Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA ILAB 16 12
Apply for FOA ILAB 16 12
- The DOL-ETA-ILAB in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "EMPOWER: Increasing Economic and Social Empowerment for Adolescent Girls and Vulnerable Women in Zambia" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 17.401.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 14, 2016 and posted on Jun 14, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 23, 2016. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The EMPOWER grant opportunity (FOA ILAB 16 12) is a U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) funding announcement aimed at reducing the prevalence of child labor in targeted rural areas of Zambia by strengthening the economic and social empowerment of adolescent girls and vulnerable women. The Department offered up to approximately $5,000,000 in total funding through a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning the selected recipient would not only implement the project but also work closely with the U.S. Government during execution, with more back-and-forth oversight and collaboration than a standard grant. The program was posted on June 14, 2016 and had a closing date of August 23, 2016. ILAB anticipated making one award, and the project period could run for up to four years (48 months) from the award effective date.
At its core, EMPOWER is structured around the idea that reducing child labor is closely tied to household economics, gender inequality, and limited opportunities for girls and women. The project is expected to deliver several interconnected outcomes. First, it seeks to increase adolescent girls access to acceptable work and to quality training pathways that can realistically compete with the pressures that push girls into child labor. The opportunity specifically highlights options such as apprenticeships, vocational and technical training, educational services, and support for entrepreneurship, including helping girls establish their own small businesses. The intent is not simply short-term support, but practical, market-relevant skills and credible routes into safe, acceptable work.
Second, the project targets vulnerable women, particularly those in households where children are engaged in child labor or are at high risk of entering it. The grant emphasizes expanding livelihood opportunities for these women, including assistance to establish or grow small businesses. By improving adult womens earning capacity and resilience, the program aims to reduce the economic reliance on childrens labor and create conditions where children can stay in school and out of hazardous or exploitative work.
Beyond direct services, EMPOWER also requires a broader community and systems focus. Another key outcome is increased public awareness of child labor and gender equality, signaling that the program is expected to address social norms, community understanding, and local buy-in rather than only providing training or economic inputs. In addition, the project is designed to strengthen collaboration between government actors and the private sector to promote acceptable work for adolescent girls and vulnerable women. This points to building partnerships that can improve access to real employment opportunities, improve linkages to local industries, and reinforce longer-term sustainability beyond the life of the grant.
A notable feature of the opportunity is the requirement for rigorous learning and evidence generation. One or more components of the project are expected to be subject to an impact evaluation using an experimental design. Although the evaluation itself would be conducted and funded separately through another contract or grant, the implementing organization would be required to collaborate closely with the independent evaluator. That collaboration would include consultation on evaluation design, cooperation on data collection, and coordination during implementation so the study can be carried out properly. The specific details of how the evaluation would work were to be finalized after award, but the requirement makes clear that the project needed to be designed with evaluability in mind from the start.
In terms of administrative details, the opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding, with the funding activity aligned to employment, labor, and training (CFDA 17.401). Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility specifics referenced in the full announcement. Overall, EMPOWER is best understood as a four-year technical assistance initiative that blends workforce and livelihood development, gender-focused social empowerment, and multi-stakeholder coordination, all tied to the overarching goal of reducing child labor in rural Zambia while generating credible evidence about what works.
EMPOWER Grant (FOA ILAB 16 12) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EMPOWER grant opportunity (FOA ILAB 16 12)?
EMPOWER is a U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) funding opportunity focused on reducing the prevalence of child labor in targeted rural areas of Zambia by strengthening the economic and social empowerment of adolescent girls and vulnerable women.
Which agency offered this funding?
The opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).
What is the main goal of the EMPOWER program?
The main goal is to reduce child labor in targeted rural areas of Zambia by addressing household economic pressures, gender inequality, and limited education and work opportunities for girls and women.
How much funding was available under this announcement?
The Department offered up to approximately $5,000,000 in total funding under this funding announcement.
How many awards did ILAB expect to make?
ILAB anticipated making one award.
What kind of award mechanism was used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The funding was offered through a cooperative agreement. Under a cooperative agreement, the selected recipient implements the project while also working closely with the U.S. Government during execution, with more oversight and collaboration than a standard grant.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on June 14, 2016 and had a closing date of August 23, 2016.
How long could the project last?
The project period could run for up to four years (48 months) from the award effective date.
Where was the program intended to operate?
The program was aimed at targeted rural areas of Zambia.
Who are the primary target populations for EMPOWER?
The primary target populations are adolescent girls and vulnerable women, particularly women in households where children are engaged in child labor or are at high risk of entering child labor.
How does EMPOWER link economic empowerment to reducing child labor?
EMPOWER is built on the idea that child labor is closely tied to household economics and limited opportunities. By strengthening livelihood options and acceptable work pathways for adolescent girls and vulnerable women, the program aims to reduce economic reliance on childrens labor and support conditions that help children stay in school and out of hazardous or exploitative work.
What outcomes were expected for adolescent girls?
The project sought to increase adolescent girls access to acceptable work and to quality training pathways that can realistically compete with the pressures that push girls into child labor.
What kinds of training or pathways were highlighted for adolescent girls?
The opportunity specifically highlighted apprenticeships, vocational and technical training, educational services, and support for entrepreneurship, including helping girls establish their own small businesses.
What does the announcement mean by "acceptable work" for adolescent girls?
Based on the description, acceptable work refers to safe and credible routes into work that are intended to compete with the drivers of child labor, rather than short-term or exploitative options.
What outcomes were expected for vulnerable women?
The grant emphasized expanding livelihood opportunities for vulnerable women, including assistance to establish or grow small businesses, to improve womens earning capacity and resilience and reduce household dependence on childrens labor.
Does EMPOWER focus only on training and livelihoods, or also on community-level change?
It includes a broader community and systems focus. A key expected outcome is increased public awareness of child labor and gender equality, indicating attention to social norms, community understanding, and local buy-in alongside direct services.
What role do government and the private sector play in EMPOWER?
The project is designed to strengthen collaboration between government actors and the private sector to promote acceptable work for adolescent girls and vulnerable women, including building partnerships that improve access to real employment opportunities and strengthen sustainability beyond the grant period.
Was an impact evaluation required?
Yes. One or more components of the project were expected to be subject to an impact evaluation using an experimental design.
Who would conduct and fund the impact evaluation?
The evaluation was expected to be conducted and funded separately through another contract or grant, not through the EMPOWER implementing award itself.
What would the implementing organization need to do to support the evaluation?
The implementing organization would be required to collaborate closely with the independent evaluator, including consultation on evaluation design, cooperation on data collection, and coordination during implementation so the study could be carried out properly.
Were the details of the evaluation finalized in the announcement?
No. The specific details of how the evaluation would work were to be finalized after award, but the requirement made clear that the project needed to be designed with evaluability in mind from the start.
What type of funding category was EMPOWER listed under?
The opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding.
What was the funding activity and CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The funding activity was aligned to employment, labor, and training, and the CFDA number listed was 17.401.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility specifics referenced in the full announcement.
How should EMPOWER be understood in practical terms?
EMPOWER is best understood as a four-year technical assistance initiative blending workforce and livelihood development, gender-focused social empowerment, and multi-stakeholder coordination, all tied to reducing child labor in rural Zambia while generating credible evidence on what works.
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