Supporting Regional, National, and Local Action to Address Child Labor in West African Agriculture

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $4,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for 1 cooperative agreement to fund Phase I of a technical assistance project in West Africa to improve action by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and ECOWAS Member States to combat child labor, with a focus in agriculture.

The duration of Phase I of the project will be a maximum of 48 months from the effective date of the award. Following the conclusion of Phase I, USDOL will consider awarding a second phase of the project of approximately $4,000,000 total costs, reflecting a total potential project budget of approximately $8,000,000 over approximately eight years.

The two phases of the project will aim to achieve the following outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Increased capacity of ECOWAS to implement the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan to eliminate child labor.

• Outcome 2: Increased mobilization of ECOWAS Member States to implement National Action Plans to eliminate child labor.

o Outcome 2.1: Improved legislative, policy, and enforcement environment for enabling national action to address child labor.

o Outcome 2.2: Increased action by communities to develop and implement Community Action Plans to reduce child labor in agriculture.

o Outcome 2.3: Increased access to education, livelihoods, or other forms of social protection in agricultural communities.