---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 4211"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "4211"
heading: "Provision of assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/4211"
units:
  - "Chapter 62 — African Elephant Conservation"
  - "Subchapter I — African Elephant Conservation Assistance"
---

# §4211. Provision of assistance

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/4244.md?p=11) may provide financial assistance under this subchapter from the [Fund](/usc/16/4244.md?p=4) for approved [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for research, conservation, management, or protection of [African elephants](/usc/16/4244.md?p=1).
- (b) **Project proposal—** Any African government agency responsible for [African elephant](/usc/16/4244.md?p=1) conservation and protection, the [CITES](/usc/16/4244.md?p=2) Secretariat, and any organization or individual with experience in [African elephant](/usc/16/4244.md?p=1) conservation may submit to the [Secretary](/usc/16/4244.md?p=11) a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal under this section. Each such proposal shall contain—
  - (1) the name of the [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) responsible for conducting the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
  - (2) a succinct statement of the need for and purposes of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
  - (3) a description of the qualifications of the individuals who will be conducting the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
  - (4) an estimate of the [funds](/usc/16/4244.md?p=4) and time required to complete the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
  - (5) evidence of support of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) by governmental entities of countries within which the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) will be conducted, if such support may be important for the success of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); and
  - (6) any other information the [Secretary](/usc/16/4244.md?p=11) considers to be necessary or appropriate for evaluating the eligibility of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for funding under this chapter.
- (c) **Project review and approval—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/4244.md?p=11) shall review each [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal to determine if it meets the criteria set forth in [subsection (d)](#d) and otherwise merits assistance under this chapter. Not later than six months after receiving a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal, and subject to the availability of [funds](/usc/16/4244.md?p=4), the [Secretary](/usc/16/4244.md?p=11) shall approve or disapprove the proposal and provide written notification to the [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who submitted the proposal.
- (d) **Criteria for approval—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/4244.md?p=11) may approve a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) under this section if the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) will enhance programs for [African elephant](/usc/16/4244.md?p=1) research, conservation, management, or protection by—
  - (1) developing in a usable form sound scientific information on [African elephant](/usc/16/4244.md?p=1) habitat condition and carrying capacity, total elephant numbers and population trends, or annual reproduction and mortality; or
  - (2) assisting efforts—
    - (A) to ensure that any [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) of [African elephants](/usc/16/4244.md?p=1) in the country is effectively controlled and monitored;
    - (B) to implement conservation programs to provide for healthy, sustainable [African elephant](/usc/16/4244.md?p=1) populations; or
    - (C) to enhance compliance with the [CITES Ivory Control System](/usc/16/4244.md?p=3).
- (e) **Project sustainability—** To the maximum extent practical, in determining whether to approve [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposals under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/4244.md?p=11) shall give consideration to [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) that will enhance sustainable conservation programs to ensure effective long-term conservation of [African elephants](/usc/16/4244.md?p=1).
- (f) **Project reporting—** Each entity that receives assistance under this section shall provide such periodic reports to the Director of the [United States](/usc/16/4244.md?p=12) [Fish and Wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) Service as the Director considers relevant and appropriate. Each report shall include all information requested by the Director for evaluating the progress and success of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
- (g) **Multiyear grants—**
  - (1) **Authorization—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/4244.md?p=11) may award to a [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) that the [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) demonstrates is an effective, long-term conservation strategy for [African elephants](/usc/16/4244.md?p=1) and the habitat of [African elephants](/usc/16/4244.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Effect—** Nothing in this subsection precludes the [Secretary](/usc/16/4244.md?p=11) from awarding a grant on an annual basis.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–478, title II, § 2101, Oct. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 2316; Pub. L. 107–111, §§ 5, 6(a)(1), Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 2096; Pub. L. 110–132, § 2(a), Dec. 6, 2007, 121 Stat. 1360; Pub. L. 118–159, div. E, title LIII, § 5303(a), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2445.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2024—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 118–159 added subsec. (g).

2007—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–132, struck out “and to each country within which the project is proposed to be conducted” before period at end in second sentence.

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–111, § 6(a)(1), struck out “African Elephant Conservation” before “Fund”.

Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 107–111, § 5, added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).