1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Act of 2018 . 2. Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (a) Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (1) Establishment The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall establish a partnership, to be known as the Trans-Sahara Coun­ter­ter­ror­ism Partnership (TSCTP), to coordinate all United States programs, projects, and activities in the Sahel, Maghreb, and adjacent regions of Africa that are conducted for any of the following purposes: (A) To build the capacity of foreign military and law enforcement entities in such regions to conduct counterterrorism operations. (B) To improve the ability of foreign military and law enforcement entities in such regions to cooperate on counterterrorism efforts. (C) To enhance the border security capacity of partner countries in such regions, including the ability to monitor, restrain, and interdict terrorist movements. (D) To strengthen the rule of law in such countries, including access to justice, and the ability of the law enforcement entities of such partner countries to detect, disrupt, respond to, investigate, and prosecute terrorist activity. (E) To monitor and counter the financing of terrorism. (F) To further reduce any opportunities among communities in such regions for recruitment or incitement for terrorist activities through public diplomacy efforts, such as supporting youth employment, promoting meaningful participation of women, strengthening local governance and civil society capacity, and improving access to education. (2) Consultation In coordinating programs through the TSCTP, the Secretary of State may also consult, as appropriate, with the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies. (3) Congressional notification Not later than 15 days before obligating