FOA-ILAB-22-22.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of International Labor Affairs

Program Office: OTLA

Notice of Availability of Funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement for: Worker Empowerment in South America

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ILAB-22-22

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.401

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is 10/11/2022.

Applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

All technical questions related to the content of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) must be submitted no later than 10 business days prior to the close date of the FOA.

Award decisions are expected to be made between 10/12/2022 and 12/31/2022.

The Department will make its best efforts to make award decisions within this timeframe, but please be aware that there are a variety of circumstances that may result in a later or earlier than expected award decision.

To apply: Submit applications via https://www.grants.gov/ in response to this funding opportunity number.

Please refer to Section IV for application submission instructions.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $12,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for 1 cooperative agreement to fund a technical assistance project with the overarching objective of improving respect for labor rights in target sectors in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru through strengthening democratic, independent workers’ organizations.

The duration of the project will be a maximum of 54 months from the effective date of the award.

Eligible applicants may include any commercial, international, educational, or non-profit organizations, including any faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, or public international organizations (PIOs), capable of successfully fulfilling the objectives identified in the Funding Opportunity Description. Please see section III of this funding opportunity announcement for complete eligibility requirements.

The project will prioritize underserved communities1 and include a focus on gender and racial equity. The project will address the systematic violation of labor rights in Brazil, Colombia, and https://www.grants.gov/

Peru. In particular, it will strengthen unions and support the full and free exercise of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights in the platform economy and in either the agriculture or manufacturing sectors in Brazil; in the cut flowers and mining2 sectors in Colombia; and in the agricultural sector and either the mining or light industry3 sectors in Peru. Final approval on the sectors chosen in Brazil and Peru will be given post-award by USDOL.

USDOL-Defined Outcomes The project shall be designed to achieve the outcomes necessary to achieve the project objective, and substantially contribute to the desired long-term impact(s). USDOL has identified the following outcome(s) as necessary to achieve the project objective:

• Outcome 1: Increased capacity of democratic workers’ organizations4 to organize, mobilize, and effectively advocate for labor rights5 and improved quality of jobs in the target sectors.

• Outcome 2: Strengthened networks among workers organizations, civil society groups and/or institutions to achieve systemic improvements in respect for labor rights and improved quality of jobs in the target sectors.

• Outcome 3: Increased engagement of democratic workers’ organizations with employers and their organizations or government to influence terms and conditions of work and labor market regulations in support of labor rights and improved job quality in the target sectors

Additional Outcomes In their proposals, applicants may propose additional outcomes they consider realistic and essential to achieving the project objective, and justify their selection based on evidence, analysis of contextual opportunities and constraints, and available resources. Applicants must include specific citations to evidence used to support their proposed strategies. Any additional outcomes must be mutually exclusive of other outcomes required by USDOL.

The duration of the project will be a maximum of 4.5 years (54 months) from the effective date of the award. Eligible applicants may include any commercial, international, educational, or non-profit organizations, including any faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, worker organizations, or public international organizations (PIOs), capable of successfully fulfilling the objectives identified in the Funding Opportunity Description.

This announcement is for the award of 1 new cooperative agreement with the specific project objective and outcomes outlined in this FOA. As such, applicants may not submit applications to renew or supplement an existing project.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

C. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

C. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria

2. Number of Applications to be Submitted

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

1. Technical Proposal

2. Cost Proposal

3. Submission Date, Times, and Process

C. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

D. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

E. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

F. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

1. Merit Review and Selection Process

2. Risk Review Process

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

1. General Requirements

2. Audits and Attestation Engagements

3. Administrative Standards

4. Other Legal Requirements………………………………………………………………….47

5. Other Administrative Standards

6. Special Program Requirements

C. REPORTING

1. Quarterly Federal Financial Report (SF 425, FFR)

2. Semi-Annual Technical Progress Reports

3. Final Technical Report

4. Indirect Cost Rates

5. Closeout Reports

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

IX. APPENDICES

APPENDIX A: Acronyms

APPENDIX B: Definitions

APPENDIX C: Relevant Grant and/or Contract Experience

APPENDIX D: Requirements for Application Submission

APPENDIX E: Past Performance Questionnaire

APPENDIX F: List of Standard Indicators

APPENDIX G: Sustainability Strategy Template

ENDNOTES

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

ILAB leads the U.S. Government’s (USG) efforts to improve working conditions and fight labor exploitation around the world. ILAB’s mission is to promote a fair global playing field for workers in the United States and around the world by enforcing trade commitments, strengthening labor standards, and combating international child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. ILAB’s Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) works to make sure that U.S.

trade partners fulfill their promises and play by the rules, and that American workers are able to compete on a level playing field by negotiating strong labor provisions in trade agreements and preference programs, monitoring for compliance, enforcing trade agreement and preference program commitments, and sharing technical expertise. See ILAB’s webpage for additional information: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab

This FOA solicits applications to implement 1 project(s) with the objective of improving respect for labor rights in the target sectors in Brazil, Colombia and Peru through strengthening democratic, independent workers' organizations.

The project will prioritize underserved communities1 and include a focus on gender and racial equity. The project will address the systematic violation of labor rights in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. In particular, it will strengthen unions and support the full and free exercise of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights in the platform economy and in either the agriculture or manufacturing sectors in Brazil; in the cut flowers and mining2 sectors in Colombia; and in the agricultural sector and either the mining or light industry3 sectors in Peru. Final approval on the sectors chosen in Brazil and Peru will be given post-award by USDOL.

USDOL-Defined Outcomes The project shall be designed to achieve the outcomes necessary to achieve the project objective, and substantially contribute to the desired long-term impact(s). USDOL has identified the following outcome(s) as necessary to achieve the project objective:

• Outcome 1: Increased capacity of democratic workers’ organizations4 to organize, mobilize, and effectively advocate for labor rights5 and improved quality of jobs in the target sectors.

• Outcome 2: Strengthened networks among workers organizations, civil society groups and/or institutions to achieve systemic improvements in respect for labor rights and improved quality of jobs in the target sectors.

• Outcome 3: Increased engagement of democratic workers’ organizations with employers and their organizations or government to influence terms and conditions of work and labor market regulations in support of labor rights and improved job quality in the target sectors

Additional Outcomes In their proposals, applicants may propose additional outcomes they consider realistic and essential to achieving the project objective, and justify their selection based on evidence, analysis of contextual opportunities and constraints, and available resources. Applicants must include specific citations to evidence used to support their proposed strategies. Any additional outcomes must be mutually exclusive of other outcomes required by USDOL.

The duration of the project will be a maximum of 4.5 years (54 months) from the effective date of the award. Eligible applicants may include any commercial, international, educational, or non-profit organizations, including any faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, worker organizations, or public international organizations (PIOs), capable of successfully fulfilling the objectives identified in the Funding Opportunity Description.

Applicants selected for award will be required, within the first six months of award, to carry out additional in-country needs assessments and consultations with partners and relevant stakeholders to assess and identify gaps, risks and opportunities, analyze stakeholder capabilities and interests, understand potential harm and refine and/or validate the proposed project design, including performance indicators and targets, risk mitigation and sustainability strategies. All post-award refinements to the project strategy will be subject to approval by USDOL.

This announcement is for the award of 1 new cooperative agreement with the specific project objective and outcomes outlined in this FOA. As such, applicants may not submit applications to renew or supplement an existing project.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

ILAB is authorized to award and administer grants and cooperative agreements by the Department of Labor Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 117-103, Division H, Title 1).

C. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The global pandemic has exposed and exacerbated problems in job quality, working conditions and respect for labor rights. But while the pandemic has upended the lives of all workers, its negative impacts have disproportionately affected lower-income and marginalized workers. Many workers in South America continue to be subjected to abusive subcontracting, a lack of formalized work, and poor working conditions. Workers face threats, harassment or violence if they try to form or join a union, to defend their rights or advance their interests. They often lack social protection, mechanisms for dispute prevention and resolution, and access to institutions that regulate their terms and conditions of work, among other challenges.

Empowering workers to exercise their right to organize and bargain collectively supports them in developing meaningful collective voice, agency and in taking an active role to shape their terms and conditions of work. As enabling rights, freedom of association and collective bargaining contribute to protecting and sustaining other labor rights.6

Brazil

Brazil was listed in the International Trade Unions Conference (ITUC)’s 2022 Global Rights Index as one of the top 10 worst countries in the world for workers due to anti-union discrimination and the violation of collective agreements. The position of unions in Brazil has becoming increasingly tenuous since the passage of Law 13467 of 2017 which reformed Brazil’s Labor Code. These changes have led to a decrease in the number of collective bargaining agreements negotiated since the passage of the law. Challenges to the right to organize and collective bargaining in both law and practice have been subject to ongoing comments by the ILO supervisory bodies.

Many migrant workers in Brazil are also often engaged in informal work where they are not able to join unions or receive benefits, such as Bolivian and Colombian migrants engaged in work in sweatshops in São Paulo. Some of these workers are vulnerable to forced labor. ILAB’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor includes forced labor in garments for Brazil.

As noted in one ILO working paper7, 'gig' or platform-based work “is one type of non-standard work facilitated through technology and digital markets, on-demand.” Similar to many gig workers worldwide, platform economy workers (“motoristas de aplicativos” or “App Workers”) in Brazil experience serious challenges organizing, ranging from legal to practical in nature. Many such workers are part of underrepresented and underserved populations, particularly Afro-Brazilian men. App Workers work for platforms of all types that operate in the Brazilian market, including Uber, which dominates the Brazilian market, as well as lesser-known delivery and transportation companies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this group of workers grew exponentially due to the shutdown of many other forms of work and the increased use of online ordering and delivery.

App workers face safety threats including robberies, carjackings, and sexual assault as well as lack of access to water and bathrooms. A report released in December 2021 by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Central Unica dos Trabalhadores (CUT) reported that app workers in Brasilia and Recife work an average of 65 hours a week and make an average income of about R $5.03 an hour. Some of the app workers surveyed revealed that they are in fact making negative net income, despite working from 12 to 18 hours a day, up to seven days a week. Workers also reported repetitive use injuries in their knees, fingers, and wrists as well as back pain8. Another major disadvantage of this work is that these drivers are independent contractors (“autonomos”). Under Brazilian law, independent contractors do not receive any benefits prescribed by the Brazilian constitution but which are provided to workers in an employment relationship, such as overtime, holiday pay, 30 days of annual paid vacation, a savings plan to which employers contribute (Fundo de Garantia de Tempo de Servico) or paid sick leave. Labor organizing presents a formidable challenge for independent contractors. Despite these challenges, many have begun organizing into unions and workers’ organizations, both independently and with support from existing trade unions, federations, and confederations.

Colombia

Workers in Colombia, including in key tradeable sectors, have historically faced challenges exercising rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining, caused and exacerbated by abusive subcontracting practices and violent crimes targeting union activists and leaders. In the lead-up to the ratification of the United States – Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA9), the Governments of the United States and Colombia agreed to a comprehensive Colombian Action Plan Related to Labor Rights (Labor Action Plan10), under which the Government of Colombia committed to a series of concrete measures protecting internationally recognized labor rights and addressing violence against labor leaders. The Labor Action Plan identified five priority sectors (palm oil, cut flowers, ports, sugarcane, and mines) for improved labor law enforcement with regard to abusive subcontracting. The Labor Action Plan included a focus on promoting employer compliance through the establishment of direct employment relationships.

Workers’ organizations continue to report abusive subcontracting in the five priority sectors and other sectors, including though unscrupulous or informal labor intermediaries, with negative impacts on labor rights, formalization, and worker empowerment to exercise their labor rights freely. Workers subjected to these conditions lack permanent jobs with consistent employers, resulting in low unionization rates and scarce opportunities for collective bargaining and social dialogue. Crimes of violence against unionists continue to occur in these and other sectors. From 2018 through 202011 the Attorney General’s Office reported 840 cases of threats to workers in Colombia (all sectors). These threats, for which there have been no convictions, affect workers’ abilities to freely exercise their rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

In Colombia, mechanisms for mediation and conflict resolution, as well as platforms for tripartite social dialogue remain underdeveloped or under-resourced, particularly at the sectoral level.

Employers and workers have limited trust in one another and few shared priorities, hindering labor peace and consensus around needed reforms. Low levels of labor and business formalization impede worker empowerment and effective exercise of worker voice. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) places informality in Colombia at 60 percent, with attendant implications for the exercise of fundamental rights and enrollments in the social security system, which includes health, pension, and workers compensation. For all these reasons, Colombia has low rates of trade union density and collective bargaining coverage, particularly in the private sector12.

Peru

Under the 2009 U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA), the Government of Peru (GOP) committed to adopt and maintain in statutes, regulations, and practices, the rights as stated in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow Up (1998), as well as to effectively enforce its labor laws. Labor unions and worker support organizations in Peru have persistently alleged an inadequate enforcement of labor laws, which was the basis of a formal labor complaint submitted in 2015 by the Peruvian and U.S. unions under the PTPA labor chapter. They maintain that this inadequate enforcement by the GOP labor inspection authority, coupled with relaxed labor and employment laws in specific export sectors, effectively restricts labor rights protection for many Peruvian workers. Workers and unions in textiles and apparel, agricultural products, and extraction/mining industries note that inadequate enforcement of (fixed-term) employment contract and subcontracted worker laws makes organizing unions and establishing formal worker representation extremely difficult.

Notwithstanding current political and social instability and the severe impacts of the COVID pandemic in Peru, recent labor associated legislative and policy developments could present opportunities for labor unions and worker support organizations to advance worker representation, the practical exercise of fundamental worker rights, collective bargaining with employers, and social dialogue with the GOP and employers’ associations.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement. Approximately $12,000,000 total costs is expected to be available to fund approximately 1 award(s). Applicants may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $12,000,000 total costs. Awards made under this announcement are subject to the availability of federal funds. In the event that additional funds become available, USDOL reserves the right to use such funds to select additional recipients from applications submitted in response to this announcement.

In addition to its normal consultative role as grantor, ILAB’s substantial involvement in program activities may focus on elements that are essential to meet program requirements and ensure achievement of program objectives and outcomes. ILAB’s involvement may include, but not be limited to:

• Liaising with in-country USG officials and host country governments on matters related to the project.

• Collaborating substantially on the project strategy and implementation, as well as the development of the project document package.

• Collaborating substantially on the development and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation plan and all of its components.

• Providing highly specialized input on the technical definitions and concepts of workers’ rights, international labor standards, occupational safety and health (OSH), industrial relations, social dialogue, collective bargaining, freedom of association, acceptable conditions of work, stakeholder compliance, non-discrimination, labor courts, labor administration, labor inspection, labor law and judicial reform, legal and policy frameworks, child labor, forced labor, human trafficking, and effective enforcement, among others.

• Being substantially and actively involved in designing research, service provision, and/or capacity building activities jointly with the recipient.

• Reviewing and providing input on project’s planning for sustainability and collaborating to promote sustainability of project efforts, including through replication of good practices.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is a maximum of 54 months from the effective date of the award.

This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities. Only allowable costs incurred during the period of performance may be charged to the federal award (2 CFR 200.1 Period of performance).

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• U.S. organizations:

o Nonprofits, including any faith-based organizations or community-based organizations o Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education o Private Institutions of Higher Education o For-Profit organizations

• Non-U.S. organizations:

o Non-U.S. Entities, including PIOs, as described in 2 CFR 200.1.

Applicants selected for award must abide by DOL's requirements in the term and conditions of the award, in alignment with U.S. appropriation laws and applicable U.S. regulations.

Applicants do not need previous experience managing federal awards, but they must speak persuasively about their ability to leverage other previous experience and bring it to scale in support of a large federal investment.

The following types of organizations are not eligible to apply nor to participate as subrecipients/contractors:

• Organizations designated by the U.S. Government to be associated with terrorism.

• Organizations designated by the U.S. Government to have been debarred or suspended.

• Organizations planning to charge a fee (profit) associated with a project funded by a USDOL award.

• Foreign governments and entities that are agencies of, or operated by or for, a foreign state or government are not eligible to apply. However, they may be eligible to participate as a subrecipient in certain instances, subject to USDOL approval. NOTE: If an exception to this subrecipient eligibility criterion might be appropriate, the application must include a detailed justification for the possible exception. USDOL funds are not intended to duplicate existing foreign government efforts or substitute for activities for which such governments have already assumed responsibility. USDOL will make eligibility decisions on a case-by-case basis after receiving the application.

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

This program does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Including such funds is not one of the application screening criteria and applications that include any form of cost sharing or match will not receive additional consideration during the review process. Instead, the agency considers any resources contributed to the project beyond the funds provided by the agency as leveraged resources. Section IV.B.2 provides more information on leveraged resources.

C. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria

Use the following checklist as a guide when preparing the application package to ensure that the application has met all of the screening criteria. Note that this checklist is only an aid for applicants and should not be included in the application package. It is recommended to use this checklist to ensure that the application contains all required items. If the application does not meet all of the screening criteria, the application will not move forward to the merit review process.

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

The deadline submission requirements are met Section IV.B.3.a.

Eligibility Section III.A

The components of the application are saved in any of the specified formats and are not corrupt. (USDOL will attempt to open documents, but will not troubleshoot any problems related to opening files)

Section IV.B.3.b.

2. Number of Applications to be Submitted Multiple applications from an organization are not allowed. If multiple applications are received, the most recent application submitted by the deadline will be accepted. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, USDOL will not replace it with an earlier application.

Applicant entities are not precluded from participating as partners on another entity’s application.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This FOA, found at www.grants.gov, contains all of the information needed to apply for funding.

Applicants should note that it includes hyperlinks to external forms and resources. Applicants are required to comply with all parts of the FOA, including those parts found at the hyperlinks.

Application does not exceed the ceiling amount of $12,000,000 total costs Section II.A

Applicant has registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) and maintains an active account

IV.B.2.a

Completed and signed SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, including a Unique Entity Identifier Number

IV.B.2.b

SF-424A, Budget Information Form Section IV.B.2.c

Technical Proposal Section

IV.B.1

Attachments to Technical Proposal

• Abstract

• Work Plan

• Sustainability Strategy Template

• Relevant Grant and/or Contract Experience

• Evidence of Country Presence

• Key Personnel Signed Commitment Letters (3)

• Resume for Key Personnel (3)

• Resume for Other Required Professional

Personnel (minimum of 4 and up to 6 depending on staffing structure selected)

• Project Management Organizational Chart

IV.B.1.e

Outcome-Based Budget Section IV.B.2.e.

Budget Narrative Section IV.B.2.e.

http://www.grants.gov/

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applications submitted in response to this FOA must consist of two separate and distinct parts:

(1) a Technical Proposal, including attachments; and (2) a Cost Proposal, including the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance and related forms identified as follows. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the funding amount requested is consistent across all parts of the application. If the funding amount is not consistent, the amount requested on the SF-424 will be considered for the purpose of the award.

1. Technical Proposal Applicants should use their technical expertise to propose how to meet the requirements of the FOA and must provide justification for their choices based on evidence, analysis of contextual opportunities and constraints, and available resources within the requirements of the FOA.

Applicants must include specific citations to the evidence used to support their proposed project strategy. If there is limited evidence to support the proposed intervention(s), applicants may propose to pilot an innovative approach but must include and describe a plan for monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of the intervention(s).

All pages of the application must be numbered. All required documents (including attachments) must be submitted in English. Any additional documentation submitted that is not required or specifically requested under this announcement will not be considered during the merit review process.

Technical Proposals must be no more than 50 single-sided, double-spaced pages (8.5 x 11 inches with 1-inch margins). If any page limits required by this FOA for any part of the application are exceeded, the content that exceeds the page limit will not be considered during the merit review process. Font style must be Times New Roman and font size must be 12-point. The Cover Page, Acronyms List, Table of Contents, required attachments to the Technical Proposal, and the Cost Proposal do not count toward the page limit and do not have any spacing restrictions. Different fonts and font sizes may be used for tables, text boxes, and graphics. However, it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they are legible and meet electronic submission requirements. Documents which cannot be read or accessed by the Department will not be considered during the merit review process. Please see section IV.B.3. for the file format requirements for electronic submissions.

The following instructions provide all the information needed to complete the Technical Proposal. Applicants should carefully read and consider each section and include all required information. The Technical Proposal will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria identified in Section V, Application Review Information. Applicants must use the same section headers identified in this FOA for each section of the Technical Proposal:

a. Abstract (Executive Summary) Applicants must submit as an attachment an abstract summarizing the proposed project including, but not limited to, the Theory of Change, the project objective, proposed outcomes, outputs, and activities. The abstract should describe the proposed project in plain language and include the following sections:

1. Applicant's Name and Title for the Project. The applicant's name and title for the proposed project.

2. Purpose. A brief description of the purpose for the award, including a description of the geographic area to be served (if applicable), population(s) to be served (if applicable), number and description of individuals, groups and institutions to be served (if applicable), and the funding level requested.

3. Activities to be Performed. A brief description of award specific activities and other deliverables.

4. Expected Outcomes. The project objective, proposed outcomes, and outputs.

5. Intended Beneficiaries. Intended beneficiary(ies) or recipient(s) of the project activities.

6. Sub-recipient Activities. If sub-awards are proposed, then specify the activities to be provided and the name of each proposed sub-awardee, if known.

The abstract is limited to two double-spaced single sided 8.5 x 11-inch pages with 12-point text font, Times New Roman font style, and 1-inch margins. When submitting in Grants.gov, this document must be uploaded as an attachment to the application package and specifically labeled "Abstract."

b. Table of Contents

The table of contents must list all required documents and include their corresponding page numbers.

c. Project Narrative The Project Narrative must describe in detail the applicant’s response to the FOA. At minimum, the Project Narrative must contain the following sections:

1. Problem Analysis (up to 5 points)

a) Scope of the Problem (up to 2 points): Applicants will be evaluated based on the extent to which their analysis demonstrates a systemic understanding of the worker rights problem that the proposed project is designed to address. Applicants must describe in both quantitative and qualitative terms the need for assistance, including the nature, scope and root causes of the problem, and the consequences of not addressing the need. The analysis must reflect all the relevant conditions that are holding the problem in place, complicating or reinforcing it, including relevant cultural, economic, social, demographic, technological, historical, political, or environmental factors contributing to the problem. The problem analysis must demonstrate a cogent assessment of the boundaries of the “system” the project is seeking to transform, identify specific leverage points (transforming structures or processes) within the system that could drive change with respect to the problem, how they interact with one another and any related factors or barriers to change.

Applicants must identify significant gaps in laws, policies, programs, and coordination efforts that contribute to the identified problem and that need to be addressed.

b) Population / Institutions Served (up to 2 points): The analysis must include discussion of specific actors within the system (individuals, groups, institutions, coalitions, or networks) that have influence and/or interest in addressing the problem, giving particular attention to underserved, underrepresented, and historically marginalized communities or groups. This discussion should clearly describe how the targeted population(s) to be served in the project will meet the requirements of this FOA by increasing their access to and/or demand for services, benefits, protections or programs associated with improved workers’ rights. The analysis must address considerations of harm and equity sufficient to demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of how the problem affects different groups, with particular attention to gender and racial equity. For projects involving institutional strengthening, the problem analysis should clearly describe institutional barriers (or “pain points”) encountered by the target population(s) in accessing services, benefits, protections or programs associated with improved workers’ rights. The problem analysis must be supported by relevant empirical data, including citations.

c) Proposed Geographic Scope (up to 1 point): The applicant must identify and provide a justification for the proposed target service area(s) and the number of individuals and institutions/groups that the applicant expects to serve. Applicants may choose one or more of the following scopes: local (municipal or provincial), regional (contiguous area within country), sectoral or supply chain (within country), national, multi-country (contiguous or non-contiguous), industry or supply chain (regional or global). Within the chosen geographic scope, applicants must identify the specific site(s) where awarded applicants will implement project interventions.

2. Project Design (up to 40 points)

a) Project Strategy and Sustainability Strategy (up to 25 total points)

The applicant's Project Strategy and Sustainability section will be evaluated based on its responsiveness to the unmet need described in its Problem Analysis.

The project-level objective is to contribute to improving respect for labor rights in the target sectors in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru through strengthening democratic, independent workers’ organizations. The project will also focus on strengthening networks and supporting union engagement to influence terms and conditions of work, and labor market regulation to achieve systemic improvements in respect for labor rights and improved quality of jobs in the target sectors.

In support of achieving the objective, the project should be designed to achieve the following outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Increased capacity of democratic workers’ organizations to organize, mobilize, and effectively advocate for labor rights and improved quality of jobs.

• Outcome 2: Strengthened networks among workers’ organizations, civil society groups and/or institutions to achieve systemic improvements in respect for labor rights and improved quality of jobs in the target sectors.

• Outcome 3: Increased engagement of democratic workers’ organizations with employers and their organizations or government to influence terms and conditions of work, labor market regulation and enforcement in support of labor rights and improved job quality in the target sectors.

Critical Assumptions and Measuring Project Impact Critical Assumptions For each country and outcome, applicants must identify and summarize any critical assumptions they are making about how the targets and results will be achieved and sustained. The discussion should also identify any known risks or emerging opportunities, and strategies for mitigating or leveraging them, as appropriate. For each country and outcome, applicants must include at least one critical assumption regarding the motivation of individuals and/or institutions to engage in or support labor rights and improved quality of jobs in the target sectors, assess the assumption(s) for the level of threat it may pose to the project design if the assumption is false, and identify strategies for mitigating, avoiding or leveraging them. Finally, applicants must identify any gaps in knowledge that would be essential to fill during a post-award needs assessment and consultations, and that could necessitate further refinement in the project design.

Monitoring Project Progress and Measuring Long-term Project Outcomes Applicants are encouraged to use systems and complexity-aware monitoring approaches to review for potential unexpected outcomes and results of the project.

The project’s contribution to worker empowerment may be measured by one or more of the following indicators (to be finalized in consultation with USDOL after award):

• Increased proportion of workers affiliated to a union (within specific sector or enterprise/platform/employer, geographic area, and by sex or gender, race, disability, etc.)

• Proportion of workplaces with Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) in place (by sector, geographic area, size of enterprise) that are up-to-date and negotiated by an independent and democratically elected union.

• Number of CBAs that have incorporated innovative clauses or addressed issues of importance to underserved communities.

• Number of workers covered by up-to-date CBAs negotiated by an independent and democratically elected union.

Applicants must propose a strategy, using a systems approach, to achieve the project-level objective and expected outcomes stated above. Applicants must clearly identify how the project will achieve (or substantially contribute to) these outcomes within the period of performance of the project. In addition, applicants may propose additional outcomes they deem necessary to achieve the project objective and a rationale (including supporting evidence) for how they contribute to the achievement of the project’s overall objective. Together these outcomes are expected to have a lasting impact on the systemic worker rights problem identified in the project objective. Applicants must describe the key outputs produced by the project that will lead to the expected outcomes. In addition, applicants must describe in a narrative format how these outcomes and outputs align with their planned interventions. Applications must clearly state expected project results that are specific, measurable, achievable, and reasonable according to the project design and timeline. Project results must include: 1) any results, including appropriate outputs and outcomes that are achieved by the end of the grant period; 2) long-term benefits that include outcomes expected 5+ years after the end of the grant period to demonstrate sustainability.

Scoring under this criterion is based on how completely the narrative project strategy describes the project design, the extent to which it addresses key stakeholders, risks and critical assumptions, and on its relevance to the unmet need described in its Problem Analysis. The logic of the project strategy will be evaluated based on the extent to which the project’s interventions can be expected to shift the conditions that are holding the problem in place. Successful applicants will design their project based on existing evidence of the effectiveness and sustainability of their proposed strategy and cite such evidence in their project design.

Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed strategy will address gaps identified in the problem analysis, identify any potential barriers, and describe how the project will work to overcome those barriers. In addition, applicants must clearly describe in their proposed strategy how they will integrate sustainability into their project strategy, beginning in the early stages of project implementation (please see Appendix B for a definition of sustainability). Applicants shall use the Sustainability Strategy Template (please see Appendix G) to show how they plan to build sustainability into their design for applicable outcomes/elements. Successful applicants will have an opportunity to update and elaborate on this template post-award.

As part of its strategy, applicants must undertake an initial assessment of any unique needs of underserved communities, including historically marginalized, underrepresented and vulnerable groups and describe how any identified needs will be addressed.

Expected Outcomes

Outcome 1: Increased capacity of democratic workers’ organizations to organize, mobilize, and effectively advocate for labor rights and improved quality of jobs.

Applicants must propose evidence-based interventions targeting specific leverage points that will result in new or strengthened democratic workers’ organizations’ ability to organize, mobilize, advocate and bargain for labor rights and improved job quality. Applicants must include specific citations to evidence used to support their proposed strategies. If there is limited evidence to support the proposed intervention(s), applicants may propose to pilot an innovative approach, but must include and describe a plan for monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of the intervention(s) through operations research, to be approved by USDOL post-award.

In all countries, the applicant’s interventions will result in improved union density in targeted sectors, and subsequently increasing collective bargaining coverage. Union membership and numbers are strengthened, and unions and workers' organizations are better able to articulate and advocate for priorities through evidence-based assessments of sector-wide patterns of alleged labor rights violations or concerns regarding working conditions.

Outcome 2: Strengthened networks among workers’ organizations, civil society groups and/or institutions to achieve systemic improvements in respect for labor rights and improved quality of jobs in the target sectors.

Applicants must propose evidence-based interventions targeting specific leverage points that will result in strengthened networks (vertical or horizontal linkages) among individuals and/or institutions to achieve systemic improvements in fundamental labor rights and improved working conditions. These interventions should be part of a strategy that includes collaboration with individuals, communities, and institutions such as the relevant government agencies at the national, regional, and/or local level and other key stakeholders, such as the private sector, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and other civil society organizations. Applicants should identify gaps, barriers, and entry points, and explain how the project will work to overcome those barriers and use entry points. As part of the strategy, applicants will identify relevant networks and explain how it will increase and/or strengthen them. Applicants must include specific citations to evidence used to support their proposed strategies. Evidence can include lessons learned and promising practices from labor programming13 as well as other relevant initiatives.14 If there is limited evidence to support the proposed intervention(s), applicants may propose to pilot an innovative approach, but must include and describe a plan for monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of the intervention(s) through operations research, to be approved by USDOL post-award.

Brazil:

Applicants will propose interventions to increase support of nascent worker organizations by traditional unions to collectively network for greater representation of workers in the targeted sectors. They will work alongside other actors to advocate for workers’ full protection and inclusion under national employment laws, including minimum wages, safety and health, income security schemes, and other social protection; and negotiate with platforms and employers organizations improvements above current levels, including increased job security, decent wages, and conditions at work.

Colombia:

Applicants will propose interventions to improve relationships between organized labor civil society and community groups to advocate for greater respect for labor rights, to strengthen and improve labor law enforcement outcomes and reforms. Applicants should also propose interventions for direct engagement with forward-leaning private sector enterprises with a demonstrated commitment to respecting labor rights. These interventions should be documented and disseminated for broader implementation and compliance.

Peru:

Applicants will propose interventions that will establish and/or enhance the coordination, cooperation, and preparations of enterprise, sectoral, and national trade union structures to effectively contribute to and influence national labor, social, and economic policy through formal dialogue with the social partners from government and employers. Enterprise, sectoral and national trade union structures will increase the level and intensity of unions’ engagement with and monitoring of applicable governmental ministries/authorities to better ensure laws, regulations, and mandates are applied and enforced in practice. In addition, project interventions will enhance Peruvian unions’ engagement with and support from academics, other labor support organizations, trade and human rights advocates, and supportive legal associations to strengthen their organizing, collective bargaining, social dialogue, and enforcement efforts and associated outcomes that benefit workers.

Outcome 3: Increased engagement of democratic workers’ organizations with employers and their organizations or government to influence terms and conditions of work, labor market regulation and enforcement in support of labor rights and improved job quality in the target sectors.

Applicants should propose to strengthen existing local, national and/or regional mechanisms for dialogue, collective bargaining and policymaking in the target countries. The project may work with workers’ organizations as well as bipartite and tripartite dialogue mechanisms to identify best practices, lessons learned, and opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.

Applicants must propose a project design that embraces a “local systems approach,” which for this project means that sustained impact on labor rights will be achieved by local and regional system actors and linkages among them, strengthened by organized worker voice to collectively diagnose the root causes and economic drivers of a given problem, determine the key leverage points in the system, and implement appropriate interventions to shift the conditions holding the problem in place. At the end of this project, the interventions implemented and outcomes achieved will have enabled workers in the target sectors in all three countries to use their collective power to influence their terms and conditions of employment and work, to influence regulation and enforcement, and to improve their livelihoods.

The information below for each country should also be considered as part of the proposed project design.

Brazil:

The design of this project proposal should distinguish itself from the project that will result from the current DRL FOA “DRL Strengthening Rights of Gig Workers in Colombia and Brazil” (this FOA went out in February 2022 and closed on April 27, 2022: https://www.state.gov/drl-strengthening-rights-of-gig-workers-in-colombia-and-brazil/) and explicitly discuss complementarities to avoid duplicating efforts. The proposed strategies should explore lessons learned from new platform economy unions formed in Brasilia, and best practices from other successful unions with the goal of replicating and improving on these models if warranted.

Establishing these types of unions in cities such Salvador, Curitiba, and Recife would offer assistance to the least-served Brazilians, as the vast majority of platform workers are Afro- Brazilians.

Colombia:

https://www.state.gov/drl-strengthening-rights-of-gig-workers-in-colombia-and-brazil/ https://www.state.gov/drl-strengthening-rights-of-gig-workers-in-colombia-and-brazil/

ILAB, currently funds Worker Rights Centers for the Greater Protection of Labor Rights in Colombia (2016-2023) across all five Labor Action Plan priority sectors (cut flowers, palm oil, ports, mining, and sugarcane). This project builds the capacity of workers and workers’ organizations to understand Colombia’s laws regarding labor rights, understand the administrative and judicial processes required to initiate inspections and seek legal remedies, and submit well-substantiated and well-articulated claims to appropriate authorities.