US Department of Labor announces $13 million grant competition to combat exploitative child labor in Peru

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has announced a $13 million competitive solicitation for cooperative agreements to combat exploitative child labor in Peru, including supporting efforts to address poverty and promote social inclusion.

Funded projects will target exploitative child labor in agriculture, mining and other hazardous work in Peru's Huancavelica and Huánuco regions, which have some of Peru's highest rates of poverty and work by children, and some of the country's lowest rates of primary and secondary school completion. Innovative, effective and integrated approaches will be used to increase children's access to quality education, promote sustainable livelihoods for households and increase beneficiaries' access to national social protection programs that help households eliminate dependence on child labor to meet basic needs.

Applicants must respond to the entire scope of work outlined in the solicitation, and eligibility requires a proven ability to manage complex projects designed to improve the lives of children.

Applications must be submitted by Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. EST electronically via http://www.grants.gov or as hard copies to the U.S. Department of Labor, Procurement Services Center, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S-4307, Washington, DC 20210, Attention: Brenda White and James Kinslow.

All cooperative agreement awards will be made by Dec. 31 and will be funded for four years. The solicitation for grant applications is available online at http://www.dol.gov/ilab/grants/sga11-07.pdf and http://www.grants.gov.