US Department of Labor announces $7.7 million multi-country grant competition to reduce the worst forms of child labor

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $7.7 million competitive solicitation for a cooperative agreement to support a reduction of the worst forms of child labor by building local and national capacity of governments in at least 10 countries.

Despite global progress in addressing the worst forms of child labor, it is estimated that more than 215 million children around the world still work, with more than half of them engaged in hazardous work. This project will advance ILAB's ongoing effort to combat child labor through capacity building activities that support: (1) development, improvement and adoption of national legislation addressing child labor issues, including compliance with international standards; (2) improved monitoring and enforcement of policies and laws related to child labor; (3) adoption of improved national plans of action on child labor; and (4) enhanced implementation of policies and programs to reduce and prevent the worst forms of child labor, including programs to increase access to basic education, vocational training, social protection services and poverty reduction initiatives.

Eligible applicants must propose to work with host governments to implement actions in countries that have expressed an interest in receiving support to reduce child labor. Applicants must propose specific activities to build capacity in Bangladesh, Paraguay, the Philippines, Suriname and Uganda to combat child labor. Applicants must also describe their capacity to implement similar activities in five additional countries to be selected by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs.

Applications must be submitted by Aug. 2, 2013, at 5 p.m. EDT electronically via http://www.grants.gov or as hard copy to the U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S-4307, Washington, D.C. 20210, Attention: Brenda White.

All cooperative agreement awards will be made by Sept. 30, 2013. The solicitation for cooperative agreement applications (SCA 13-12) is available online at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/grants/ and http://www.grants.gov.