US Department of Labor announces $5 million grant solicitation to reduce child labor in Morocco

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs is seeking eligible applicants for a $5 million cooperative agreement to reduce child labor and help youth of legal working age secure decent work in Morocco. The project will focus on supporting efforts in rural areas and areas in the process of urbanization that immediately adjoin cities and towns. The project also will improve the capacity of Morocco's labor inspectorate to monitor and enforce labor laws in rural agricultural areas and strengthen the ability of civil society organizations to reduce child labor through service provision and advocacy.

According to the latest available data, child labor is predominantly a rural problem in Morocco that is directly related to the poverty and low educational levels of parents. Although laws exist to protect children from exploitative labor, the government's capacity to enforce them in rural agricultural areas is weak. Locally-based civil society organizations are often the primary service providers in rural areas and those areas in the process of urbanization; however, they frequently lack the capacity to address the full scope of the problem.

One or more qualifying organizations will receive funding to improve access to education and training for youth ages 12 to 17, develop training and decent work opportunities for children of legal working age, and link children and families to social services and livelihood opportunities that eliminate the need for child labor.

Applications must be submitted by Oct. 1 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 by Dec. 31, 2013. The solicitation of cooperative agreements (SCA-13-10) is available online at http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/grants/main.htm and http://www.grants.gov.