U.S. Department of Labor announces $3 million grant solicitation to support African Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative in Uganda

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) today announced a $3 million grant solicitation to help Ugandan youth develop marketable skills to secure decent work and to serve as civic leaders in their communities.

ILAB's African Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative is designed to support President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative. The president's program is focused on investing in the next generation of African leaders and strengthening partnerships between the United States and Africa.

The ILAB-funded effort will address exploitative child labor by providing vulnerable youth ages 14 through 18 with education and vocational training and, for those of appropriate age, decent work opportunities. It is also intended to promote leadership, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement by youth within their communities.

This project is intended to serve as a pilot initiative that could be replicated in other African countries. Uganda has the youngest population in the world, with an average age of 15 years. The majority of Ugandan youth drop out of school during primary school. Too often, those who work lack the training, skills, and other means needed to avoid dangerous work and escape from poverty.

Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, at 5 p.m. EDT electronically via http://www.grants.gov or by hard copy 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.

All cooperative agreement awards will be made no later than Dec. 31, 2013. The solicitation for grant applications (SCA 13- 07) is available online at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/grants/main.htm and http://www.grants.gov.

ILAB grants help rescue children from exploitative labor through the provision of education and other services. 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. Congress appropriated funds for ILAB to conduct international technical cooperation projects to combat the worst forms of child labor as defined by the International Labor Organization Convention 182.

Information on the Young African Leadership Initiative is available online at http://www.state.gov/p/af/rt/pyali/.