Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ILAB 21 11
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) announced a discretionary funding opportunity to support a multi-country technical assistance project in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras focused on reducing child labor, forced labor, and other unacceptable conditions of work. The award is planned as a cooperative agreement, meaning ILAB expects to remain actively engaged with the recipient during implementation rather than simply providing funds and monitoring from a distance. ILAB anticipates making one award with an estimated ceiling of up to $7,000,000 in total costs, contingent on the availability of federal funding.
The central goal of the project is to increase collective action in all three countries so that local actors are better positioned to prevent, identify, and respond to labor rights violations. The approach is described as area-based and holistic, which signals that activities are expected to concentrate in specific geographic areas where violations are most prevalent while also addressing the interconnected drivers of exploitation. Rather than focusing narrowly on a single issue or sector, the project is intended to tackle a range of labor rights concerns, including child labor, forced labor, and broader unacceptable working conditions, in a coordinated way that reflects local realities.
A defining feature of this opportunity is its explicit emphasis on inclusion and equity. The project is expected to prioritize people of African descent, Garifuna communities, and indigenous populations, and to incorporate actions that advance gender equity and racial equity. In practice, that means the work should not only address labor exploitation itself, but also confront the discrimination and unequal power dynamics that often increase vulnerability to exploitation, especially for women and historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups.
ILAB outlines two required outcomes that shape the project design. Outcome 1 is increased resiliency of civil society organizations (CSOs) and workers' organizations, pointing to capacity-building so these groups can sustain advocacy, services, organizing, and monitoring over time. Outcome 2 is an improved enabling environment for CSOs and workers' organizations, which implies work on the broader conditions that allow these organizations to operate effectively and safely, such as better coordination, stronger relationships with authorities and employers, and improved frameworks or practices that support labor rights and civic participation.
The project is expected to work directly with two core sets of partners: (1) civil society organizations addressing labor exploitation, including challenges tied to gender and racial discrimination, and (2) workers' organizations representing the collective interests of formal and/or informal workers, with particular attention to the needs of vulnerable workers. This includes women, people of African descent, Garifuna communities, and indigenous groups. The design also anticipates engagement beyond these organizations by collaborating with national and local government authorities, the private sector, and community stakeholders, aiming to build coalitions and shared responsibility for labor rights compliance and prevention of exploitation.
The grant emphasizes strengthening the capacity of workers' organizations and CSOs to address child labor alongside other violations of acceptable working conditions, specifically through efforts that build their ability to advance gender and racial equity. This framing suggests that activities should develop durable skills, systems, and networks that help these organizations advocate for rights, identify abuses, support affected workers and families, and influence policies and practices that shape workplace conditions and enforcement.
Strategically, the opportunity is positioned to support broader U.S. policy priorities in Central America. The project is intended to align with the U.S. Central America Strategy and relevant Biden Administration executive actions on Central America and racial equity, and it is also described as consistent with the UN Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024). Finally, the project period can last up to 4.5 years (54 months) from the award's effective date, giving the recipient time to build partnerships, implement interventions, and demonstrate measurable improvements in organizational resilience and the enabling environment for collective action.Apply for FOA ILAB 21 11
- The Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Project to Increase Collective Action to Address Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Other Unacceptable Conditions of Work in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 17.401.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 29, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 27, 2021. (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 $7,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What agency is offering this grant opportunity?
This discretionary funding opportunity is announced by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).
2) What type of funding instrument will be used?
The award is planned as a cooperative agreement. This means ILAB expects to remain actively engaged with the recipient during implementation, rather than only providing funds and monitoring from a distance.
3) How many awards does ILAB expect to make?
ILAB anticipates making one award.
4) What is the maximum funding amount?
The estimated funding ceiling is up to $7,000,000 in total costs, contingent on the availability of federal funding.
5) Which countries are included in the project?
The project is multi-country and will take place in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
6) What is the main goal of the project?
The central goal is to increase collective action in all three countries so that local actors are better positioned to prevent, identify, and respond to labor rights violations.
7) What labor issues is the project expected to address?
The project focuses on reducing child labor, forced labor, and other unacceptable conditions of work. It is intended to tackle a range of labor rights concerns in a coordinated way rather than focusing narrowly on a single issue or sector.
8) What does "area-based and holistic" mean in this opportunity?
The approach is described as area-based and holistic, signaling that activities are expected to concentrate in specific geographic areas where violations are most prevalent while also addressing interconnected drivers of exploitation.
9) What populations must be prioritized?
The project is expected to prioritize people of African descent, Garifuna communities, and indigenous populations.
10) What is expected regarding gender equity and racial equity?
The project must incorporate actions that advance gender equity and racial equity. This includes addressing discrimination and unequal power dynamics that can increase vulnerability to exploitation, especially for women and historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups.
11) What are the required outcomes for the project?
ILAB identifies two required outcomes: (1) increased resiliency of civil society organizations (CSOs) and workers' organizations, and (2) an improved enabling environment for CSOs and workers' organizations.
12) What does Outcome 1 (increased resiliency) involve?
Outcome 1 points to capacity-building so CSOs and workers' organizations can sustain advocacy, services, organizing, and monitoring over time.
13) What does Outcome 2 (improved enabling environment) involve?
Outcome 2 implies work on the broader conditions that allow CSOs and workers' organizations to operate effectively and safely, such as better coordination, stronger relationships with authorities and employers, and improved frameworks or practices that support labor rights and civic participation.
14) Who are the core partners the project is expected to work with directly?
The project is expected to work directly with two core sets of partners: (1) civil society organizations addressing labor exploitation (including challenges tied to gender and racial discrimination) and (2) workers' organizations representing the collective interests of formal and/or informal workers, with particular attention to vulnerable workers.
15) Which workers are specifically highlighted as needing particular attention?
The opportunity specifically highlights women, people of African descent, Garifuna communities, and indigenous groups as populations whose needs should receive particular attention.
16) Is the project expected to engage beyond CSOs and workers' organizations?
Yes. The design anticipates engagement beyond these organizations by collaborating with national and local government authorities, the private sector, and community stakeholders to build coalitions and shared responsibility for labor rights compliance and prevention of exploitation.
17) What kinds of capacity strengthening does the grant emphasize?
The grant emphasizes strengthening the capacity of workers' organizations and CSOs to address child labor alongside other violations of acceptable working conditions, specifically through efforts that build their ability to advance gender and racial equity.
18) Does the opportunity require focusing only on child labor?
No. Child labor is a core focus, but the project is intended to address child labor alongside forced labor and other unacceptable conditions of work, using a coordinated approach.
19) What is meant by "collective action" in this context?
Based on the description, collective action refers to local actors working together (including CSOs, workers' organizations, and broader stakeholders) to prevent, identify, and respond to labor rights violations, including through coalitions, coordination, and shared responsibility.
20) How does this opportunity connect to broader U.S. policy priorities?
The project is intended to align with the U.S. Central America Strategy and relevant Biden Administration executive actions on Central America and racial equity.
21) Is this opportunity connected to international frameworks?
Yes. It is described as consistent with the UN Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024).
22) What is the maximum project period?
The project period can last up to 4.5 years (54 months) from the award's effective date.
23) Why is the multi-year period important for this project design?
The timeframe is intended to give the recipient time to build partnerships, implement interventions, and demonstrate measurable improvements in organizational resilience and the enabling environment for collective action.
24) What does it mean that funding is "contingent on the availability of federal funding"?
It means the planned award and the funding level (up to the stated ceiling) depend on whether federal funds are available.
25) What does "total costs" refer to in the stated funding ceiling?
The opportunity states an estimated ceiling of up to $7,000,000 in total costs. The text does not break down cost categories, but it indicates the ceiling covers the overall project costs up to that amount.
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