FOA-ILAB-24-41 Just Transition.docx

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of International Labor Affairs Program Office:

OTLA

Notice of Availability of Funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement for: Promoting a Just Transition for All Workers

Announcement Type: _________

Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ILAB-24-41

Assistance Listing Number: 17.401

Key Dates: The closing date for receipt of applications under this announcement is 10/16/2024. 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 09/30/2024 and 12/31/2024.

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 $7,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for 1 cooperative agreement(s) to fund Phase I of a technical assistance project to increase worker voice in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of climate policies and plans.

The duration of the project will be 48 months from the effective date of the award.

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.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will include three focus areas:

1. Supporting efforts aimed at creating an enabling environment for workers, their organizations, and their communities to efficiently engage in just transition plans and policies.1

2. Strengthening the capacity of workers, workers organizations, and their communities to effectively participate in all just transition related plans and policies at all levels within their respective countries.

3. Fostering South-South cooperation to strengthen workers’ participation in just transition and related plans and policies.

For Phase I, the project will pilot project interventions in Brazil and Chile and will conduct South-South cooperation activities with up to two of the following countries. Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Mozambique, and/or South Africa. For Phase I, the project will use a value-chain approach to conduct interventions in the metal manufacturing sector (including electric vehicles) and/or energy and extractives sectors.2 For Phases I and II, project outcomes will be developed post-award using ILAB's Theory of Sustained Change for Worker Rights Programs (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/grants/MEL).

While developing their proposals, applicants may consider using elements of (1) COP26 Declaration on Supporting the Conditions for a Just Transition Internationally, (2)ILO Guidelines for or a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all, and (3) General Discussion Committee on a Just Transition at the 111th International Labour Conference.

Following the conclusion of Phase I, USDOL will consider awarding a second phase of the project of up to $7,000,000 total costs and with a period of performance of four years, reflecting a total potential project budget of up to $14,000,000 over a period of up to approximately eight years. As part of the application, applicants must also submit a separate technical proposal and budget documents for a potential Phase II of the project (building on activities from Phase I), based on a potential additional funding level of approximately $7,000,000. Applicants must demonstrate estimated costs for Phase II activities occurring in the subsequent 48 months of the project. For the purposes of this FOA, a Phase II technical proposal is one that covers the information listed below and will be assessed based on the following:

1. Brief statement of needs.

2. Brief description of the Phase II project design that describes how the recipient will identify (a) up to 2 countries to pilot interventions and up to 2 additional countries to conduct South-South cooperation and (b) prioritize sectors to conduct project interventions; (c) a Phase II budget narrative that demonstrates how the applicant proposes to allocate an additional $7,000,000 broken down into the following budget categories: Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel, Equipment, Supplies, Contractual, Construction, Other, and Indirect Charges. Under future phases, the project must use evidence, lessons learned, and promising practices from Phase I to inform project strategies to increase worker voice in policies and plans related to just transition. Applicants may consider proposing as pilot countries the same countries the applicant proposes for Phase I’s South-South cooperation activities. Applicants may propose other pilot or South-South countries or sectors not included under Phase I based on the identified needs and potential for achieving the project-level objective.3 USDOL intends to reassess Phase I country selections in consultation with the project during Phase I implementation, in the event changes are required due to unforeseen circumstances. Final determination of Phase II target countries and sectors will be decided in consultation with, and subject to approval by, USDOL following the award of Phase I of this project and prior to the awarding of any additional funding for Phase II.

While USDOL anticipates awarding additional funding for a Phase II of this project, applicants should be aware that USDOL reserves the right to reconsider the amount of or the decision to award any additional funding for Phase II. Future funding for a Phase II is contingent upon USDOL’s need at the time and the availability of funds, satisfactory progress/performance of Phase I, adequate stewardship of federal funds, and submission of a Phase II application meeting requirements outlined in Phase I grant award documents. USDOL also reserves the right to require changes to the Phase II strategy proposed by the applicant in response to this FOA, prior to awarding any additional funding for Phase II.

Table of Contents

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

ILAB leads the U.S. Government’s (USG) efforts to improve working conditions and fight labor exploitation around the world. ILAB’s mission is to promote a fair global playing field for workers in the United States and around the world by enforcing trade commitments, strengthening labor standards, and combating international child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking. ILAB’s Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (OTLA) works to make sure that U.S. trade partners fulfill their promises and play by the rules, and that American workers are able to compete on a level playing field by negotiating strong labor provisions in trade agreements and preference programs, monitoring for compliance, enforcing trade agreement and preference program commitments, and sharing technical expertise. See ILAB’s webpage for additional information: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab.

This FOA solicits applications to implement 1 project(s) with the objective of increasing worker voice in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of climate policies and plans.

For Phase I, the project will pilot project interventions in Brazil and Chile and conduct South-South cooperation activities with up to two additional countries. Potential countries should include Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Mozambique, or South Africa. For Phase I, the project will use a value-chain approach to conduct interventions in the metal manufacturing sector (including electric vehicles) and/or energy and extractives sectors.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will include three focus areas:

1. Supporting efforts aimed at creating an enabling environment for workers, their organizations, and their communities to efficiently engage in just transition plans and policies.1

2. Strengthening the capacity of workers, workers organizations, and their communities to effectively participate in all just transition related plans and policies at all levels within their respective countries.

3. Fostering South-South cooperation to strengthen workers’ participation in just transition and related plans and policies.

For Phase I, the project will pilot project interventions in Brazil and Chile and will conduct South-South cooperation activities with up to two of the following countries. Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Mozambique, and/or South Africa. For Phase I, the project will use a value-chain approach to conduct interventions in the metal manufacturing sector (including electric vehicles) and/or energy and extractives sectors.2 For Phases I and II, project outcomes will be developed post-award using ILAB's Theory of Sustained Change for Worker Rights Programs (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/grants/MEL).

While developing their proposals, applicants may consider using elements of (1) COP26 Declaration on Supporting the Conditions for a Just Transition Internationally, (2)ILO Guidelines for or a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all, and (3) General Discussion Committee on a Just Transition at the 111th International Labour Conference.

Following the conclusion of Phase I, USDOL will consider awarding a second phase of the project of up to $7,000,000 total costs and with a period of performance of four years, reflecting a total potential project budget of up to $14,000,000 over a period of up to approximately eight years. As part of the application, applicants must also submit a separate technical proposal and budget documents for a potential Phase II of the project (building on activities from Phase I), based on a potential additional funding level of approximately $7,000,000. Applicants must demonstrate estimated costs for Phase II activities occurring in the subsequent 48 months of the project. For the purposes of this FOA, a Phase II technical proposal is one that covers the information listed below and will be assessed based on the following:

1. Brief statement of needs.

2. Brief description of the Phase II project design that describes how the recipient will identify (a) up to 2 countries to pilot interventions and up to 2 additional countries to conduct South-South cooperation and (b) prioritize sectors to conduct project interventions; (c) a Phase II budget narrative that demonstrates how the applicant proposes to allocate an additional $7,000,000 broken down into the following budget categories: Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel, Equipment, Supplies, Contractual, Construction, Other, and Indirect Charges. Under future phases, the project must use evidence, lessons learned, and promising practices from Phase I to inform project strategies to increase worker voice in policies and plans related to just transition. Applicants may consider proposing as pilot countries the same countries the applicant proposes for Phase I’s South-South cooperation activities. Applicants may propose other pilot or South-South countries or sectors not included under Phase I based on the identified needs and potential for achieving the project-level objective.3 USDOL intends to reassess Phase I country selections in consultation with the project during Phase I implementation, in the event changes are required due to unforeseen circumstances. Final determination of Phase II target countries and sectors will be decided in consultation with, and subject to approval by, USDOL following the award of Phase I of this project and prior to the awarding of any additional funding for Phase II.

While USDOL anticipates awarding additional funding for a Phase II of this project, applicants should be aware that USDOL reserves the right to reconsider the amount of or the decision to award any additional funding for Phase II. Future funding for a Phase II is contingent upon USDOL’s need at the time and the availability of funds, satisfactory progress/performance of Phase I, adequate stewardship of federal funds, and submission of a Phase II application meeting requirements outlined in Phase I grant award documents. USDOL also reserves the right to require changes to the Phase II strategy proposed by the applicant in response to this FOA, prior to awarding any additional funding for Phase II.

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 Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2024, PL 118-47, Division D, Title I.

C. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Governments and employers around the world are adopting plans and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build clean economies. This transition is expected to generate a net gain of 10.3 million new jobs globally by 2030, while eliminating 2.7 million jobs in fossil fuels.4 Most of the anticipated job gains are likely to be in electrical efficiency, power generation, and the automotive sector. Combined with modernizing the grid, they make up 75% of the new jobs expected. Additional jobs will be created in new-energy sources, end-use renewables, and value-chain resources like innovative technologies and critical minerals.5 According to the Inter-American Development Bank, by 2050, the clean economy transition could create 22.5 million jobs in agriculture, renewable energy, forestry, and other sectors in Latin America. However, it could also eliminate 7.5 million jobs (mostly in fossil fuels and animal-based food production) and wipe out US$3.2 trillion in oil and gas royalties, lowering government funds for social services and programs.6 While phasing out coal-fired plants could reduce emissions, it could also eliminate 2 million direct jobs in 90 countries.7 Most governments recognize the need to strive for just transitions that protect workers and local communities who are or will be affected by the clean economy. However, these workers and their communities have yet to be fully included in the development and implementation of policies and plans related to the clean economy transition.

To address this, the 2023 Just Transition Work Programme adopted at COP28 emphasizes the need to promote social dialogue, social protection, and labor rights in clean economy policies and plans.8 The ILO Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all provide a framework for fostering social dialogue and inclusive policy-making and planning. At the national level, social dialogue involving governments, employers, and workers can inform climate policies such as the Nationally Determined Contributions or standalone roadmaps on just transition. At the sector and enterprise levels, collective bargaining agreements and bipartite social dialogue can help create and implement plans to uphold a just transition and adjust to changes driven by climate mitigation and adaptation needs. At the global level, social dialogue can foster the participation of workers in the development of global frameworks and sectoral roadmaps on just transitions.9 Countries such as Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Mozambique, Peru, and South Africa have been developing clean economy policies and plans, some of which will involve workers and their communities. For example, in December 2023, Brazil began to implement its National Environmental Transformation Plan, and Chile is currently developing a Just Transition plan.10

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement. Approximately $7,000,000 total costs is expected to be available to fund approximately 1 (cooperative agreement) award(s). Applicants may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $7,000,000 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 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:

· Nonprofits, including any faith-based organizations or community-based organizations

· Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education

· Private Institutions of Higher Education

· Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

· Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities

· Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions

· Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)

· Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs)

· Minority Serving Institutions

· Native American tribal organizations (Federally recognized)

· For-Profit organizations

· Non-U.S. organizations:

· 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.

Attachments to Technical Proposal

· Abstract

· Work Plan

· Sustainability Strategy Template

· Relevant Grant and/or Contract Experience

· Project Management Organizational Chart Section IV.B.1

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 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 5 points)

a) Scope of the Problem (up to 3 points) Applicants will be evaluated based on the extent to which their analysis demonstrates an understanding of the scope and nature of the problem that forms the basis of the project design. Applicants must describe in both quantitative and qualitative terms the need for assistance, including the nature, scope and root causes of the problem, and the consequences of not addressing the need. Applicants must identify significant gaps in laws, policies, programs, and coordination efforts that contribute to the identified problem and that need to be addressed. Phase II will be evaluated in the Phase II Problem Analysis attachment.

b) Population / Institutions Served (up to 1 points) The analysis must include discussion of specific actors that have influence, leverage, and/or interest in addressing the problem, giving particular attention to underserved, underrepresented, and historically marginalized communities or groups. This could include individuals, groups, institutions, coalitions, or networks. This discussion should clearly describe how the targeted population(s) to be served in the project will meet the requirements of this FOA. The analysis must address considerations of harm and equity sufficient to demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of how the problem affects different groups, with particular attention to gender and racial equity. For projects involving institutional strengthening, the problem analysis should clearly describe institutional barriers (or “pain points”) encountered by the target population(s) in participating in climate policy-making and accessing services, benefits, protections or programs associated with improved workers’ rights. The problem analysis must be supported by relevant empirical data, including citations.

c) Proposed Geographic Scope (up to 1 points):

The applicant may identify and provide a justification for the proposed areas of intervention. Applicants may choose one or more of the following scopes: local (municipal or provincial), regional (contiguous area within country), sectoral or value chain (within country), national, multi-country (contiguous or non-contiguous), firm, industry, or value chain (local, regional or global). Within the chosen geographic scope, applicants may identify the specific site(s) where awarded applicants will implement project interventions in pilot countries.

If the applicant does not identify potential areas of intervention, scope, or specific sites, it must explain how it will do so post-award and explain the advantages and disadvantages of this approach.

For the South-South cooperation focus area, applicants should propose up to 2 countries from the list below and provide a rationale for their selection based on the scope of this FOA. The selection of countries is subject to approval by DOL post-award.

· Potential countries include Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Mozambique, or South Africa.

2) Project Design (up to 33 points)

a) Project Strategy and Sustainability Strategy (up to 30 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 of increasing worker voice in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of climate policies and plans.

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

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

The project-level objective is to increase worker voice in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of climate policies and plans.

For Phase I, the project will pilot project interventions in Brazil and Chile and conduct South-South cooperation activities with up to two countries. Potential countries should include Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Mozambique, and/or South Africa. The project will use a value-chain approach to conduct interventions in the metal manufacturing sector (including electric vehicles) and/or energy and extractives sectors.1

In support of achieving the objective, the project will include three focus areas:

1. Supporting efforts aimed at creating an enabling environment for workers, their organizations, and their communities to efficiently engage in just transition policies and plans.

2. Strengthening the capacity of workers, workers organizations, and their communities to effectively participate in all just transition related policies and plans at all levels within their respective countries.

3. Fostering South-South cooperation to strengthen workers’ participation in just transition and the related policies and plans.

1. Supporting efforts aimed at creating an enabling environment for workers, their organizations, and their communities to efficiently engage in just transition policies and plans.

For Focus Area 1, applicants must describe how the proposed project will help governments, workers and employers to use collective bargaining, tripartism, and social dialogue to create and execute policies and plans for just transition.11 This may be at a variety of levels, such as national tripartite social dialogue on climate policy or sustainable industrial policy, tripartism at the subnational levels including municipalities, sectoral bipartite dialogue between workers and employers, or the integration of just transition into enterprise or sectoral collective bargaining agreements. Applicants should:

· Explain how they will support social dialogue, at what levels and in what economic activities, and the forms of support for governments, workers, and employers to participate fully and effectively in planning and policy-making.

· Describe how they will promote binding agreements, including collective bargaining agreements, community benefit agreements, and tripartite or bipartite agreements.

· Describe how they will promote evidence-based policies and plans that prioritize worker voice.

For the illustrative examples of enabling-environment activities, applicants should justify proposed activities by describing identified gaps and weaknesses needing to be addressed. Applicants could consider the following:

· Improving knowledge and awareness of site-specific and sectoral transition (e.g., energy-dependent or mono-industrial communities) and the effect on workers and labor rights, communities, and underserved populations.12

· Integrating just transition measures into collective bargaining agreements, as well as policies. Policies could include industrial, macroeconomic, environmental, climate, employment, workforce development, social protection, trade, or national development plans.

· Supporting and engaging government authorities including a variety of relevant bodies such as energy and environmental ministries, to strengthen social dialogue, inclusive consultation, transparency and accountability on climate-related policy.

2. Strengthening the capacity of workers, workers organizations, and their communities to effectively participate in all just transition related policies and plans at all levels within their respective countries.

For Focus Area 2, applicants must describe how they will empower workers and worker organizations to promote just workforce transition with quality jobs and decent work amid climate mitigation, including collective action to protect existing jobs and help workers move to new jobs.13 This should address economic activities that are being reduced or transformed, for example coal mining and coal-fired power or the shift from internal combustion to electric vehicle manufacturing. Applicants should also describe how they will support worker organizing and collective bargaining in sectors (including sub-sectors if applicable) they will propose as part of their application. For proposed transitioning and new sectoral or subsectoral activities, climate adaptation should be considered. Applicants should:

· Explain how they will empower workers and worker organizations to participate in negotiation, design, and implementation of policies and plans (formal training).

· Describe how they will support workers and worker organizations to use what they learn through capacity building activities. (learning by doing).

· Outline how they will support worker organizations to build or strengthen networks and coalitions (learning with others).

Applicants are encouraged to use an experiential learning approach for this focus area. Experiential learning combines training, learning by doing, learning with others, and reflecting on what was learned.14 For the illustrative examples of worker empowerment activities, applicants should justify proposed activities by describing identified gaps and weaknesses needing to be addressed. Among the strategies applicants could consider are the following:

Formal Training

· Improving the skill set of workers and worker organizations on organizing, negotiation and leadership, policy development, accountability, advocacy, and coalition-building.

· Increasing knowledge and awareness among workers and worker organizations on:

· challenges and opportunities presented by decarbonization, including changes in employment, union representation, collective bargaining coverage, and working conditions.15

· impacts of climate on labor rights and working conditions, with a focus on climate-related hazards.16 Learning by Doing

· Coaching and mentoring workers and worker organizations to effectively use social dialogue and collective bargaining participate in the creation of policies and plans and participate in monitoring and implementation.

· Fostering collective bargaining on just transition and worker organizing to improve job quality and access to good jobs in the clean economy.17 Learning with Others

· Building or strengthening partnerships with local communities, workers’ organizations in other sectors, climate organizations, and other civil society organizations to develop joint policy positions and advocacy strategies related to policies and plans at all levels.

Depending on project strategies for this focus area, applicants may consider setting aside up to $400,000 in the project budget to support a small grants mechanism for worker organizations. If applicants decide to do so, they must describe how they will manage the small grant mechanism(s) to support initiatives to be implemented by worker organizations in pilot countries. Applicants must explain the procedures and mechanisms to select, fund, and monitor these initiatives as well as ensure responsible use of Federal funds. Applicants are encouraged to consider adoption and/or replication of effective procedures and mechanisms already used by ILAB-funded projects, USAID, and other donors. Applicants should avoid duplication of existing efforts or creating additional burdens for worker organizations. The finalization of the strategy for the small grant mechanism(s) is subject to approval by DOL post-award. For Phase II, applicants can propose a small grant mechanism(s) based on their proposed project strategies.

3. Fostering South-South cooperation to strengthen workers’ participation in just transition and related policies and plans.

For Focus Area 3, applicants must describe how they will promote South-South cooperation among pilot countries and proposed countries to strengthen workers’ participation in just transition and the related processes.18 Applicants must outline a strategy to carry out practical and outcome-oriented activities targeting key stakeholders that complement current efforts on South-South climate and just transition, and proposed activities under Focus Areas 1 and 2. Potential activities could include technical workshops, peer-to-peer training, and in-person and virtual discussions, among others. Proposed strategies for South-South activities will be refined during the validation process and life of the project.

Requirements Across Technical Proposal Applicants must propose a strategy to achieve the project-level objective that incorporates adaptive management, evidence, innovation, and sustainability.19 Applicants must:

· Describe how they will use adaptive management and evidence to guide project activities. During the validation process, applicants will be required to co-create project outcomes with project stakeholders. In their proposals, Applicants must explain how they will use co-creation for the validation process and throughout the life of the project.20

· Explain how they will promote innovation in their project strategies and monitor its relevance and effectiveness. Applicants are encouraged to allocate up to $150,000 in project funds for innovation activities. This could include 1) testing new tools and approaches to capacity-building and South-South activities or 2) incorporating design thinking and the collective impact model into project activities.

· Outline 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).

In addition, 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.

· Implement an integrated communication and outreach strategy to support the project-level objective and proposed strategies. The communication and outreach strategy must incorporate concrete actions to ensure information and experience exchange among countries to inform adaptive management and scale up project performance. The communication and outreach strategy must demonstrate how the following are taken into account: (1) audience analysis and messaging tailored to workers, worker organizations, local communities, government officials, businesses, and other stakeholders and (2) the role of traditional, digital, and social media in reporting on issues relevant to the project.

· 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.

After award, projects will be required to develop a logic model to illustrate how the proposed strategies will contribute to achievement of the project objective and sustained impact. For a more complete discussion of logic models and other Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning elements required by OTLA, please see the MEL Guide for ILAB Worker Rights Programs on ILAB’s website.

For Phase II, applicants must identify (a) up to 2 countries to pilot interventions and up to 2 additional countries to conduct South-South cooperation and (b) prioritize sector(s) to conduct project interventions. Applicants may consider proposing as pilot countries the same countries the applicant proposes for Phase I’s South-South cooperation activities. Applicants may propose other pilot or South-South countries or sectors not included under Phase I based on the identified needs and potential for achieving the project-level objective.

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

Efforts must be made to avoid duplication and to build upon relevant previous or ongoing activities in the target countries. Applicants must include a mapping of the landscape of current relevant programming in the target countries. Applicants must also demonstrate how they intend to coordinate with other relevant projects and initiatives, including those funded by the host government (where applicable), USDOL, 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:

· 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 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 South-South activities, as well as partnering with other local organizations or associations to strengthen their…