Opportunity Information: Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 13 060
Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 13 060
- The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in the employment, labor and training law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY13 Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law for the CAFTA DR region" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345 International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 22, 2013 and posted on Jul 22, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 9, 2013 No Explanation. (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 $1,300,000.00 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 Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY13 Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law for the CAFTA-DR region opportunity is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL). It targets countries in the CAFTA-DR region and focuses specifically on strengthening protections for internationally recognized labor rights in a context where workplace realities are changing. The core rights this program is meant to reinforce are freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, and the right to strike, with an emphasis on practical improvements in workers ability to organize and represent their interests effectively.
Funding is sizable, with an anticipated total around $1.3 million, individual awards expected to range from $500,000 up to $1,300,000, and no cost sharing or matching requirement. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity areas align with employment, labor and training, as well as law, justice, and legal services, reflecting the program's combined focus on worker organizing, advocacy, and the legal and institutional environment that supports labor rights. Eligible applicants include a range of nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), private higher education institutions, and public or state-controlled higher education institutions.
Programmatically, DRL is looking for proposals that are aware of ongoing shifts in employment patterns and labor conditions across the region and that are designed to strengthen labor rights in a durable way. A key requirement is that proposed activities should build on prior and existing labor rights technical assistance in CAFTA-DR countries rather than repeat or duplicate it. In other words, applicants are expected to understand what has already been tried, what is currently underway, what gaps remain, and how their project adds value beyond existing efforts.
The solicitation lays out a menu of the kinds of activities that are responsive. One major focus is capacity building through advanced trainings for union members and leaders. These trainings can cover internationally recognized labor rights standards, labor law advocacy, how to engage civil society actors, and how to create cross-organization partnerships. It also encourages training that improves internal union management skills aimed at building unions that are inclusive, democratic, and truly representative of their membership. Alongside higher-level leadership development, the opportunity also supports efforts to raise basic labor rights awareness at the local level, especially among populations that have been historically underserved or excluded.
Another clear priority is expanding participation in worker organizations. This can include helping workers join existing unions or other worker groups, supporting new affiliations, and strengthening the pathways that make it feasible and attractive for workers to organize collectively. The announcement also flags a practical issue that often undermines union sustainability: challenges around collecting union dues. Competitive proposals may include activities that identify and address barriers to dues collection and that strengthen trade union capacity to manage dues transparently and effectively, which ties directly to member trust, organizational legitimacy, and long-term financial stability.
Sustainability is emphasized through a training-of-trainers approach, signaling that DRL wants projects that can continue producing results after the grant period ends. Rather than one-time workshops, applicants are encouraged to develop local trainers and replicate training models so skills and knowledge spread within and across worker organizations over time. The opportunity also highlights advocacy capacity as a core outcome: projects should help workers and worker organizations more effectively advocate for their interests not just with government, but also with individual companies at local, national, and international levels. That suggests DRL is interested in practical bargaining and engagement skills, strategic communication, and the ability to navigate corporate and governmental systems to secure labor rights protections.
Inclusion is not an optional add-on in this opportunity; it is directly named as a programmatic priority. Proposals are encouraged to meaningfully include marginalized populations, specifically persons with disabilities, women, LGBT individuals, and youth. This implies a preference for projects that can demonstrate accessible programming, targeted outreach, and concrete strategies to bring these groups into leadership pipelines and membership structures, rather than treating them as secondary audiences.
Finally, the solicitation places value on learning and regional collaboration. Applicants are encouraged to document results, lessons learned, and promising practices, and to actively promote sharing across CAFTA-DR countries. It also encourages increased collaboration at a regional and sectoral level, indicating that DRL wants approaches that travel across borders where appropriate, promote peer learning among worker organizations, and strengthen networks that can respond to labor rights challenges that are regional in character.
Administratively, proposals were due August 9, 2013 (with the opportunity posted July 22, 2013) and projects were expected to start no later than September 30, 2013. The project duration was left open for the applicant to propose, meaning organizations could tailor the timeline to their strategy and scope as long as it was realistic and aligned with the program goals. The opportunity was listed under CFDA 19.345, International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, and the funding opportunity number is DRLA DRLAQM 13 060.
FAQs: FY13 Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law for the CAFTA-DR Region (DRL)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), titled "FY13 Democracy, Human Rights and Rule of Law for the CAFTA-DR region."
2) What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to strengthen protections for internationally recognized labor rights in CAFTA-DR countries, with a focus on practical, real-world improvements in workers' ability to organize and represent their interests effectively as workplace realities change across the region.
3) Which labor rights are prioritized?
The core rights emphasized are freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, and the right to strike.
4) What countries or region does it target?
The opportunity targets countries in the CAFTA-DR region.
5) What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
6) How much funding is available in total?
The anticipated total funding amount is approximately $1.3 million.
7) What is the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $500,000 up to $1,300,000.
8) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
9) What activity areas does the program align with?
The activity areas align with employment, labor and training, as well as law, justice, and legal services. This reflects a combined focus on worker organizing, advocacy, and the legal and institutional environment supporting labor rights.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), private institutions of higher education, and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education.
11) What does DRL expect proposals to demonstrate about the current labor context?
DRL is looking for proposals that are aware of ongoing shifts in employment patterns and labor conditions across the CAFTA-DR region and that are designed to strengthen labor rights in a durable way.
12) Does the program allow duplicating existing technical assistance work?
No. A key requirement is that proposed activities should build on prior and existing labor rights technical assistance in CAFTA-DR countries rather than repeat or duplicate it. Applicants are expected to understand what has already been tried, what is underway, what gaps remain, and how their project adds value.
13) What kinds of capacity-building activities are considered responsive?
Responsive activities include advanced trainings for union members and leaders on internationally recognized labor rights standards, labor law advocacy, engagement with civil society actors, and building cross-organization partnerships.
14) Are internal union management and governance activities supported?
Yes. The solicitation encourages training that improves internal union management skills aimed at building unions that are inclusive, democratic, and representative of their membership.
15) Does the opportunity support labor rights awareness at the local level?
Yes. It supports efforts to raise basic labor rights awareness at the local level, especially among populations that have historically been underserved or excluded.
16) Is expanding participation in worker organizations a priority?
Yes. The opportunity prioritizes expanding participation in worker organizations, including helping workers join existing unions or worker groups, supporting new affiliations, and strengthening pathways that make collective organizing feasible and attractive.
17) Can projects address union dues collection challenges?
Yes. The announcement flags barriers to collecting union dues as a practical challenge that can undermine sustainability. Competitive proposals may include activities to identify and address these barriers and to strengthen trade union capacity to manage dues transparently and effectively.
18) How is sustainability addressed in this grant?
Sustainability is emphasized through a training-of-trainers approach, encouraging projects to develop local trainers and replicable training models so results can continue beyond the grant period rather than relying on one-time workshops.
19) What advocacy outcomes does DRL want to see strengthened?
Projects should strengthen workers' and worker organizations' capacity to advocate for their interests with governments and with individual companies at local, national, and international levels. This implies a focus on practical advocacy and engagement capabilities that support labor rights protections.
20) Which groups are specifically highlighted for inclusion?
The solicitation encourages meaningful inclusion of marginalized populations, specifically persons with disabilities, women, LGBT individuals, and youth.
21) What does "meaningful inclusion" imply in this opportunity?
Based on the priorities stated, it implies accessible programming, targeted outreach, and concrete strategies that bring these groups into membership structures and leadership pipelines, rather than treating them as secondary audiences.
22) Are documentation and knowledge-sharing activities encouraged?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to document results, lessons learned, and promising practices, and to promote sharing across CAFTA-DR countries.
23) Does the opportunity encourage regional collaboration?
Yes. The solicitation encourages increased collaboration at a regional and sectoral level, including cross-border peer learning and strengthening networks that can respond to labor rights challenges that are regional in character.
24) When was the opportunity posted, and when were proposals due?
The opportunity was posted on July 22, 2013, and proposals were due August 9, 2013.
25) What was the expected project start date?
Projects were expected to start no later than September 30, 2013.
26) Was the project duration fixed?
No. The project duration was left open for the applicant to propose, allowing organizations to tailor the timeline to their strategy and scope, as long as it was realistic and aligned with program goals.
27) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 19.345, International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
28) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DRLA DRLAQM 13 060.
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