be deemed more competitive. o Applicants must have previous experience hosting overseas students and an administrative support unit knowledgeable/experienced in working with appropriate Department of State/U.S. government for student visas and travel. ? The program will support the U.S. Government?s justice sector reform efforts in Afghanistan and serve to increase Afghanistan?s capability to establish a fair and transparent judicial system. ? Measurement of program success is linked to INL?s overall goals in Afghan justice sector reconstruction. Investment in human capital and justice sector institutions are critical to the sustainability of INL and U.S. Government efforts to help professionalize Afghan justice sector personnel, reconstruct the criminal justice system, and foster development of the rule of law. This program will produce a cadre of highly trained Afghan legal educators and create lasting partnerships between a U.S. law school and Afghan law schools. ? One grant will be awarded under this announcement. The maximum funding available is $2 million dollars.