Opportunity Information: Apply for DRL 08 GR CAFTA 070209
Apply for DRL 08 GR CAFTA 070209
- The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CAFTA DR Programming" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 2, 2009 and posted on Jul 2, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 3, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Be a U.S. non profit organization meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3), a comparable organization headquartered internationally, or an international organization. Universities are allowable. Be a U.S. university or research institution meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3).
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Opportunity Summary:
The CAFTA DR Programming grant opportunity is a U.S. Department of State initiative run through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) that funds projects aimed at strengthening a "culture of compliance" with labor laws across Central America and the Dominican Republic. The core idea is to move beyond laws on paper and support practical, sustained improvements in how labor standards are understood, applied, and enforced, particularly for people who are most likely to be exploited. DRL is making roughly $900,000 available under this competition, with expected awards ranging from $400,000 to $900,000, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
This opportunity is tied to commitments made under the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), signed in 2004, in which participating countries agreed to effectively enforce their own labor laws and engage in cooperative labor-related capacity building. DRL highlights that a major recommendation from a 2005 regional labor assessment (often referred to as the "White Paper") was the need to promote a stronger culture of compliance to improve respect for labor rights both legally and in everyday practice. Congress later provided funding (referenced as part of the Department of State FY2008 budget) to support these cooperative efforts, recognizing that meaningful labor compliance is a long-term challenge that has to reach workers across all sectors of the economy.
The specific objective of this solicitation focuses on migrant workers: "Strengthening a Culture of Compliance through Promoting Labor Rights for Migrant Workers in Central America and the Dominican Republic." DRL is looking for proposals that measurably improve the labor rights situation for migrants in the CAFTA-DR region, with special attention to groups that tend to face compounded risks such as women, undocumented workers, and indigenous workers. The opportunity emphasizes that migrant workers are employed across a growing range of industries and are particularly vulnerable to abuse, especially in periods of economic strain, because they often have less access to social protections, legal resources, and safety nets.
Projects funded under this grant are expected to propose realistic strategies that can sustain improvements in labor standards for migrant workers and can be applied over time rather than as one-off interventions. Suggested activities include designing and implementing strategies that promote respect for migrant labor rights and that spread effective "good practices" within target countries; providing hands-on technical assistance to worker organizations and NGOs so they can educate migrant communities about their rights, help migrants organize in support of those rights, and connect migrants to legal aid or existing legal support networks; conducting employer-focused outreach and broader advocacy aimed at changing workplace practices and strengthening compliance among key private-sector and civil-society stakeholders; and training government officials on concrete mechanisms to improve labor law coverage for migrants, including better outreach to migrant communities, stronger enforcement approaches, and efforts to expand access to social safety net protections to the extent feasible.
Geographically, proposals must include activities in Costa Rica. Applicants may also propose work in one or more additional CAFTA-DR countries: the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The announcement signals flexibility in whether projects focus on countries that primarily receive migrants, those that primarily send migrants, or both, but it also makes clear that applicants need to justify their country selection with a strong, evidence-based rationale in the narrative portion of the proposal. DRL also expects applicants to coordinate closely with other U.S. Government-funded partners already implementing CAFTA-DR labor capacity-building programs, which implies that proposed projects should complement existing efforts rather than duplicate them. Notably, at the time of the announcement, U.S. assistance to Honduras was under review, which could affect programming assumptions or implementation planning for proposals that include Honduras.
Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions), public and private institutions of higher education, and comparable internationally headquartered nonprofits or international organizations. In practical terms, this means NGOs, universities, and research institutions with the appropriate nonprofit status can apply. The opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant. The funding opportunity number is DRL 08 GR CAFTA 070209, originally posted July 2, 2009, with an application deadline of August 3, 2009 (archived September 2, 2009). For applicants needing access assistance at the time, the listed DRL contact was Theresa Fralish, Program Officer, at 202-261-8107 and fralishTM@state.gov.
CAFTA-DR Programming (DRL) Grant Opportunity FAQs
1) What is the CAFTA-DR Programming grant opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State initiative administered by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). It funds projects intended to strengthen a "culture of compliance" with labor laws in Central America and the Dominican Republic, with an emphasis on practical, sustained improvements in how labor standards are understood, applied, and enforced.
2) What does DRL mean by a "culture of compliance"?
In this solicitation, a "culture of compliance" means moving beyond labor laws existing only on paper and supporting real-world, lasting changes in labor standards and workplace practices. The goal is sustained improvement in how labor rights are respected and how labor laws are implemented and enforced in practice.
3) What is the specific objective of this solicitation?
The stated objective is: "Strengthening a Culture of Compliance through Promoting Labor Rights for Migrant Workers in Central America and the Dominican Republic." DRL is seeking proposals that measurably improve the labor rights situation for migrant workers in the CAFTA-DR region.
4) Who is the primary target population for proposed projects?
The primary focus is migrant workers in the CAFTA-DR region. The opportunity calls for special attention to groups that may face compounded risk, including women, undocumented workers, and indigenous workers.
5) Why does the solicitation emphasize migrant workers?
The announcement notes that migrant workers are employed across a growing range of industries and are particularly vulnerable to abuse, especially during economic strain. It highlights that migrants often have less access to social protections, legal resources, and other safety nets.
6) How much funding is available under this competition?
DRL indicates roughly $900,000 is available under this competition.
7) What is the expected award size?
Expected awards range from $400,000 to $900,000.
8) Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No. The solicitation states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
9) What kinds of activities does DRL suggest funding under this opportunity?
Suggested activities include:
- Designing and implementing strategies to promote respect for migrant labor rights and spreading effective "good practices" within target countries.
- Providing hands-on technical assistance to worker organizations and NGOs so they can educate migrant communities about their rights, help migrants organize in support of those rights, and connect migrants to legal aid or existing legal support networks.
- Conducting employer-focused outreach and broader advocacy to change workplace practices and strengthen compliance among key private-sector and civil-society stakeholders.
- Training government officials on concrete mechanisms to improve labor law coverage for migrants, including outreach to migrant communities, improved enforcement approaches, and efforts (to the extent feasible) to expand access to social safety net protections.
10) Does DRL want one-time events or longer-term programming?
The opportunity emphasizes realistic strategies that can sustain improvements over time rather than one-off interventions.
11) Which countries are eligible for project activities?
Proposals must include activities in Costa Rica. Applicants may also propose activities in one or more additional CAFTA-DR countries: the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
12) Is Costa Rica required in the geographic scope?
Yes. The solicitation states that proposals must include activities in Costa Rica.
13) Can a project focus on countries that mainly send migrants, mainly receive migrants, or both?
Yes. The announcement signals flexibility to focus on receiving countries, sending countries, or both, as long as the applicant provides a strong, evidence-based justification for the country selection in the proposal narrative.
14) Do applicants need to justify why they chose specific countries?
Yes. Applicants are expected to justify their country selection with a strong, evidence-based rationale in the narrative portion of the proposal.
15) Are applicants expected to coordinate with other U.S. Government-funded programs?
Yes. DRL expects applicants to coordinate closely with other U.S. Government-funded partners implementing CAFTA-DR labor capacity-building programs, and proposals should complement existing efforts rather than duplicate them.
16) Is there any special note about proposing activities in Honduras?
Yes. The announcement notes that, at the time, U.S. assistance to Honduras was under review, which could affect programming assumptions or implementation planning for proposals that include Honduras.
17) What is the broader policy context behind this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to commitments under the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), signed in 2004, where participating countries agreed to effectively enforce their own labor laws and participate in cooperative labor-related capacity building.
18) What is the "White Paper" referenced in the announcement?
The solicitation references a 2005 regional labor assessment, commonly called the "White Paper," which recommended promoting a stronger culture of compliance to improve respect for labor rights both legally and in everyday practice.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions), public and private institutions of higher education, and comparable internationally headquartered nonprofits or international organizations. In practical terms, eligible applicants may include NGOs, universities, and research institutions with appropriate nonprofit status.
20) What type of funding instrument is this?
The opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant.
21) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DRL 08 GR CAFTA 070209.
22) When was the opportunity posted and what was the deadline?
The opportunity was originally posted on July 2, 2009. The application deadline was August 3, 2009. The listing was archived on September 2, 2009.
23) Who was the DRL contact listed for access assistance at the time?
The listed contact was Theresa Fralish, Program Officer, at 202-261-8107 and fralishTM@state.gov.
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