Worker Empowerment in South America

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL, or the Department), announces the availability of approximately $12,000,000 total costs (subject to the availability of Federal funds) for 1 cooperative agreement to fund a technical assistance project with the overarching objective of improving respect for labor rights in target sectors in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru through strengthening democratic, independent workers’ organizations.

The duration of the project will be a maximum of 54 months from the effective date of the award. 

The project will prioritize underserved communities and include a focus on gender and racial equity. The project will address the systematic violation of labor rights in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. In particular, it will strengthen unions and support the full and free exercise of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights in the platform economy and in either the agriculture or manufacturing sectors in Brazil; in the cut flowers and mining sectors in Colombia; and in the agricultural sector and either the mining or light industry sectors in Peru.  Final approval on the sectors chosen in Brazil and Peru will be given post-award by USDOL.

USDOL-Defined Outcomes

The project shall be designed to achieve the outcomes necessary to achieve the project objective, and substantially contribute to the desired long-term impact(s). USDOL has identified the following outcome(s) as necessary to achieve the project objective:

• Outcome 1: Increased capacity of democratic workers’ organizations4 to organize, mobilize, and effectively advocate for labor rights5 and improved quality of jobs in the target sectors.

• Outcome 2: Strengthened networks among workers organizations, civil society groups and/or institutions to achieve systemic improvements in respect for labor rights and improved quality of jobs in the target sectors.

• Outcome 3: Increased engagement of democratic workers’ organizations with employers and their organizations or government to influence terms and conditions of work and labor market regulations in support of labor rights and improved job quality in the target sectors

Additional Outcomes

In their proposals, applicants may propose additional outcomes they consider realistic and essential to achieving the project objective, and justify their selection based on evidence, analysis of contextual opportunities and constraints, and available resources. Applicants must include specific citations to evidence used to support their proposed strategies. Any additional outcomes must be mutually exclusive of other outcomes required by USDOL.

Miscellaneous

• Other