Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ILAB 21 12
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) announced a discretionary funding opportunity (FOA ILAB 21 12) to support a single technical assistance project aimed at improving respect for internationally recognized workers' rights in two high-risk, export-oriented contexts: agricultural supply chains in Honduras and Guatemala, and the maquila (export manufacturing/garment) sector in El Salvador. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning ILAB anticipates an active partnership role with the recipient during implementation rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The total funding available was approximately $5,000,000 (contingent on federal funds), with an expected number of awards of one, and a maximum project period of 4.5 years (54 months) from the award start date.
At its core, the opportunity is designed around a worker-centered approach that prioritizes underserved communities and explicitly integrates gender and racial equity considerations. The problem statement behind the project is that systemic violations of workers' rights persist in these sectors and countries, particularly where supply chains are export-driven and workers may face barriers to organizing, reporting abuses, or accessing effective representation. The project is meant to respond to those structural issues by strengthening workers' ability to act collectively, improving the capacity and effectiveness of worker organizations, and increasing meaningful engagement between workers, employers, and government actors to prevent and resolve labor rights violations.
ILAB laid out three main outcomes the funded project is expected to achieve. First, the project should increase collective action among agricultural and maquila workers to exercise their rights, with particular emphasis on workers from underserved communities and those not yet affiliated with unions. Second, it should improve the effectiveness of worker organizations so they can better train workers, represent them, and advocate for improvements in wages, working conditions, and job security. Third, it should strengthen the ability of workers and worker organizations to engage effectively with employers and government officials in order to negotiate, address, and resolve workers' rights concerns through more structured dialogue and problem-solving processes.
The opportunity identifies the main groups the project should work with. One key target is workers themselves in agriculture and maquila work, especially workers who are currently outside formal organizing structures and those who face additional exclusion or vulnerability. ILAB specifically highlights underserved populations such as Afro-descendant and Garifuna communities, rural workers, non-Spanish-speaking or indigenous populations, and women. Another target group is workers' organizations, including unions and other bodies that currently represent or seek to represent workers in the relevant agricultural supply chains in Honduras and Guatemala and in the maquila sector in El Salvador. A third group includes private-sector and public-sector representatives and institutions that employ, rely on, regulate, or otherwise interact with these workers, since sustainable improvements in labor rights conditions typically require changes in employer practices, enforcement, and dispute-resolution mechanisms.
A notable implementation feature is the emphasis on strengthening information and knowledge management. To the extent possible, the project is expected to build the capacity of worker organizations and other stakeholders to gather, collect, analyze, store, share, and use data. In practical terms, this points toward systems that can document labor conditions and rights violations, track cases and trends, support evidence-based advocacy, and improve accountability. Better data practices are framed as a way to help workers defend their rights more effectively, engage in dialogue with decision-makers, and press responsible parties to remedy problems.
Administratively, the opportunity was published by ILAB under CFDA 17.401, with a creation date of August 12, 2021. The original application closing date was September 30, 2021, with applications due by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The eligible applicant category is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. Overall, the grant is best understood as a sizable, multi-country labor rights and empowerment initiative focused on building durable worker power and institutional capacity in sectors where export competitiveness and weak labor protections have often intersected to create persistent rights violations.Apply for FOA ILAB 21 12
- 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 "Improving Respect for Workers' Rights in Agricultural Supply Chains in Honduras and Guatemala, and the Maquila Sector in El Salvador" 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 Aug 12, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2021 The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is September 30, 2021. Applications must be received no later than 40000 p.m. Eastern Time.. (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 $5,000,000.00 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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