FOA-ILAB-22-29.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of International Labor Affairs

Program Office:

OCFT

Notice of Availability of Funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement for: Project to Increase Worker Voice and Address Forced Labor, Child Labor, and Other Labor Violations in Cattle Raising Areas of Brazil and Paraguay

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ILAB-22-29

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 17.401

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is 10/7/2022.

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 09/30/2022 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 $5,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for 1 cooperative agreement(s) to fund a technical assistance project to strengthen the capacity1 of worker organizations (WOs)2 and civil society organizations (CSOs)3 to increase worker voice4 and address forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations5 in cattle raising areas6 of Brazil and Paraguay.

The duration of the project will be a maximum of 48 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 https://www.grants.gov/ 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.

Project outcomes include the following:

• Outcome 1: Strengthened capacity of worker organizations and civil society organizations to identify labor violations and advocate on behalf of workers in cattle raising areas of Brazil and Paraguay;

• Sub-outcome 1.1: Increased organizational resiliency7 of worker organizations and civil society organizations;

• Outcome 2: Increased capacity of worker organizations and civil society organizations to provide services addressing labor violations for workers and their families; and

• Outcome 3: Increased worker organization and civil society organization engagement with private sector stakeholders to advocate for better work conditions.8

The applicant must propose strategies for addressing forced labor in cattle raising areas of both Brazil and Paraguay where there is evidence of this abusive labor practice. In these same targeted geographical areas, the applicant must propose an area-based approach that also addresses identified cases of child labor and other labor violations.9 Applicants must describe how they will strengthen collective worker voice and representation, and how worker-driven capacity building and approaches will be integrated into a strategy to address forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations in cattle raising areas of these two countries.

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.

In consideration of potential limitations on proposal development, including as a result of the impact of COVID-19, applicants selected for award may 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, refine, and/or validate the proposed theory of change, design, and strategies of the project. All refinements will be subject to approval by USDOL.

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

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 Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT) works to eliminate child labor, forced labor and human trafficking through international research, policy engagement, and technical cooperation. See ILAB’s webpage for additional information:

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

This FOA solicits applications to implement 1 project(s) with the objective of strengthening the capacity1 of worker organizations (WOs)2 and civil society organizations (CSOs)3 to increase worker voice4 and address forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations5 in cattle raising areas6 of Brazil and Paraguay.

Project outcomes include the following:

• Outcome 1: Strengthened capacity of worker organizations and civil society organizations to identify labor violations and advocate on behalf of workers in cattle raising areas of Brazil and Paraguay;

• Sub-outcome 1.1: Increased organizational resiliency7 of worker organizations and civil society organizations;

• Outcome 2: Increased capacity of worker organizations and civil society organizations to provide services addressing labor violations for workers and their families; and https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab

• Outcome 3: Increased worker organization and civil society organization engagement with private sector stakeholders to advocate for better work conditions.8

The applicant must propose strategies for addressing forced labor in cattle raising areas of both Brazil and Paraguay where there is evidence of this abusive labor practice. In these same targeted geographical areas, the applicant must propose an area-based approach that also addresses identified cases of child labor and other labor violations.9 Applicants must describe how they will strengthen collective worker voice and representation, and how worker-driven capacity building and approaches will be integrated into a strategy to address forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations in cattle raising areas of these two countries.

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.

In consideration of potential limitation on proposal development, including as a result of the impact of COVID-19, applicants selected for award may 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, refine, and/or validate the proposed theory of change, design, and strategies of the project. 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 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 17-103, Division H, Title I).

C. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

USDOL’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor (TVPRA List) provides evidence of forced labor and child labor in the production of cattle in Brazil and Paraguay.10

Employers in Brazil and Paraguay’s expansive cattle raising sectors have been found to incorporate significant coercive recruitment and employment practices, primarily targeting disperse, rural, indigenous, and other vulnerable populations with the promise of better livelihoods.11 12 Cattle operations in both countries are expanding to meet global demand, further increasing the threat of forced labor.13 14 ILO reporting highlights the cattle sector as significantly overshadowing other sectors in its use of forced labor in Brazil.15 Similarly, in the Chaco region of Paraguay, reporting has found coercive recruitment and significant indicators of forced labor the cattle raising supply chain.16 Cattle raising in both countries target vulnerable populations, including indigenous and other rural populations, with promises of good work, living conditions, and advanced payments. Advanced payments subsequently seal workers into debt bondage to small and medium cattle production businesses that feed to large, international slaughter operations.17 Workers are coerced, threatened, and deprived of freedoms by employers, who often retain workers’ identification documents, and by armed employees on ranch operations.18 The geographic isolation of cattle ranches and workers’ dependance on employers for food and housing further contribute to conditions that abet forced labor.19

Forced labor in Brazil is concentrated in rural areas where labor-intensive industries demand cheap labor, mainly in the agricultural sector. Rapid growth of some industries has led to the expansion of vast ranches, plantations, and logging operations, while also creating the need for a large workforce to clear land.20 Cattle ranching in Brazil accounts for over 60 percent of the companies on the “dirty list” of groups using forced labor.21 As with other goods produced in Brazil, labor trafficking results from young men being brought by labor brokers to rural plantations, where the workers then enter into debt bondage. As of 2017, over 50,000 workers have been rescued from what Brazil defines as conditions of slave labor, with one third of the workers rescued coming from cattle ranches in remote areas.22 Additionally, in July 2020, the Brazilian Ministry of Labor rescued 24 Guaraní indigenous individuals, including both adults and children, from forced labor conditions on a farm in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.23

In Paraguay, reporting has found coercive recruitment and significant indicators of forced labor agriculture sectors.24 Agriculture workers in Paraguay are difficult to reach with government services, including labor inspections due to the nature of the highly mobile and disconnected work and work sites.25 They often are coerced into work that is geographically isolated, live in precarious and unsanitary accommodations, and often threatened to not leave.26 And, while inspections and government intervention is more limited in Paraguay than Brazil due to authorities’ weaker enforcement capacity, there have been numerous reports of inspections finding cases of forced labor throughout the country.27

In addition to forced labor, child labor and other labor violations have also been noted throughout the cattle sectors in Brazil and Paraguay.28 According to the latest National Household Sample Survey (Pnad), the total number of children estimated to be working in Brazil’s cattle industry is 130,027.29 Similarly, the Paraguayan government estimates that 142,127 child laborers raise cattle throughout rural areas in Paraguay and approximately 67,141 child laborers raising cattle are below the minimum age for employment in Paraguay.30

Expansive cattle raising is rapidly leading to changes in land use in both countries, with deforestation from land clearing, burning, and post-clearing production of trees to increase grazing land. As herds are moved throughout these expanses, more land is deforested, and workers from indigenous, rural, and other vulnerable communities are forced out of their traditional livelihoods and into cattle raising and related activities.31 Often moving to follow herds and far from government services, these workers are uniquely vulnerable to forced labor in the cattle raising sector.32 Further, methods to clear land, such as burning, leads to negative health impacts on nearby communities.33

While those working in the cattle sectors of Brazil and Paraguay continue to experience detrimental labor conditions, organizations working to provide assistance and services to workers and their families also face multiple challenges. WOs and CSOs across Latin America are plagued by insufficient resources.34 The challenges faced by WOs and CSOs are particularly pronounced in remote and underserved areas of Brazil and Paraguay, where CSOs often represent the first and often only line of defense, providing essential services to vulnerable workers and communities. CSOs have been the target of violence and threats in both Brazil and Paraguay.35

However, WOs’ and CSOs’ ability to address labor violations is distinct between Brazil and Paraguay. WOs and CSOs in Brazil have been active in campaigning against forced labor;36 however, they face challenges in representing or advocating on behalf of workers,37 including corruption of local authorities and violence.38 Some CSOs received funding from state and local governments to carry out activities, but CSOs’ organizational capacity and resiliency vary. According to a 2018 report from Brazil’s Institute of Applied Economics, many CSOs are micro-organizations that work with volunteers and lack the organizational structures needed to comply with government regulations.39 In Paraguay, some CSOs endeavor to address environmental, social, and indigenous issues, but CSOs in Paraguay often face judicial persecution and violence.40 Paraguayan civil society is generally weak, and Paraguay is 15th of 25 countries in the region41 42 on USAID’s core civil society index ranking.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement. Approximately $5,000,000 total costs is expected to be available to fund approximately 1 award(s). Applicants may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $5,000,000 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 will focus on elements that are essential to meet program requirements and assure 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 collaboration to promote sustainability of project efforts, including through replication of good practices.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance is a maximum of 48 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 sub-recipients/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 sub-recipient in certain instances, subject to USDOL approval. NOTE: If an exception to this sub-recipient 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.

Application does not exceed the ceiling amount of $5,000,000 total costs Section II.A

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

Section IV.B.2.a

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

Section IV.B.2.c

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

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 (2)

Section IV.B.1.e

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.

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.

• Resume for Key Personnel (2)

• Resume for Other Required Professional Personnel (1)

• Project Management Organizational Chart

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

Budget Narrative Section IV.B.2.d.

http://www.grants.gov/

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, sub-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, sub-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)

Applicants will be evaluated based on their degree of understanding the scope and nature of the problem that forms the basis of the project design. Applicants must describe the need for assistance, including the nature and scope of the problems, and the consequences of not addressing the need. Include relevant cultural, economic, social, labor and/or legal factors contributing to the problem. This information must be supported by relevant empirical data, including citations. Applicants must identify significant gaps in laws, policies, programs and coordination efforts that contribute to the identified problem and that need to be addressed by the project.

2. Project Design (up to 45 points)

a) Project Strategy and Sustainability Strategy (up to 28 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 strengthen the capacity of worker organizations (WOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) to increase worker voice and address forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations in cattle raising areas of Brazil and Paraguay.

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

Outcome 1: Strengthened capacity of worker organizations and civil society organizations to identify labor violations and advocate on behalf of workers in cattle raising areas of Brazil and Paraguay;

Sub-outcome 1.1: Increased organizational resiliency of worker organizations and civil society organizations;

Outcome 2: Increased capacity of worker organizations and civil society organizations to provide services addressing labor violations for workers and their families;

Outcome 3: Increased level of worker organizations’ and civil society organizations’ engagement with private sector stakeholders to advocate for better work conditions.

Applicants are encouraged to apply a collective impact approach to achieving the project-level objective and outcomes.43 44 The collective impact approach promotes collaboration to address labor and social issues in a structured and systemic way and is based on a common agenda, shared measurement systems, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and coordination. In their applications, applicants should integrate this approach into proposed project strategies and activities.

Outcome 1: Strengthened capacity of worker organizations and civil society organizations to identify labor violations and advocate on behalf of workers in cattle raising areas of Brazil and Paraguay.

For Outcome 1, applicants must propose a strategy for how they would strengthen the capacity of WOs and CSOs to identify and address forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations in cattle raising areas of both Brazil and Paraguay. The applicant must conduct a needs assessment that will inform its overall strategy to (1) identify strengths and weaknesses of WOs and CSOs; and (2) describe how the project would work with WOs and CSOs to maximize their strengths and address their weaknesses to achieve the overarching project-level objective. In describing their strategy, applicants must clearly identify priority areas of intervention and describe activities to advance their proposed strategy. Applicants must work with selected WOs and CSOs to enhance their compliance with applicable regulations (e.g., national legislation, labor codes) and to promote their use of effective and sustainable organizational and operational practices. When possible, applicants should work with WOs and CSOs that incorporate a democratic process.

Applicants are not limited to proposing only Sub-outcome 1.1 below and may consider proposing additional sub-outcomes in their project strategy to achieve Outcome 1. Applicants should propose interventions and activities based on the needs assessment described in Outcome 1.

Sub-outcome 1.1: Increased organizational resiliency of worker organizations and civil society organizations.

For Sub-outcome 1.1, with the aim of providing services addressing labor violations for workers and their families under Outcome 2, the project should focus on increased organizational resiliency of WOs and CSOs to effectively implement and sustain services after the project ends. Depending on assessed need, this could include helping WOs and CSOs to identify and operationalize needed work-centered services, develop and implement strategic work plans, comply with the country’s labor legislation and government regulations and requirements to operate fully45, develop and implement financial systems and skills, mobilize financial and human resources, enhance technical skills, prepare budgets, workflows and financial projections, communication strategies, risk assessments, and security plans. This could also include support for WOs’ and CSOs’ increased use of data and technology, and increased capacity to mobilize community members and build partnerships.

Activities must include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Strengthening the capacity of WOs and CSOs in targeted geographical areas to comply with government regulations and requirements in order to operate fully in Brazil and Paraguay (e.g., registration, taxes, employment contracts, and social security).

• Assisting WOs and CSOs in mainstreaming labor issues into its mission and core activities.

• Assisting WOs and CSOs in identifying and documenting labor violations.

• Assessing WOs’ and CSOs’ ability to provide direct services, including assessing the WOs’ and CSOs’ costs to meet project-related requirements for participant monitoring, required for Outcome 2; and, if applicable, strengthening WOs’ and CSOs’ capacity to monitor and report data on project participants

Applicants must explain how the project will foster collaboration and coordination among WOs and CSOs to work together to achieve Outcome 1 and the overarching project-level objective. In addition, applicants must clearly describe in their proposed strategy how they will integrate sustainability and promote the sustainability of key elements under Outcome 1, beginning in the early stages of project implementation. Applicants must also take into account any ongoing efforts to increase the capacity of WOs and CSOs to address forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations in the cattle raising sectors of both Brazil and Paraguay.

Outcome 2: Increased capacity of worker organizations and civil society organizations to provide services addressing labor violations for workers and their families.46

Applicants must clearly demonstrate how the proposed strategy for Outcome 2 supports the overarching project-level objective. The applicant’s strategy must take into account (1) the organizational capacity and skill level of the WOs and CSOs to provide services needed by workers and their families to available services; (2) the needs of workers, their families, and their communities; and (3) the access and quality of social and livelihood services supported by public institutions, the private sector, local philanthropy, NGOs, or other stakeholders.47 In describing their strategy, applicants must clearly identify priority areas of intervention and describe proposed activities.

Based on their needs assessment, applicants must propose interventions and activities to address identified needs, including strategies for developing partnerships with stakeholders to achieve the expected outcome. Applicants must propose stakeholder partnerships that include representatives from targeted populations to help ensure that activities and interventions are culturally responsive.

Taking into consideration the current capacity of targeted WOs and CSOs, applicants must propose a strategy for how they would improve WOs’ and CSOs’ capacity to provide direct services to targeted populations to address labor issues related to project’s areas of focus. When possible, applicants should work with locally led WOs and CSOs to provide services to workers and their families.

Applicants must assist WOs and CSOs in identifying existing national, state, and local government resources for addressing labor law violations and assist WOs and CSOs in taking actions to increase access of individuals, workers, families, and communities to means of recourse in targeted areas. Applicants must support WOs’ and CSOs’ efforts to raise awareness about and refer individuals and connect communities to such existing government systems and resources (e.g., labor inspectorate offices, forced labor grievance mechanisms, legal and social services for vulnerable workers).

In addition, applicants must clearly describe in their proposed strategy how they will promote the sustainability of key elements under Outcome 2 and integrate such sustainability planning into the earliest stages of project implementation. Applicants must take into account any ongoing efforts by other organizations or stakeholders to increase the resiliency of workers, their families, and their communities in the project’s target areas and coordinate with those organizations and stakeholders to accelerate progress.

Outcome 3: Increased level of worker organizations’ and civil society organizations’ engagement with private sector stakeholders to advocate for better work conditions.

Applicants must propose a strategy for how they would increase engagement between WOs and CSOs and private sector stakeholders to address forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations in areas of both Brazil and Paraguay. The applicant’s strategy must, at a minimum, (1) identify constraints and opportunities for WOs and CSOs to engage on labor issues with the private sector at national, state/departmental, and/or local level; (2) analyze the level of engagement and collaboration of WOs and CSOs with the private sector; and (3) describe how the project will work with private-sector stakeholders to improve the enabling environment for WOs and CSOs to achieve the outcome and support the overarching project-level objective.

Based on their needs assessment and strategy under Outcome 2, applicants must propose interventions and activities relevant to the implementing environment in each country.

Applicants must explain how the project will work with WOs, CSOs, and private sector actors to build networks and support information-sharing and peer-to-peer learning to achieve their respective outcomes and the overarching project-level objective. In addition, applicants must clearly describe in their proposed strategy how they will integrate sustainability and promote the sustainability of key elements under Outcome 3 beginning in the early stages of project implementation. Applicants must also take into account any related and ongoing efforts in the country when designing the strategy.

Applicants must propose a strategy, to achieve the project-level objective and expected outcomes stated above. Applicants may suggest additional outcomes they deem necessary to achieve the project-level objective and a rationale for how they contribute to the achievement of the project’s overall objective.

Applicants must describe all major areas of project intervention. In describing project interventions, applicants are expected to describe specific outputs and activities and how such activities should logically lead to the project’s expected objective and outcomes in an interrelated and holistic manner. 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. Applicants must provide evidence of the effectiveness of their proposed strategy.

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 are not required to develop an integrated sustainability strategy for every outcome and sub-outcome proposed, but rather, only where appropriate and needed to maximize long term impact. 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 their strategy, applicants must undertake an initial assessment of any unique needs of the most at risk and vulnerable groups and describe how any identified needs will be addressed.

Applicants must describe how they will strengthen worker voice to address forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations in the cattle raising sectors of Brazil and Paraguay. Applicants must also explain how worker-driven approaches and worker-focused capacity building will be integrated into the strategy.

Applicants should propose to work with locally-led WOs and CSOs with strong support and leadership of indigenous groups and other vulnerable ethnic groups that have experience or interest working on issues related to the project to achieve the project-level objective and the three outcomes throughout the life of the project.

Applicants must identify in their proposal potential risks to achievement of the project-level objective and/or any of the three project outcomes in the project’s target areas, such as a lack of rule of law, illegal activities, and environmental degradation. In addition, applicants must propose a plan to support efforts to mitigate the impacts of the identified risk(s). Applicants must also explain how they will promote that a “do no harm” approach in carrying out project activities and take steps to avoid inadvertently endangering project participants, stakeholders, or staff. 48

Applicants should include an integrated communication and outreach strategy that supports the overall implementation of the project. Applicants should describe how the communication and outreach strategy will promote dialogue and awareness-raising in support of the project-level objective and all three outcomes. As part of this strategy, applicants should incorporate information and experience exchanges (e.g., best practices and lessons learned) between relevant project stakeholders in both Brazil and Paraguay. The communication and outreach strategy should demonstrate how the following are taken into account: (1) audience analysis and messaging tailored to WOs and CSOs, project participants, the private sectors, and other stakeholders and (2) the role of traditional, digital, and social media in reporting on issues relevant to the project. The cost of the integrated communication and outreach strategy must be reflected in the Outcome-Based Budget and Budget Narrative. As part of the communication strategy, applicants must describe how they intend to reach indigenous groups and those engaged in forced labor and consider their cultural uniqueness (e.g., language) and vulnerabilities.

Applicants must describe an integrated gender approach, throughout the life of the project, from the design phase through implementation, so that women have representation in the project under all three outcomes.49 The integrated approach must also ensure that children and youth, both girls and boys, as well as individuals living with disabilities, have representation in the project under all three outcomes and throughout the life of the project. Applicants are also encouraged to tailor projects to ensure multiple perspectives, including those related to religion, race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity and/or expression.

Applicants must take into account the impacts of COVID-19 on the implementing context and describe ways that the project can support efforts to reduce the vulnerability of workers, children, and other vulnerable populations.

USDOL has informed host government officials of the proposed project. Applicants must consult with the Governments of Brazil and Paraguay to ensure that their proposed strategies are relevant to the country’s needs and supportive of the Government of Brazil and Paraguay’s efforts to address forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations in the cattle raising sectors.

Efforts must be made to avoid duplication and to build upon relevant previous or ongoing activities in Brazil and Paraguay, in particular, the USDOL-funded ATLAS project in Paraguay. Applicants must include a mapping of the landscape of current relevant programming in Brazil and Paraguay. Applicants must also demonstrate how they intend to coordinate and share best practices and lessons learned with other relevant projects and initiatives in both countries, including those supported by the host government (both national and state), USDOL, other USG agencies, other donor governments and organizations, and the private sector. Applicants must include a brief description of the consultative process undertaken in preparing their proposal.

b) Project Targets (up to 8 points)

The applicant's Project Targets section will be evaluated based on how well it supports the overall project strategy, as well as for how reasonable project targets are with consideration to the allocation of project resources (e.g., budget, staffing) to support the meeting of those targets.

Applicants must include participant targets for each country, including the number of WOs and/or CSOs they will work with (for both Outcomes 1 and 2), and if the applicant is proposing to provide direct services, the number of individuals to be provided direct services by the project (Outcome 2). Applicants must provide a rationale for this number, taking into account the type and cost of services planned, quality considerations, and budget implications, including costs to meet OCFT’s requirements for census-type participant monitoring, outlined in Section 2.d.8. Applicants must also provide the initial criteria for eligibility and selection of potential private sector participants (Outcome 3).

Applicants must propose to work in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil and in the Chaco region of Paraguay. The applicant must propose strategies for addressing forced labor in cattle raising areas of both Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil and the Chaco region of Paraguay where there is evidence of this abusive labor practice. In these same targeted geographical areas, the applicant must propose an area-based approach that also addresses identified cases of child labor and other labor violations.

Applicants must describe how geographic areas reflect the problem to be addressed and the overall strategy being proposed by the applicant.

Applicants must put forward a proposed approach to ensure the safety of participants and implementers within the target geographic area(s). Applicants must describe how they will administer services in a safe environment.

Applicants must describe the WOs and CSOs, participant populations, and geographic area(s) in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil and the Chaco region in Paraguay. Applicants must consult with indigenous groups and/or other ethnic populations affected by exploitative labor practices50 in the cattle raising sector during proposal design.51

For Outcome 1: For the WOs and CSOs identified under Outcome 1, applicants must include both a description of their current capacity and experience working on issues related to the objectives of the project and a description of the applicant’s approach for working with the selected organizations to implement project activities. In addition, when identifying WOs and/or CSOs to partner with under Outcome 1, applicants must describe how they will work with the proposed WOs and/or CSOs to build the capacity and skills necessary to accomplish Outcomes 2 and 3, describing what resources are necessary to carry out these activities ensuring sustainability of proposed interventions. If applicable, applicants may propose to work with more than one WO/CSO in a selected geographic area.

For Outcome 2: Applicants must describe the target population(s), including whether the applicant proposes to provide services directly to and/or through sub-recipients, or the WOs and/or CSOs proposed under Outcome 2 to direct participants (see Appendix B for definitions of participants). Applicants should work with the WOs and CSOs to determine the initial criteria for selection of potential project participants and should prioritize, to the extent possible, members of vulnerable households and communities who undertake activities in the cattle raising sector.

In their proposal, applicants must state the number of participants to be provided direct services by the applicant and/or its partners organizations, or WOs and CSOs identified under Outcome 2 as a result of project-supported activities and must provide a rationale for this number, taking into account the types and costs of services planned, access, quality, and safety considerations, and budget implications, including costs to meet OCFT’s requirements for participant monitoring, outlined below. If applicants propose the same WOs and CSOs for Outcomes 1 and 2, they should clearly state this and explain their rationale.

Applicants must target geographical areas and specific communities when addressing forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations in the cattle raising sectors of Brazil and Paraguay. Applicants must provide the initial criteria for the selection of communities, and the criteria should take into account, at a minimum, the prevalence of forced labor, child labor, and other labor violations identified in the cattle raising sector, the accessibility and strategic location of the communities for effective project implementation, and available project resources. Applicants should consider partnering with WOs and CSOs to ensure that interventions/services are complementary and relevant for victims of forced labor.

The project…