Improving the Capacity of Labor and Agriculture Stakeholders to Address Child Labor in Agricultural Areas in Argentina | NOI ILAB 18 05

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOI ILAB 18 05

The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), through its Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), issued this posting as a Notice of Intent (NOI) for a future grant competition focused on reducing child labor in agricultural areas of Argentina by strengthening the ability of key actors to respond. Because it is only an NOI, it is not an active solicitation and no applications were being accepted at the time of the notice. The Department indicated that, assuming funds were available, it planned to release a formal Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) later (anticipated no later than July 2018, though the timing could change). The FOA, if published, would be posted on Grants.gov, and the agency noted it would not distribute the FOA by email or on paper.

The planned award was described as a single cooperative agreement, meaning the selected recipient would likely carry out the project with substantial involvement from USDOL/ILAB rather than operating entirely independently (as might be the case with some standard grants). The opportunity was categorized under Employment, Labor and Training (CFDA 17.401) and listed as a discretionary funding opportunity. The government expected to make one award with an anticipated maximum budget (award ceiling) of up to $2,500,000.

The central purpose of the project was to increase action by labor and agriculture stakeholders to address child labor in agricultural areas in Argentina. While the notice does not spell out specific activities or target commodities, it signals that the project is aimed at improving coordination and practical problem-solving among institutions and groups that influence agricultural labor conditions. In this context, “stakeholders” typically includes organizations such as labor unions, employer and producer associations, agricultural enterprises and cooperatives, government labor and agriculture agencies, labor inspection or enforcement bodies, and other partners who can shape workplace practices, compliance, and prevention efforts.

Two main outcomes were highlighted. First, the project sought to build a shared, common understanding of the challenges and opportunities around tackling child labor in agriculture. This implies work such as bringing actors together, improving the quality and consistency of information they use, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and developing aligned approaches so that different institutions are not working at cross-purposes. Second, the project aimed to increase the capacity of labor and agriculture stakeholders to address child labor in agriculture. Capacity-building can include training, development of tools and protocols, strengthening referral and reporting pathways, improving coordination mechanisms, and helping organizations translate awareness into sustained action in agricultural communities and supply chains.

The maximum project period was set at up to 48 months from the award’s effective date, indicating the Department envisioned a multi-year effort with enough runway to assess conditions, implement stakeholder-focused interventions, and measure improvements over time. The notice also directed interested parties to ILAB’s grants webpage and guidelines for examples and general cooperative agreement guidance, which would help potential applicants understand typical expectations and proposal components once the FOA was released. Eligibility was broadly labeled as “Others,” with the detail to be clarified in the eventual FOA, so the NOI itself did not provide definitive applicant eligibility rules beyond signaling that more specifics would come later.

• The Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving the Capacity of Labor and Agriculture Stakeholders to Address Child Labor in Agricultural Areas in Argentina" 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 May 24, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2018 NOTE This is a Notice of Intent. An announcement is not related to this notice. We are not accepting applications at this 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 $2,500,000.00 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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