US Department of Labor announces availability of $5 million competitive solicitation for cooperative agreements to combat child labor in Burkina Faso

WASHINGTON — A $5 million competitive solicitation for cooperative agreements to combat child labor in Burkina Faso's cotton and artisanal gold mining sectors was announced today by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs.

An estimated 1.25 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 in Burkina Faso work because of poverty, barriers to education and a lack of awareness of the dangers of child labor. The project(s) funded under this solicitation will reduce child labor and raise awareness about the risks to children involved in the production of gold and cotton.

Eligible applicants should focus on the reduction of child labor in cotton production and gold mining, but also allow for the provision of services to children engaged in other kinds of child labor in target areasApplicants 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. 15 at 5 p.m. EDT electronically via http://www.grants.gov or as hard copies 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, 2012. The solicitation for grant applications (SGA 12-09) 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 the 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.