Sin Rutas, Sin Recursos: Hitting Criminal Networks Where It Hurts | OFOP0003648

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the "Sin Rutas, Sin Recursos: Hitting Criminal Networks Where It Hurts" grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant competition from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Colombia (Embassy Bogota). The opportunity supports investigative journalism that documents, with concrete and human-centered evidence, how declines in illegal migration disrupt the business model and revenue streams of criminal networks that exploit migrants.

2) What is the main goal of the project?

The core objective is to produce public-facing media that shows how organized criminal groups have profited from migrant movement through Colombia, how that money translates into violence and intimidation, and what changes can be observed when irregular transit drops. The work is intended to make an evidence-based case that reducing illegal migration reduces financing to organized criminal and narcoterrorist groups and improves safety for Colombian communities.

3) What kinds of criminal networks does the opportunity specifically mention?

The description explicitly references groups such as Clan del Golfo and Tren de Aragua as examples of criminal networks that have profited from migrant movement and associated extortion or "toll" payments.

4) What type of content is expected as the final output?

The expected output is investigative journalism designed for broad public dissemination across social media and traditional media outlets. The content should combine on-the-ground testimony, data-driven evidence, and strong visual storytelling so it can travel widely and be understood by broad audiences.

5) Does the opportunity prioritize any particular storytelling approach?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes compelling visual approaches and strong visual storytelling, paired with verifiable facts and data. The goal is not only narrative impact, but also credibility and clarity in showing scale, money flows, and cause-and-effect relationships.

6) Are there suggested formats for the investigative journalism?

Yes. The opportunity suggests formats such as an investigative documentary mini-series and high-impact visual journalism or photojournalism. One example described is a mini-series tracing how extortion payments funded violence against communities and security forces. Another example is visual journalism documenting environmental damage and, where relevant, ecological recovery in border or transit zones as illegal movement declines.

7) Who should be centered in the reporting?

The project is designed to center the experiences of people and communities directly affected by illicit migration-related economies. The description highlights migrants who have been extorted, families and local residents living along trafficking corridors, community leaders, and others who can credibly describe harms tied to migrant "toll" payments and criminal control.

8) What kinds of evidence should accompany the human stories?

Narratives are expected to be backed by verifiable facts, including hard data and clear visual graphics. The purpose is to help audiences understand scale, money flows, and cause-and-effect relationships, rather than relying solely on anecdotal accounts.

9) What does the opportunity mean by showing impacts "in concrete and human terms"?

It means connecting real, on-the-ground testimony from affected people and communities with credible supporting evidence (including data and visuals) to demonstrate how criminal exploitation works and how conditions change when irregular migration declines.

10) Is coordination with government entities expected?

Yes. A notable feature of the opportunity is an expectation of coordination with Colombian authorities and relevant U.S. agencies. The program is framed as supporting shared U.S.-Colombia security goals and broader U.S. foreign policy priorities.

11) What is the communications purpose beyond exposing abuses?

Beyond exposing abuse and criminality, the communications purpose is to demonstrate measurable disruption to criminal networks when illegal routes lose volume and profitability. The work is intended to show, with evidence, that reduced illegal migration reduces financing streams to organized criminal and narcoterrorist groups and improves safety and conditions for Colombian communities.

12) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted. That means the competition is open rather than limited to a narrow category of applicants.

13) What kind of applicant does the opportunity envision?

The opportunity envisions an investigative journalist or a media production firm capable of reporting in challenging environments, collecting credible testimony safely, assembling and analyzing supporting data, and delivering polished multimedia products suitable for broad dissemination.

14) How many awards does the agency expect to make?

The agency expects to make up to 10 awards.

15) What is the maximum funding amount per award?

The award ceiling is $50,000 per award.

16) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is OFOP0003648.

17) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040.

18) What is the application deadline?

The original closing date for applications is 2026-08-31.

19) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2026-08-19.

20) What geographic focus does the reporting imply?

The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Mission to Colombia and focuses on migrant movement through Colombia, including communities along trafficking corridors and border or transit zones where illegal movement and related criminal activity have had impacts.

21) What kinds of impacts should the reporting document?

The opportunity highlights documenting: (a) how criminal networks profit from migrant movement, (b) how those revenues translate into violence and intimidation, and (c) what changes are visible when irregular transit drops. It also encourages documentation of environmental damage and potential ecological recovery where relevant.

22) Is this a discretionary or formula grant?

This is described as a discretionary grant competition.

23) What makes the output "widely travelable" according to the description?

The opportunity emphasizes public-facing media designed for broad dissemination across social media and traditional outlets, using a mix of on-the-ground testimony, data-driven evidence, and strong visual storytelling to reach large audiences.

24) What is the expected relationship between migration trends and criminal financing that the project should demonstrate?

The project is intended to make an evidence-based argument that declines in illegal migration reduce financing streams to organized criminal and narcoterrorist groups by disrupting the profitability of illicit routes, with observable improvements in safety and conditions for Colombian communities.