Partnership to Partnership to Advance Research and Scientific Evidence (PARSE) | DFOP0016713

PARSE Grant Opportunity FAQs

What is the PARSE grant opportunity?

The Partnership to Advance Research and Scientific Evidence (PARSE) is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It focuses on strengthening the evidence base behind efforts to counter crime, illegal drugs, and broader instability in partner countries abroad by producing rigorous, practical research and synthesis that can inform real-world rule of law and civilian security strategies.

What is the main purpose of PARSE?

The purpose is to fund a single organization to help INL and the wider rule of law field understand what interventions work best, under what conditions, and why. PARSE is designed to generate methodologically rigorous evidence products that directly support decision-making for criminal justice and civilian security programs across diverse international contexts.

Is PARSE intended to fund advocacy or general programming?

No. PARSE is explicitly oriented toward research and evidence generation/synthesis rather than advocacy or general program implementation. The intent is to produce scientifically substantiated research products that can directly inform strategies, program design, and resource allocation.

How many awards does INL expect to make?

INL anticipates making one award.

What type of award is PARSE?

PARSE is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement. This indicates INL expects substantial involvement during implementation rather than a hands-off relationship.

What does a cooperative agreement imply for the selected organization?

The selected organization should be prepared for close coordination with INL throughout the project, including regular check-ins such as weekly or bi-weekly meetings. Research priorities, products, and dissemination approaches are expected to be shaped iteratively with INL input to stay aligned with operational needs and real-time policy questions.

Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?

The opportunity is open to nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status that are not institutions of higher education.

Which U.S. government bureau is sponsoring PARSE?

PARSE is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for PARSE?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0016713.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 19.703.

How much funding is available?

INL listed an award ceiling of $2,887,000 for this opportunity.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on June 21, 2024.

What was the original application closing date?

The original application closing date was August 19, 2024.

What are the two main deliverables expected under PARSE?

PARSE is structured around two major deliverables: (1) identifying and defining priority research themes, areas, or questions that matter most to practitioners and policymakers; and (2) producing research outputs, specifically a combination of synthesis reports and novel studies.

What does "priority-setting" mean in the context of this grant?

Priority-setting refers to the requirement to identify and define the most important research themes and questions for law enforcement, justice sector reform, and related rule of law challenges. The aim is to focus limited research resources on high-value evidence gaps that affect how decision makers choose, adapt, and implement interventions across countries.

What types of research outputs are expected?

The expected outputs include both synthesis reports and novel studies. Synthesis reports typically pull together and assess existing evidence across multiple studies, while novel studies generate new, original research findings.

Why does PARSE require both synthesis reports and novel studies?

Based on the description, the combination is intended to both (a) consolidate and assess what is already known across existing research and (b) fill critical evidence gaps with new findings, ultimately expanding the practical evidence base for sustainable and effective criminal justice systems and improved civilian security.

Who are the intended audiences for PARSE research products?

The target audiences include law enforcement and justice sector officials and other decision makers and practitioners involved in policy formulation, program design, and strategic, operational, project, and tactical implementation.

How important is usability and non-academic communication in PARSE?

Usability is a defining expectation. Applicants are expected to demonstrate they can translate findings into clear, concrete, and compelling products that are understandable and actionable for non-scholarly rule of law stakeholders, not just academic audiences.

What does INL mean by "contextually diverse" research?

INL is looking for research framed so lessons can be extrapolated or adapted across multiple countries or settings, rather than outputs that are so narrow they only apply in one place. The goal is to help partners understand not only whether something worked in a single case, but what factors affected success, what implementation conditions matter, and how approaches can be tailored.

Does PARSE focus on domestic U.S. criminal justice issues?

The opportunity is described as focused on partner countries abroad and on international, cross-context learning relevant to U.S. partners and broader rule of law and civilian security efforts in diverse international settings.

How is PARSE meant to influence real-world programming?

PARSE is positioned as a research-to-practice partnership vehicle. The intent is for outputs to directly inform how programs are designed, how resources are allocated, and how interventions are implemented on the ground in rule of law and civilian security contexts.

What kinds of subject matter does PARSE support?

The grant is tied to efforts to counter crime, illegal drugs, and broader instability, with an emphasis on law enforcement, justice sector reform, criminal justice systems, civilian security, and related rule of law challenges.