Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ILAB 22 22
The Worker Empowerment in South America grant opportunity is a U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) funding announcement for a single cooperative agreement intended to strengthen labor rights and job quality in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. ILAB set aside up to $12,000,000 in total costs (pending the availability of federal funds) to support one technical assistance project designed to improve respect for labor rights by strengthening democratic, independent workers organizations, with a clear emphasis on protecting and expanding freedom of association and collective bargaining in sectors where violations are described as systematic. The project is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the Department expects to have substantial involvement during implementation rather than operating as a hands-off funder.
The project timeline can run for up to 54 months from the award effective date, reflecting a multi-year effort focused on durable institutional change rather than short-term service delivery. The work is expected to prioritize underserved communities and intentionally integrate gender equity and racial equity considerations across strategies, activities, and results. In practice, that means applicants are expected to show how women, racial or ethnic minorities, and other marginalized worker groups in the targeted sectors will be meaningfully reached, represented, and supported, not treated as an add-on or secondary audience.
Geographically, the project spans three countries, but the sector focus differs by country. In Brazil, the project must include the platform economy (often referring to app-based or gig work) and then either agriculture or manufacturing, with the final choice between agriculture and manufacturing to be approved by USDOL after the award. In Colombia, the sectors are fixed: cut flowers and mining. In Peru, the project must include the agricultural sector and then either mining or light industry, again with final approval on the second sector coming post-award. This structure signals that ILAB wants a coherent regional approach to worker empowerment while still tailoring interventions to the labor rights risks and organizing realities in specific industries.
USDOL defines three required outcomes that proposals must be designed to achieve. The first outcome is increased capacity of democratic workers organizations to organize, mobilize, and effectively advocate for labor rights and improved job quality in the targeted sectors. This points to practical, on-the-ground strengthening of independent unions or worker associations, such as improving internal governance, leadership development, organizing skills, strategic communications, member services, negotiation capacity, and the ability to document and respond to rights violations. The second required outcome is strengthened networks among workers organizations, civil society groups, and or institutions to drive systemic improvements in labor rights and job quality. This focuses on coalition-building and coordination so that worker organizations are not isolated when pursuing reforms, enforcement improvements, supply-chain accountability, or anti-retaliation protections. The third required outcome is increased engagement of democratic workers organizations with employers, employer organizations, and or government to influence working conditions and labor market regulations in support of labor rights and better job quality. That framing emphasizes moving beyond training toward real-world influence, such as collective bargaining outcomes, improved workplace policies, stronger enforcement practices, or contributions to policy and regulatory reforms.
Applicants are allowed to propose additional outcomes, but only if they are realistic, essential to achieving the objective, and clearly justified with evidence and contextual analysis. ILAB requires applicants to cite the evidence supporting their proposed strategies, and it specifies that any additional outcomes must be distinct and not overlapping with the three mandatory outcomes. In other words, a strong application would not just restate the required outcomes in different wording, but would add a separate, well-supported result area that fills a genuine gap based on country and sector conditions.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed as FOA ILAB 22 22 under CFDA number 17.401, within a discretionary funding category, and it anticipated one award. The funding opportunity was created on August 26, 2022, with an original application deadline of October 11, 2022, and applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Eligibility is described broadly in the notice as "Others" with further clarification referenced in an eligibility information field, which typically indicates that specific applicant types are allowed but must be confirmed in the full announcement.
Overall, this opportunity is designed to produce measurable improvements in labor rights and job quality by investing in worker-led, democratic institutions and the relationships they need to negotiate, advocate, and shape labor conditions in high-risk sectors. The combination of sector targeting (including gig work and extractive or labor-intensive industries), multi-country scope, and required outcomes signals an intent to address not only individual violations but also the structural barriers that prevent workers from organizing freely and bargaining collectively.Apply for FOA ILAB 22 22
- 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 "Worker Empowerment in South America" 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 26, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 11, 2022 Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 1159 pm 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 $12,000,000.00 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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