US Department of Labor announces availability of $10 million competitive solicitation for cooperative agreements to combat child labor in Tanzania

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs has announced a competitive solicitation for one or more cooperative agreements worth up to $10 million to combat child labor in Tanzania's agricultural production and domestic service sectors.

Nearly 30 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 14 work in Tanzania, including in agriculture and domestic service. The project(s) funded under this solicitation will be coordinated with the work of local entities and build on existing efforts to reduce the worst forms of child labor in these sectors. Specifically, the project(s) will seek to increase children's access to quality education and vocational/skills training, and promote sustainable livelihoods for households vulnerable to the worst forms of child labor.

Eligible applicants should prioritize regions with high numbers of vulnerable children and where existing efforts to reduce child labor are limited. Applicants must respond to the entire scope of work outlined in the solicitation and demonstrate a proven ability to manage complex projects designed to improve the lives of children.

Applications must be submitted by Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. EDT electronically via http://www.grants.gov or as hard copies addressed to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Procurement Services, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S-4307, Washington, D.C. 20210, Attention: Brenda White and James Kinslow.

All cooperative agreement awards will be made by Dec. 31. The solicitation for grant applications (SGA 12-15) is available online at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/grants/main.htm and http://www.grants.gov.

Congress has appropriated funds for ILAB to support international technical cooperation projects to combat the worst forms of child labor as defined by International Labor Organization Convention 182. ILAB grants address child labor through the provision of educational services for children and livelihood support for their households. ILAB also supports the collection of reliable data on child labor and helps strengthen the capacity of governments to address child labor in a sustainable way.