US Department of Labor awards up to $4M to reduce the risks for child, forced labor in Nepal by addressing climate change impact

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of up to $4 million to support a project to build the capacity of local communities in Nepal to address child labor and forced labor, with a specific focus on confronting new challenges arising from climate change.

Administered by the department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs, the award will be used to implement the “Tatpartaa Project” by World Education, a nonprofit experienced in preventing child labor, human trafficking and other issues. The organization is a division of JSI Research and Training Institute. 

Using locally led research, the project — named for the Nepali word for “commitment and ability to respond” — will increase knowledge and understanding of the link between climate change and vulnerability to child labor and forced labor in Nepal. This research will inform community-driven adaptations that build resilience to the risks of child labor and forced labor.

The project will also empower and amplify the voices of people most socially excluded and most vulnerable to child and forced labor. It will also build the capacity of 22 local governments to design and establish initiatives to mitigate the negative impact of climate change on the economic well-being of families and communities. By doing so, these initiatives will seek to reduce the risks of child labor and forced labor.

Learn more about the department’s international work.