Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ILAB 23 28
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) is offering a single cooperative agreement to fund a technical assistance project in Ecuador focused on improving adherence to international labor standards in agriculture, with a specific emphasis on the banana and cut flower supply chains. The opportunity is intended to respond to documented concerns about child labor in these sectors while also strengthening prevention and response efforts related to forced labor risks, broader labor rights protections, and occupational safety and health problems that can arise in agricultural work. The total funding available is approximately USD 4,740,000 in total costs, contingent on the availability of federal funds, and ILAB expects to make one award.
The project is designed to be implemented in two provinces and must cover both targeted supply chains. Applicants are required to choose one banana-producing province from El Oro, Guayas, or Los Rios, and one cut-flower-producing province from Azuay, Pichincha, or Cotopaxi. This geographic requirement makes the project intentionally concentrated rather than nationwide, with the expectation that an intensive, place-based strategy can generate more measurable improvements in labor compliance, worker awareness, and access to remedies within selected agricultural areas.
ILAB specifies that the work should use an area-based approach, meaning the project is expected to operate at the level of communities and local labor markets rather than focusing only on individual farms or single employers. In practice, this kind of approach typically involves coordinated engagement with local and national government entities, employers and producer groups, workers and worker representatives, and service providers, so that prevention, enforcement, and remediation mechanisms reinforce each other across a defined region. The overall objective is to improve real-world adherence to labor standards by strengthening the systems that prevent violations, detect them when they occur, and ensure there is a credible path to remediation.
The grant is organized around three main outcomes. Outcome 1 focuses on increasing the capacity of government officials to enforce labor laws in agriculture, specifically those connected to child labor, forced labor, occupational safety and health, and other labor rights. This signals an emphasis on practical enforcement capability, such as improving knowledge of relevant standards and procedures, strengthening inspection and case-handling practices, and enhancing coordination among institutions responsible for labor oversight and worker protection. Outcome 2 aims to increase workers' knowledge of child labor, forced labor, occupational safety and health, and other labor rights in the agricultural sector. This points to worker-facing education and empowerment so workers can recognize violations, understand protections and obligations, and more confidently seek help. Outcome 3 targets increased worker access to remediation of labor law violations, emphasizing that awareness and enforcement are not sufficient unless workers have realistic, safe, and usable channels to report abuses and obtain remedies, whether through government systems, grievance mechanisms, referrals, or other appropriate processes.
Administratively, this opportunity is categorized as a discretionary award and will be issued as a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the funding agency in the project during implementation compared with a standard grant. The funding opportunity number is FOA-ILAB-23-28, and it falls under CFDA 17.401. The opportunity was posted on July 26, 2023, with an application deadline of September 27, 2023, and applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Overall, the opportunity is structured to deliver targeted, measurable improvements in labor rights compliance and worker protections in two high-priority agricultural supply chains by combining stronger public enforcement capacity, better-informed workers, and more accessible remediation pathways.Apply for FOA ILAB 23 28
- 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 Improve Adherence to International Labor Standards in the Agricultural Sector in Ecuador" 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 26, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 27, 2023 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 $4,740,000.00 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)
What agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).
What type of award is being offered?
This is a discretionary award that will be issued as a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement typically means ILAB expects to have substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant.
What is the focus of the project?
The project is a technical assistance effort in Ecuador focused on improving adherence to international labor standards in agriculture, with a specific emphasis on the banana and cut flower supply chains.
Why are bananas and cut flowers specifically targeted?
The opportunity is intended to respond to documented concerns about child labor in these sectors, while also strengthening prevention and response efforts related to forced labor risks, broader labor rights protections, and occupational safety and health issues that can arise in agricultural work.
How much funding is available?
Total funding is approximately USD 4,740,000 in total costs, contingent on the availability of federal funds.
How many awards does ILAB expect to make?
ILAB expects to make one award.
Where must the project be implemented?
The project must be implemented in two provinces in Ecuador and must cover both targeted supply chains (bananas and cut flowers).
Which provinces are eligible for the banana-producing area?
Applicants are required to choose one banana-producing province from: El Oro, Guayas, or Los Rios.
Which provinces are eligible for the cut-flower-producing area?
Applicants are required to choose one cut-flower-producing province from: Azuay, Pichincha, or Cotopaxi.
Does the project have to be nationwide in Ecuador?
No. The geographic requirement makes the project intentionally concentrated rather than nationwide. The expectation is that an intensive, place-based strategy in selected agricultural areas can generate more measurable improvements.
What is meant by an "area-based approach" in this opportunity?
ILAB specifies that the work should use an area-based approach, meaning the project is expected to operate at the level of communities and local labor markets rather than focusing only on individual farms or single employers.
What does an area-based approach typically involve?
Based on the description in the opportunity, it typically involves coordinated engagement with local and national government entities, employers and producer groups, workers and worker representatives, and service providers, so prevention, enforcement, and remediation mechanisms reinforce each other across a defined region.
What is the overall objective of the project?
The objective is to improve real-world adherence to labor standards by strengthening systems that prevent violations, detect them when they occur, and ensure there is a credible path to remediation.
What are the main outcomes ILAB is seeking?
The opportunity is organized around three outcomes: (1) increased capacity of government officials to enforce labor laws in agriculture; (2) increased worker knowledge of child labor, forced labor, occupational safety and health, and other labor rights; and (3) increased worker access to remediation of labor law violations.
What is Outcome 1 focused on?
Outcome 1 focuses on increasing the capacity of government officials to enforce labor laws in agriculture, specifically those connected to child labor, forced labor, occupational safety and health, and other labor rights.
What kinds of improvements are implied under Outcome 1?
The opportunity signals an emphasis on practical enforcement capability, such as improving knowledge of relevant standards and procedures, strengthening inspection and case-handling practices, and enhancing coordination among institutions responsible for labor oversight and worker protection.
What is Outcome 2 focused on?
Outcome 2 aims to increase workers' knowledge of child labor, forced labor, occupational safety and health, and other labor rights in the agricultural sector.
What is the purpose of increasing worker knowledge (Outcome 2)?
The intent is worker-facing education and empowerment so workers can recognize violations, understand protections and obligations, and more confidently seek help.
What is Outcome 3 focused on?
Outcome 3 targets increased worker access to remediation of labor law violations.
Why does the opportunity emphasize remediation?
The description emphasizes that awareness and enforcement are not sufficient unless workers have realistic, safe, and usable channels to report abuses and obtain remedies, whether through government systems, grievance mechanisms, referrals, or other appropriate processes.
What labor issues are explicitly named as priorities for this project?
The opportunity explicitly highlights child labor concerns in the targeted sectors, and also emphasizes forced labor risks, broader labor rights protections, and occupational safety and health problems that can arise in agricultural work.
What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?
The funding opportunity number is FOA-ILAB-23-28.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under CFDA 17.401.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 26, 2023.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was September 27, 2023.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically.
What time zone applied to the submission deadline?
Applications were due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
Is the stated funding amount guaranteed?
No. The opportunity states the approximately USD 4,740,000 in total costs is contingent on the availability of federal funds.
What is the expected strategy behind concentrating the project in two provinces?
The opportunity explains that the project is intentionally concentrated to support an intensive, place-based strategy that can generate more measurable improvements in labor compliance, worker awareness, and access to remedies within the selected agricultural areas.
Does the project have to address both supply chains?
Yes. The project must cover both targeted supply chains and be implemented across two provinces: one selected banana-producing province and one selected cut-flower-producing province from the specified lists.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Next opportunity: Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program - Region 1
Previous opportunity: Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2024)
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