Program to End Modern Slavery Annual Program Statement

The Department of State Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor seeks applications for the Program to End Modern Slavery (PEMS), an evidence-based anti-trafficking grant program with application deadlines of September 30, 2026, and December 31, 2026, and a total of $25 million available from FY 2026 International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement appropriations.

Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, civil society organizations, public and private educational institutions, for-profit organizations, public international organizations, and U.S. government agencies. For-profit entities may be subject to additional review; the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards, with profit defined as any amount exceeding allowable direct and indirect costs. Cost sharing is not required but may be voluntarily proposed.

Individual awards range from $500,000 to $8,000,000. The program supports four priority areas with distinct ceilings: Problem Analysis and Program Development (up to $1,000,000 for 12–24 months), Piloting & Testing (up to $4,000,000 for 24–36 months), Full-Scale Implementation and Evaluation (up to $8,000,000 for 24–60 months), and Technology-Enabled Evidence Consolidation (up to $2,500,000 for 12–36 months). The performance period ranges from 12 to 72 months, with ideally completion in 60 months or less. Program start is anticipated April–July 2027.

Projects must address the three-P paradigm—prosecution, protection, and prevention—and focus on sex trafficking and forced labor. Evaluation criteria weigh quality and feasibility (30 points), organizational capacity (20 points), program planning (15 points), monitoring and evaluation (15 points), budget (10 points), and sustainability (10 points). Applications must align with the U.S. National Security Strategy and relevant Executive Orders.

CFDA 19.019 (International Programs to Combat Human Trafficking). All applicants must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and maintain active SAM.gov registration. Submissions must use 14-point Times New Roman font with one-inch margins. Recipients must submit quarterly performance and financial reports and comply with trafficking in persons compliance certifications and Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance policies.