Latin America Regional Program | F19AS00097

Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00097

The Latin America Regional Program is a discretionary grant and cooperative agreement opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), offered through its International Affairs Program. It is designed to support strategic, results-focused conservation projects that deliver measurable benefits for priority wildlife species and their habitats across Latin America, a region recognized as the most biologically diverse in the world and a cornerstone for hemisphere-wide and global biodiversity conservation. The program also frames conservation outcomes as important not only for nature, but for broader regional stability, security, and long-term economic prosperity.

The core purpose of this funding opportunity is to reduce major threats to key wildlife populations in Latin America, particularly those driven by wildlife trafficking, unsustainable resource use, and human-wildlife conflict. USFWS is looking for proposals that move beyond general research or awareness raising and instead lay out clear, specific conservation actions with a strong likelihood of producing lasting, on-the-ground improvements. Projects that include data collection or species status assessments are allowed, but only if the applicant clearly explains how the information will directly enable or improve management decisions and why missing information has historically prevented effective management. Applications that fail to show how the proposed actions will reduce threats, or that treat data collection as an end in itself without a firm connection to management action, are expected to be rejected.

A key program requirement is that all proposals must have government endorsement, reflecting USFWSs emphasis on alignment with national priorities and coordination with relevant authorities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the appropriate government agencies before developing and submitting an application. USFWS also emphasizes partnership-driven implementation, noting that it works closely with national governments, other U.S. agencies, civil society organizations, and additional partners to ensure conservation is pursued with a results-based approach.

Project activities are expected to take place in Latin America. Work conducted in the United States can be included only if the proposal makes a clear case that the U.S.-based activities will directly and meaningfully improve biodiversity conservation outcomes in Latin America. The program allows proposals to address more than one geographic area or programmatic priority, as long as the project remains focused and demonstrates credible pathways to measurable conservation results.

For this particular fiscal year, USFWS indicates priority consideration for proposals tackling wildlife trafficking where illegal trade is becoming a primary threat to survival for certain groups of species. Examples specifically highlighted include (but are not limited to) large felids, parrots, primates, frogs, lizards, sea cucumbers, and totoaba. At the same time, the program explicitly excludes some topics because they are covered by other USFWS grant programs. The Latin America Regional Program will not fund projects related to marine turtles, neotropical migratory birds, or projects based in or focused on the Caribbean region.

In terms of basic funding and administrative details, this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00097; CFDA 15.640) was posted on February 11, 2019, with applications due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on April 12, 2019. Proposals were accepted in English or Spanish, and late submissions were not accepted. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions in those categories). The anticipated maximum award amount is $100,000, with an expected total of 17 awards, supporting a portfolio of targeted conservation projects across the region.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Latin America Regional Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.640.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 11, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 12, 2019 SUBMISSION DEADLINE Open from February 11, 2019, through 2359 PM ET April 12, 2019. Proposals must be submitted in English or Spanish. Late applications will not be accepted.. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 17 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for F19AS00097

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