PROJECT UPDATE
Project Overview
This initiative supported Paraguay’s Ministry of the Interior with strengthening capabilities against organized crime.
Project Profile
The Technical Assistance Partnership—Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM) and Shanae Smith, a Canadian expert in investigative techniques and criminal intelligence, collaborated with the Ministry of Interior in Paraguay to provide technical assistance to enhance the Ministry’s criminal intelligence team’s capabilities. Support was delivered through training, mentoring, and coaching on best practices, strategies, tools, and techniques of criminal investigation and intelligence to combat organized crime, gangs, and the trafficking of arms, drugs, and humans.
The initiative also aimed to strengthen the team’s ability to produce intelligence reports and strategic recommendations to reduce crime.
Shanae reviewed key documentation on investigation techniques to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. She led a workshop in Asunción for the Ministry’s criminal intelligence team to share best practices from Canada and internationally and provided ongoing virtual support and coaching during implementation.
Key Deliverables
- Capacity Support and Training
- Delivered five days of in-person training
- Conducted five half-day virtual training sessions
- Technical Support and Knowledge Products
- Developed a needs assessment report to identify technical requirements
Project Outcomes and Lessons Learned
The initiative strengthened the Ministry of Interior’s capacity to produce intelligence reports and strategic recommendations to combat organized crime and drug trafficking in Paraguay.
A key lesson learned is the value of adaptability in technical assistance. By aligning training and tools with identified needs, the project ensured immediate relevance for analysts and supported sustainable capacity building. This flexible approach helped maintain momentum and achieve practical outcomes that continue to support the Ministry’s objectives.
Direct Project Reach:
- 32 participants engaged through activities conducted and project deliverables
Public Engagement (Canada):
- No data available for Canadian Public Engagement
Public Engagement Activities:
- Canadian expert Shanae Smith:
- Participated in the TAP-EDM 4th Knowledge Harvest and Closing Event in Montreal
- Published the article A Canadian Contribution to Intelligence Training in Paraguay
