FOA-ILAB-23-33.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of International Labor Affairs

Program Office:

OCFT

Notice of Availability of Funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement for: Reducing Child Labor and Forced Labor in Critical Mineral Producing Communities in Zambia

Announcement Type: _________

Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ILAB-23-33

Assistance Listing Number: 17.401

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is 09/29/2023.

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 09/30/2023 and 12/31/2023.

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 in Zambia to reduce child labor and forced labor in critical mineral producing communities.

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

https://www.grants.gov/

Eligible applicants include any commercial, international, educational, or non-profit organizations, including any faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, or public international organizations (PIOs). Please see section III of this funding opportunity announcement for complete eligibility requirements.

The project will aim to achieve the following outcomes:

Outcome 1: Increased capacity of government to address child labor and forced labor in critical mineral[1] producing communities.

Outcome 2: Increased resiliency[2] of members of vulnerable households[3] in communities producing critical minerals.

Applicants must propose working in mining communities in two of the following provinces:

Northwestern, Copperbelt, Central and/or Luapula. Applicants must propose utilizing an integrated area-based approach[4] to address child labor and promote sustainable community solutions to reduce the impact on children in relation to increases in the demand for critical minerals.

The Applicant selected for award will be required to conduct two needs assessments: (1) Within the first six months of award, the grantee will refine the proposed strategy related to Outcome 1 by conducting a needs assessment that includes consultation with government stakeholders to determine geographical areas to improve government capacity to address child labor and forced labor in mining communities. (2) Within the first 12 months of award, the grantee will carry out an in-country needs assessment to assess, refine, and/or validate the proposed strategy for Outcome 2 and to inform the design and delivery of interventions. This needs assessment should use a participatory approach to identify the needs of households vulnerable to child labor and forced labor in project areas, the communities and households that should be targeted by the project, how they should be reached; how the project can effect sustainable change; and how the context might affect the delivery, uptake, and outcome of the activities, including potential risks.

All post award refinements to the project strategy as referenced in the previous paragraph 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 Common Outcome Domains and 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 strengthen global labor standards, enforce labor commitments among trading partners, promote racial and gender equity, and combat 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 to fund a technical assistance project in Zambia to reduce child labor and forced labor in critical mineral producing communities..

The project will aim to achieve the following outcomes:

Outcome 1: Increased capacity of government to address child labor and forced labor in critical mineral[1] producing communities.

Outcome 2: Increased resiliency[2] of members of vulnerable households[3] in communities producing critical minerals.

Applicants must propose working in mining communities in two of the following provinces:

Northwestern, Copperbelt, Central and/or Luapula. Applicants must propose utilizing an integrated area-based approach[4] to address child labor and promote sustainable community solutions to reduce the impact on children in relation to increases in the demand for critical minerals.

The Applicant selected for award will be required to conduct two needs assessments: (1) Within the first six months of award, the grantee will refine the proposed strategy related to Outcome 1 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab by conducting a needs assessment that includes consultation with government stakeholders to determine geographical areas to improve government capacity to address child labor and forced labor in mining communities. (2) Within the first 12 months of award, the grantee will carry out an in-country needs assessment to assess, refine, and/or validate the proposed strategy for Outcome 2 and to inform the design and delivery of interventions. This needs assessment should use a participatory approach to identify the needs of households vulnerable to child labor and forced labor in project areas, the communities and households that should be targeted by the project, how they should be reached; how the project can effect sustainable change; and how the context might affect the delivery, uptake, and outcome of the activities, including potential risks.

All post award refinements to the project strategy as referenced in the previous paragraph will be subject to approval by USDOL.

This announcement is for the award of 1 new cooperative agreement(s) 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 ILAB is authorized to award and administer grants and cooperative agreements by the Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2023, PL 117-328, Division H, Title I.

C. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 160 million children were engaged in child labor globally in 2020, the first time there has been an increase in 20 years.[5] Research shows that Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region where rates of child labor continue to increase, with an estimated 87 million children in child labor in Sub-Saharan Africa, more than in the rest of the world combined.[6] Among the factors contributing to the prevalence of child labor in the region are extreme poverty, which afflicts roughly 40 percent of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa; high levels of labor informality, which accounts for over 80 percent of all employment; and lack of access to social protection initiatives, which cover only 17 percent of the population.[7]

Global estimates also indicate more than one million children are engaged in child labor in mines and quarries.[8] According to the ILO, minerals mined by children are found in a variety of global supply chains, including for the production of automobiles and electronics.[9] Children working in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) engage in a wide range of hazardous activities, including mining ore, carrying heavy loads of rock, and using toxic chemicals to separate minerals from ore.[10] Working in mines puts children’s safety and health at risk through injury, illness, and even death.[11] While typically boys participate in mining at a higher rate than girls, girls are often found to work in mining-related jobs, including selling food and supplies and working as domestic servants, and may be victims of commercial sexual exploitation in and around mining sites.[12]

The transition to renewable energy globally has led to an increased demand for key mineral inputs and expanded mining and extraction activities.[13] Zambia sits on large reserves of high-grade copper, found in the Copperbelt, which runs through northern Zambia and southern

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); cobalt is a by-product of copper, and Zambia also has deposits of manganese.[14] All three ores are considered critical to the development of electric vehicles (EVs). EVs require copper for their wiring and cobalt and manganese for the EV batteries.[15] The International Energy Agency estimates that, in the next two decades, the global demand for copper will increase by 40 percent, cobalt by 60-70 percent, and manganese by 10 percent. In Zambia, copper and cobalt account for 70 percent of the country’s export earnings, with Zambia exporting $7.67 billion in copper in 2021.[16] Of this amount, in 2021, Zambia exported $6.33 billion in raw copper, principally to Switzerland ($3.13 billion) and China ($1.64 billion).[17] In 2021, Zambia also exported $34 million in manganese, of which $26.8 million was exported to China.[18]

Zambia is a low income country, with over half of its population under the age of 18.[19] In recent years, Zambia has experienced an increase of children engaged in mining, including for copper/cobalt ore and manganese ore.[20] Some children in Zambia are forced by illegal mining syndicates (jerabos) in the Copperbelt to load trucks with stolen copper ore.[21] Children engaging in illicit mining work usually drop out of school prior to completing their compulsory education, which decreases their future economic opportunities.[22] Manganese miners, including children, are at risk of chronic poisoning, resulting in skeletal deformities; damage to internal organs; and manganese disease – a neurological condition similar to Parkinson’s disease with symptoms of trembling, stiffness, and slow motor movement.[23] Mining accidents have caused the death of children mining manganese in Zambia.[24]

When deposits of critical minerals are found in communities in Zambia, it results in an increase in internal migration to the area, with most mobile households seeking work, including in artisanal mining.[25] While ASM in gemstone mining in Zambia has high levels of formalization, there is a high level of informality in ASM in the manganese sector, resulting in child labor and a lack of safety standards.[26] Youth, including girls, in the Zambian mining sector tend to work in the informal and ASM sectors.[27] Youth in Zambia are usually unskilled and unprepared to join the workforce, mostly due to high rates of school dropout (42 per cent for girls and 30 per cent for boys).[28]

The Government of Zambia has set age 19 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which includes underground work, exposure to dust and toxic chemicals, excavation, stone crushing and carrying heavy loads, among other tasks.[29] However, the Education Act does not set a specific age for which education is compulsory, allowing children to leave school before they are legally able to work and thereby increasing their vulnerability to the worst forms of child labor.

In addition, government capacity and resources are insufficient to enforce laws related to child labor in Zambia. While the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) conducts planned labor inspections in registered private companies, inspections of unregistered companies, including at artisanal mining sites where child labor is most common, primarily occur only in response to complaints.[30] The legal code of Zambia prohibits forced labor and human trafficking.[31]

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 (one) 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 increase the amount of an award or 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 required period of performance is 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, including PIOs, 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

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 (3) Resume for Key Personnel (3) Resume for Other Required

Professional Personnel (2) Project Management

Organizational Chart

Section IV.B.1

Cost Proposal Section IV.B.2 Budget Narrative Section IV.B.2.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 (see definition in Appendix B), 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 http://www.grants.gov 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 project objective, proposed outcomes, sub-outcomes (if included in this FOA), 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 (if included in this FOA), and outputs.

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

6) Subrecipient 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 10 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 30 points)

a) Project Strategy and Sustainability Strategy (up to 25 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 reduce child labor and forced labor in critical mineral producing communities in Zambia.

In support of achieving the objective, the project should be designed to achieve the following outcomes and sub-outcomes, if required:

Outcome 1: Increased capacity of government to address child labor and forced labor in critical mineral producing communities.

Outcome 2: Increased resiliency of members of vulnerable households in communities producing critical minerals.

For Outcome 1, applicants must propose a strategy to increase the capacity of the national, regional, and/or local government in Zambia to address child labor and forced labor in the mining of critical minerals and related jobs in mining communities. This should include support for increasing knowledge and skills of government officials to address child labor and forced labor. Applicants must explain how they will work with the Government of Zambia to support the implementation of Zambia’s National Action Plan against child labor, particularly in the mining sector. Applicants also must detail how they will support regional engagement and collaboration between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo along the borders of the two countries to address child labor and forced labor where they have similar interests in the production and transportation of critical minerals. Applicants must take into account any existing cooperation and exchanges of experiences between Zambia and the DRC, on issues of mining critical minerals and child and forced labor. Applicants may consider working with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to assist with the cross-border engagement and collaboration.

Applicants may propose a variety of interventions and activities and should justify in their proposal proposed activities by describing identified gaps and weaknesses needing to be addressed in the implementing environment. Among the potential activities applicants should consider the following strategies as part of their assessment:

Increasing the knowledge and skill base of relevant government officials to address other violations of labor rights (as a strategy for reducing risk of child labor and forced labor) in the mining of critical minerals and related jobs in mining communities.

Supporting enforcement of labor laws in the formal and ASM of critical minerals and related jobs in mining communities, including illicit activities.

Supporting the government at the local, provincial and/or national levels to improve the legislative and policy environment with respect to child labor in mining and related jobs.

Strengthening intra- and inter-agency coordination of law enforcement and social protection agencies to address child labor and forced labor in the mining of critical minerals and related jobs in mining communities.

Strengthening the government’s social protection system households with children in mining communities.

Creating and implementing a Child Labor Monitoring System[32] in critical mineral producing communities.

Improving coordination and collaboration among the government, mining companies, worker organizations, and/or communities to provide decent work and reduce labor violations in the mining of critical minerals and related jobs in mining communities.

Supporting the government's and mining communities’ efforts to formalize the ASM sector through the existing legal framework.

As part of its needs assessment, in the first six months of award, the applicant must, at a minimum, (1) identify the roles and responsibilities of relevant government agencies, (2) analyze capacity gaps of relevant government agencies, and (3) describe how the project will increase the capacity of relevant government agencies to achieve Outcome 1 and support the overarching project-level objective.

For Outcome 2, applicants must propose a strategy to increase the resiliency of members of vulnerable households, who are engaged in or at risk of child labor and/or forced labor, in communities where critical minerals are produced. Applicants must explain how they will utilize an area-based approach in mining communities producing critical minerals in two or more of the Northwestern, Copperbelt, Central and/or Luapula provinces. Applicants must take into consideration future risks to children related to surges in the production, extraction, and transportation of critical minerals in Zambia.

Applicants must assess and describe the most significant obstacles that keep households of working children or children at high-risk of entering child labor in the mining sector from achieving sustainable livelihoods without depending on child labor. Applicants must propose strategies that address those obstacles and provide livelihood services to households of target children according to their needs.

Strategies should include components of occupational safety and health (OSH), sector diversification, and productivity of Zambia’s workforce, including cooperatives and smallholder miners.

Applicants may propose a variety of interventions and activities and should justify proposed activities in their proposal by describing identified gaps and weaknesses needing to be addressed in the implementing environment. Applicants should consider the following strategies as part of their assessment:

Addressing the needs of children of vulnerable households, such as through the provision of formal and/or non-formal education, including mobile schools; health; and/or nutrition service.

Supporting youth of legal working age in vulnerable households, such as through the provision of vocational or entrepreneurial training to develop skills for employment in safe work outside of the mining sector.

Providing workforce development assistance for adult youth up to age 21 in vulnerable households, such as the provision of vocational training for employment in safe work in the mining of critical minerals and assistance with job placement services in formal mining companies, through linkages with the private sector.

Supporting the participation of women of vulnerable households in the workforce, including in the mining sector, and/or addressing their access to finance.

Addressing the needs of adults of vulnerable households, such as increasing access to livelihood services and health services.

Improving knowledge of adult workers in vulnerable households of their labor rights and/or facilitating legal assistance if needed as a means to reduce child labor and forced labor in critical minerals communities.

Supporting local civil society and worker’s rights organizations to take efforts to reduce child labor and forced labor in the critical mineral communities, including by strengthening the labor environment for all workers through organization and action at the community-level.

Linking members of vulnerable households to relevant governmental and non-governmental social protection programs. Social protection programs may include, but are not limited to, health insurance, unemployment services, vocational training programs and employment injury benefits.

As part of its needs assessment within the first 12 months of award, the applicant must refine the design and delivery of Outcome 2 interventions by using a participatory approach to identify the needs of households vulnerable to child labor and forced labor in project areas, the communities and households that should be targeted by the project, how they should be reached; how the project can effect sustainable change; and how the context might affect the delivery, uptake, and outcome of the activities, including potential risks.

Requirements Across Outcomes 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. One or more existing outcomes may be revised during the project validation process post-award in consultation with ILAB. A subsequent amendment to the cooperative agreement will formally reflect the incorporation of revised outcomes.

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. 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).

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 or 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 its strategy, applicants must undertake an initial assessment of any unique needs of underserved or historically marginalized populations and the most at risk or vulnerable groups and describe how any identified needs will be addressed.

As part of their strategy, applicants must undertake an initial assessment of any unique needs of underserved or historically marginalized populations and the most at risk or vulnerable groups and describe how any identified needs will be addressed.

Applicants may take into consideration youth at-risk, women-led households, child-led households, and minority groups in the implementation area.

Expected Outcomes

USDOL has informed host government officials of the proposed project. Applicants must propose strategies for collaborating with the relevant government agencies in each country.

These include, at a minimum: Zambia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security and Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development.

Applicants are encouraged to consult with the host government and secure commitment to work with the organization towards specific outcomes.

Applicants may discuss proposed interventions and activities with host government officials and work with government stakeholders at the national and/or local level, including relevant ministries or government bodies, during the preparation of their applications. The Project Design and Sustainability Strategy may demonstrate evidence of this consultation.

Efforts must be made to avoid duplication and to build upon relevant previous or ongoing activities in Zambia. Applicants must include a mapping of the landscape of current relevant programming in Zambia related to the mining sector. Applicants must also demonstrate how they intend to coordinate with other relevant projects and initiatives, including those funded by the host government (where applicable), other USG agencies, and other donor governments and organizations. Applicants must include a brief description of the consultative process undertaken in preparing their proposal.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have undertaken an initial assessment of the needs, resources, interests, influence and capabilities of all target groups, institutions, organizations or structures that are deemed vital to sustaining project outcomes, by describing the process of conducting the assessment and the results. The needs assessment and discussion of results should give particular attention to structural inequities and vulnerable groups, and should include a gender analysis.

Applicants must plan for long-term sustainability of outcomes in their proposed strategies. The applicant’s description of the project strategy should:

Explain the flow of inputs to activities, activities to outputs, outputs to outcomes, outcomes to the project objective, and the sustained impact on worker rights that the project will contribute to.

Fully justify proposed interventions by explaining their purpose and the problems they are intended to address. If available, note any applicable research that establishes evidence of a causal relationship or correlation between interventions and expected outcomes. Proposed interventions, including the activities and outputs that comprise them, should be fully described and should be ambitious but realistic given the implementing environment, scope of the problems to be addressed, and proposed budget.

Demonstrate knowledge of political, gender, cultural, or other traditions and norms pertaining to and impacting the interventions proposed in the target sectors, including how these issues will be considered while implementing project activities.

Demonstrate the long-term sustainability of all efforts and outcomes in the design of the proposal, including which outcomes have the potential to be sustained after the end of the project and explain how the responsibility for sustaining them is expected to transition to local stakeholders, systems and institutions.

Identify risks and opportunities inherent in the project design that could impact the likelihood of achieving or sustaining project outcomes, and describe appropriate mitigation and response strategies.

Recognize possible external factors or shocks and their potential influence on the project, expected outcomes, and their sustainability.

Sustainability must be the centerpiece of the project strategy. “Sustainability” is concerned with measuring whether the benefits of an activity are likely to continue after donor funding has been withdrawn. Applicants must take into account the likelihood that the benefits or effects of a particular output or outcome will continue after donor funding ends. In developing the project strategy, applicants must consult with key stakeholders to ensure that the proposed strategy takes into account the factors, partners and institutions that are likely to have the strongest influence over, and the capacity and willingness to sustain the desired outcomes and impacts.

Applicants should embed sustainability success factors into the project design in accordance with the Sustainability Guide available on ILAB’s website at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/grants.

After award, the selected recipients will be required to refine the Sustainability Strategy, report on it in each of their progress reports and modify or update the https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/grants strategy as needed. Although there are restrictions on the awarding of subawards or contracts to government entities, to the extent possible, recipients should consider engaging relevant government agencies through other mechanisms, as well as partnering with other local organizations or associations to strengthen their capacity.

b) Project Targets (up to 5 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 describe the target populations, institutions, systems or processes that will be impacted by the project. Applicants must describe how target populations, institutions, sectors and/or geographic areas, etc. reflect the problem to be addressed and the overall strategy being proposed by the applicant.

Applicants must provide a justification for their selection of a target geographical area(s), as applicable.

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

Applicants must showcase a qualitative approach in setting priorities for their strategies. While quantitative targets may be included in the proposals, they will not be assessed during the technical proposal review. Applicants are expected to review and finalize proposed quantitative targets during the needs assessments.

Applicants must propose to focus project efforts within two of the below Zambian provinces:

Copperbelt province Northwestern province Central Province Luapula Province

Applicants must focus project efforts by using an area-based approach with the aim of addressing all forms of child labor in the chosen localities where the project will be implemented.

Applicants must provide a justification for their selection of target geographical areas, including taking into consideration and describing in the proposal how the project plans to manage activities effectively, if proposing target areas separated by greater distances. Applicants must describe how geographic areas reflect the problem to be addressed and the overall strategy being proposed by the applicant. Applicants are expected to review the geographical areas of interventions during the first 12 months of award.

In particular, applicants must identify geographical areas where child labor in mining production is widespread and where there are significant gaps in current interventions targeting child labor. Applicants must design their geographic strategy while considering: 1) where child labor is most prominent, 2) quality of interventions they can provide in the localities, 3) current gaps in interventions in the localities, 4) logistics and costs of working in disperse geographic locations and 5) localities with future risks of child labor given labor migration for critical minerals production.

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.

3) Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Agreement and Capacity Statement (up to 5 points)

The applicant's M&E Agreement and Capacity Statement will be evaluated based on how well it addresses OCFT M&E requirements (outlined below). Applicants must confirm in their proposal their commitment to strong project M&E. They must also confirm their agreement to collaborate with USDOL in developing and revising required M&E deliverables, including the project’s Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

(CMEP).

M&E requirements include:

conducting a rigorous process for establishing baseline values for USDOL standard and project-specific indicators, as applicable. Please see Appendix F for a list of OCFT’s standard indicators;

development and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation plan, which includes the collection, entering, processing, reporting, and analysis of data on project-specific and USDOL-standard performance indicators throughout the period of performance;

development of project-specific child labor/forced labor definitions (as applicable);

collaboration with ILAB on required performance evaluations and/or other learning/accountability activities; and ensuring adequate M&E staffing capacity to support monitoring activities throughout the project’s period of performance.

working with USDOL post award to develop appropriate indicators and a plan for assessing the effectiveness and sustainability of key components (or activities) of the project.

As part of project monitoring and evaluation activities, the Grantee will be required to work with USDOL post award to develop appropriate indicators and a plan for assessing the effectiveness and sustainability of key components (or activities) of the project, including proposed activities to build capacity of government address child labor and forced labor in critical mineral producing communities.

For more information on M&E expectations, please see the most recent Management Procedures and Guidelines (MPG) for OCFT projects and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Resource Guide for OCFT Projects under “Grantee Resources” at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/grants.

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

4) Work Plan (up to 5 points) The applicant's Work Plan will be evaluated based on how clearly and realistically it outlines major activities and their related deadlines. The Work Plan must identify major project activities, deadlines for completing these activities, and person(s) or institution(s) responsible for completing these activities for the entire life of the project, as well as a sustainability plan. The Work Plan must be included graphically as an attachment and correspond to activities identified in the Project Design, Budget and Budget Narrative.

Applicants may choose an appropriate format for their Work Plan, but the format must include a field/column where the applicant, if funded, would report on the status of plan items (e.g., not yet started, on track, delayed, completed).

d. Organizational Capacity (up to 25 points) This section must describe the qualifications of the proposed applicant and/or any proposed subrecipients to implement the project.

1) Relevant Grant and/or Contract Experience (up to 5 points) The applicant's Relevant Grant and/or Contract Experience will be evaluated based on how well it reflects their ability to address the requirements of the FOA (including the ability to meet USDOL monitoring, oversight, and reporting requirements) and implement the applicant’s proposed Project Strategy. Applicants must describe any experience they or their proposed subrecipients have with implementing projects relevant to this FOA and provide references for past performance, as well as ask their references to complete and submit a past performance questionnaire. Each of these requirements is further explained in the corresponding bulleted item below. Projects included must have been active within seven years of the issuance date of the FOA and no more than a combined total of six (6) projects for the primary applicant and proposed subrecipients should be provided in the description or used for references.

Project descriptions should be included in this section of the technical proposal.

References must be included as an attachment in a Relevant Grant and/or Contract Experience table (see Appendix C for a sample format).