Strengthening justice sector by improving educational system in Bosnia and Herzegovina | INL22GR0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for INL22GR0001

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), offered a discretionary grant opportunity (INL22GR0001) focused on strengthening the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina by improving how future legal professionals are trained. The core idea is to bolster the justice sector by moving legal education beyond mostly theoretical coursework and into structured, hands-on preparation that better equips graduates to work as prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges. INL positioned this effort as part of its broader role in supporting justice sector development and increasing public confidence in governing institutions, especially in a context where public trust in the judiciary is low and high-profile corruption cases are often processed ineffectively.

The grant seeks proposals that expand and formalize clinical legal education and practicum pathways in law faculties across the country. In practical terms, the program aims to strengthen existing student law practicums, create a structured post-law school practicum period, and improve student placement after graduation. A major emphasis is building a more consistent and organized experiential learning system, including internships and externships during law school as well as supervised practicum opportunities after graduation. By doing this, the project intends to create a clearer bridge between law school and professional practice, so graduates enter the justice sector with real-world skills, exposure to professional standards, and a better understanding of how institutions operate.

A key feature of the opportunity is collaboration: law faculties are expected to work closely with the legal practitioner community and justice sector institutions, along with relevant professional associations. This collaboration is meant to do more than place students in short-term internships. It is designed to help reshape how legal training is delivered, encourage practice-based learning inside and outside the classroom, and build a national network of law faculties and practitioners who can advocate for clinical education as a standard approach. Over time, this network is intended to become a nationwide community of practice that supports institutionalizing clinical education across Bosnia and Herzegovina rather than keeping it as a temporary or isolated project activity.

The opportunity also frames the project as a way to influence professional culture early, at the educational stage. INL highlights goals such as promoting integrity, professionalism, and sustained development of a new generation of legal professionals. The expectation is that creating structured, mentored practice experiences will not only improve technical competence, but also reinforce ethical norms and professional standards that are essential for a credible justice system. In that sense, the grant is not only about training students, but about strengthening the long-term capacity and legitimacy of the criminal justice sector by improving the pipeline of future practitioners.

Funding for the award was set with a ceiling of $600,000, with INL anticipating one award. The opportunity falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services category (CFDA 19.703) and uses a grant as the funding instrument. The posting listed an original closing date of January 3, 2022, and indicated eligibility as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. Overall, the grant opportunity is best understood as an effort to embed practical, experiential legal training into Bosnia and Herzegovina's law faculties, build durable partnerships between academia and the justice sector, and create a more systematic pathway from law school to competent, ethical legal practice.

• The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening justice sector by improving educational system in Bosnia and Herzegovina" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.703.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 02, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 03, 2022. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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