Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ILAB 22 99
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) offered a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Worker Engagement, Empowerment, and Trust in the Dominican Sugar Sector" (Funding Opportunity Number FOA ILAB 22 99). Through a single cooperative agreement, ILAB planned to invest up to $3,000,000 in total project costs (contingent on available federal funds) to support one technical assistance project. The overall goal of the project was to increase the extent to which sugarcane field workers in the Dominican Republic, along with their families, use both formal and informal mechanisms to improve their working and living conditions. In practical terms, the grant focused on helping workers access and trust the systems that can address workplace and community concerns, such as grievance pathways, outreach and service referral channels, social dialogue processes, and remediation approaches that can resolve complaints and persistent problems.
The project timeline was designed for a substantial, multi-year effort, with a maximum period of performance of 54 months from the award effective date. ILAB emphasized that the work should go beyond short-term awareness raising and instead build lasting relationships and functional pathways that workers can continue to use. A central strategy was to build stronger connections between sugarcane field workers and civil society organizations, recognizing that underdeveloped support networks often leave workers isolated and less able to seek help or advocate for improvements. At the same time, the project was expected to help other key institutions in the sector, including unions, relevant government ministries, and sugar companies, improve how they engage field workers and involve them in efforts to address working and living conditions.
The opportunity was framed around persistent barriers that limit workers' ability to realize their labor rights and improve daily conditions. ILAB identified common constraints such as weak or fragmented support networks, gaps in knowledge about rights and available services, and communication barriers that prevent workers and their families from navigating complaint systems or participating in dialogue processes. The proposed technical assistance was therefore expected to incorporate tools like targeted outreach, facilitation of worker-advocate linkages, strengthened referral and support services, and practical remediation approaches that can respond to specific concerns about conditions in the workplace and in worker communities. The emphasis on "trust" signals that the project was not only about creating or publicizing mechanisms, but also about making them credible and usable from the worker perspective, which often requires consistent follow-through, confidentiality where appropriate, culturally and linguistically accessible communication, and demonstrated results.
ILAB required that the project be designed to achieve at least two outcomes that are jointly considered necessary and sufficient to meet the project objective and contribute meaningfully to longer-term impacts. Two highlighted outcomes were: first, strengthened networks among workers, their communities, and civil society advocates that foster trust and participation in mechanisms for improving working and living conditions; and second, increased availability of local resources and capacity to use those mechanisms in the Dominican sugar sector. Taken together, these outcomes point to a model where workers have both the relationships and the practical local support needed to raise issues, seek help, and participate in solutions, while sector institutions improve their ability to engage workers and respond effectively.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was issued by ILAB under CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 17.401, with electronic applications due by October 11, 2022, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Only one award was anticipated, with an award ceiling of $3,000,000, meaning applicants were competing to implement a single flagship project intended to influence worker engagement and problem-solving capacity across the Dominican sugarcane field labor context.Apply for FOA ILAB 22 99
- 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 "Strengthening Worker Engagement, Empowerment, and Trust in the Dominican Sugar Sector" 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 Sep 01, 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 $3,000,000.00 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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FAQs: Strengthening Worker Engagement, Empowerment, and Trust in the Dominican Sugar Sector (FOA ILAB 22 99)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The discretionary funding opportunity is titled "Strengthening Worker Engagement, Empowerment, and Trust in the Dominican Sugar Sector".
What agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FOA ILAB 22 99.
What type of award was expected?
ILAB planned to make a single cooperative agreement to support one technical assistance project.
How many awards were anticipated?
Only one award was anticipated, meaning applicants were competing to implement a single flagship project.
What is the maximum funding amount available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling was up to $3,000,000 in total project costs, contingent on the availability of federal funds.
What is the Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) number?
The opportunity was issued under CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 17.401.
When were applications due?
Electronic applications were due by October 11, 2022, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
What is the maximum period of performance?
The maximum period of performance was 54 months from the award effective date.
Where is the project intended to take place?
The project focus is the Dominican Republic, specifically within the Dominican sugar sector and the context of sugarcane field labor.
Who is the primary target population?
The primary target population is sugarcane field workers in the Dominican Republic, along with their families.
What is the overall goal of the project?
The overall goal was to increase the extent to which sugarcane field workers and their families use formal and informal mechanisms to improve their working and living conditions.
What kinds of mechanisms was the project meant to strengthen or increase use of?
The opportunity emphasized mechanisms that can address workplace and community concerns, including:
- Grievance pathways
- Outreach and service referral channels
- Social dialogue processes
- Remediation approaches to resolve complaints and persistent problems
What does ILAB mean by emphasizing "trust" in this project?
The emphasis on "trust" indicates the project was not only about creating or publicizing mechanisms, but about making them credible and usable from the worker perspective. The description highlights needs such as consistent follow-through, confidentiality where appropriate, culturally and linguistically accessible communication, and demonstrated results that show the mechanisms actually work.
Was the project intended to be short-term awareness raising?
No. ILAB emphasized that the work should go beyond short-term awareness raising and instead build lasting relationships and functional pathways that workers can continue to use over time.
What central strategy did ILAB highlight for strengthening worker engagement?
A central strategy was to build stronger connections between sugarcane field workers and civil society organizations, based on the idea that underdeveloped support networks can leave workers isolated and less able to seek help or advocate for improvements.
Which other institutions in the sector were expected to improve their engagement with workers?
The project was expected to help other key institutions improve how they engage field workers and involve them in efforts to address working and living conditions, including:
- Unions
- Relevant government ministries
- Sugar companies
What barriers to improved labor rights and daily conditions did ILAB identify?
ILAB described persistent constraints that limit workers' ability to realize their labor rights and improve daily conditions, such as:
- Weak or fragmented support networks
- Gaps in knowledge about rights and available services
- Communication barriers that prevent workers and families from navigating complaint systems or participating in dialogue
What kinds of technical assistance tools or approaches were expected under the project?
The opportunity indicated that the technical assistance was expected to incorporate practical tools and approaches such as:
- Targeted outreach
- Facilitation of worker-advocate linkages
- Strengthened referral and support services
- Practical remediation approaches that can respond to concerns in workplaces and worker communities
What were the required outcomes for the project design?
ILAB required that the project be designed to achieve at least two outcomes that are jointly considered necessary and sufficient to meet the project objective and contribute meaningfully to longer-term impacts.
What specific outcomes did ILAB highlight?
Two highlighted outcomes were:
- Strengthened networks among workers, their communities, and civil society advocates that foster trust and participation in mechanisms for improving working and living conditions.
- Increased availability of local resources and capacity to use those mechanisms in the Dominican sugar sector.
How do the highlighted outcomes fit together in ILAB's model?
Together, the outcomes point to a model where workers have both:
- The relationships and networks needed to raise issues and engage advocates, and
- The practical local support and capacity to use grievance, referral, dialogue, and remediation mechanisms
At the same time, sector institutions are expected to improve their ability to engage workers and respond effectively.
What does "formal and informal mechanisms" refer to in this opportunity?
Based on the description, "formal and informal mechanisms" refers broadly to the different ways workers and families can raise concerns and seek improvements, including structured systems (like grievance pathways and social dialogue processes) and other practical support channels (such as outreach connections and referral linkages) that help people access services or resolve problems.
What kinds of issues was the project meant to address?
The project was intended to address concerns affecting both working conditions and living conditions for sugarcane field workers and their families, using mechanisms that can surface complaints, facilitate dialogue, and support remediation of persistent problems.
Was the funding for multiple projects or one main project?
The funding was intended for one main technical assistance project under a single cooperative agreement, with only one award anticipated.
Was the total investment guaranteed?
No. ILAB planned to invest up to $3,000,000 in total project costs, contingent on the availability of federal funds.
What was the submission method for applications?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically.
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