Fostering the Future Together: Empowering Youth for a Safe Digital World

The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking is offering the Fostering the Future Together: Empowering Youth for a Safe Digital World funding opportunity under FOA-ILAB-26-43 and Assistance Listing Number 17.401. ILAB works to increase American job and wage growth by combating foreign labor abuses and unfair trade practices in global supply chains. This discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity supports the goals of the Fostering the Future Together global coalition by advancing child well-being, online protection, positive youth development, stronger global labor standards, and fair competition benefiting U.S. workers and businesses. Approximately $15 million in total costs is expected to support approximately five cooperative agreements, with one project per country and each award providing up to $3 million in total costs. Projects must operate in an eligible Fostering the Future Together country, with ILAB anticipating at least one selected country in each of Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Eligible countries are Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, and Paraguay. Projects are expected to encourage children at high risk of or recently withdrawn from child labor to participate in appropriate education technology programs; connect youth of legal working age to safe apprenticeships, skills training, and digital skills; develop child-centered online safety protocols and training; strengthen government capacity to prevent online exploitation and enforce child labor laws; coordinate with national commitments and First Spouse priorities; and engage private sector stakeholders in sustainable solutions. The required period of performance is 27 months from the award date, although applicants may propose a shorter period consistent with their strategy. Costs must be necessary, reasonable, allowable, and incurred during the period of performance. Pre-award costs are not reimbursable. Monitoring and evaluation activities must receive at least 5 percent and up to 8 percent of total direct costs. For a project operating in one country, at least $50,000 of direct costs should support communications assets. Construction is expected to be rare and minor, requires prior approval, and ordinarily should not exceed 10 percent of project direct costs. The program does not require cost sharing or matching, and voluntary cost sharing does not receive additional consideration. Work created in whole or in part with grant funds is subject to the applicable open licensing requirements. Eligible U.S. applicants include nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community-based organizations, public or state controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal organizations, and for-profit organizations. Eligible non-U.S. applicants include non-U.S. entities, including public international organizations. Organizations associated with terrorism, debarred or suspended organizations, organizations planning to charge a fee or profit associated with a USDOL-funded project, and foreign governments or entities operated by or for foreign governments are not eligible applicants. Foreign government entities may participate as subrecipients in certain cases subject to USDOL approval. Each applicant must provide a letter of support from the Office of the First Spouse in the proposed country or an appropriate designee such as the Foreign Ministry or Ministry of Labor. An organization may submit only one application. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and consist of a Technical Proposal and a Cost Proposal. Applicants must maintain an active SAM registration and have a Unique Entity Identifier. Required materials include the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424A Budget Information Form, SF-424A Budget Narrative, indirect cost supporting documentation, the required Technical Proposal components, an abstract, and the required country letter of support. The Technical Proposal includes the Project Design, Project Milestones and Targets, Monitoring and Evaluation material, Work Plan, Capacity and Partner Statement, Key Personnel, and Management Plan. The Cost Proposal must include detailed and traceable financial information, including line-item costs, required disclosures, and three years of organizational financial statements. Applicants are also requested to submit the Financial Risk Assessment template attached to the application package. Applications are evaluated on a 100-point scale. The Literature Review is worth 2 points; Project Strategy and Framework, including Activity Execution, Project Analytics, Adaptive Management, Innovation, and U.S. Worker Benefit, is worth 28 points; Project Milestones and Targets is worth 5 points; Monitoring and Evaluation is worth 10 points; Work Plan is worth 10 points; Capacity and Partner Statement is worth 11 points; Key Personnel is worth 5 points; Management Plan is worth 9 points; and the SF-424A Budget Narrative is worth 20 points. A technical merit panel evaluates the applications, followed by selection considerations that may include geographic distribution, risk review, past performance, audit findings, and other relevant factors. ILAB also considers financial health indicators and transparency tiers, and, all else being equal, lower indirect cost rates receive positive consideration. Applications are due September 10, 2026, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time through Grants.gov. Technical questions about the FOA must be submitted no later than 10 business days before the closing date, which corresponds to August 27, 2026 when counting weekdays backward from the deadline. Questions may be emailed to OGM_ILAB@DOL.gov and must reference FOA-ILAB-26-43 in the subject line. Award decisions are expected between September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2026, although the Department states decisions may occur earlier or later. Grants.gov registration steps can take as long as four weeks, and applicants are advised to allow sufficient time for submission and validation. The FOA does not state that this funding opportunity is recurring.

Fully and convincingly address every scoring factor rather than merely restating commitments. Present an evidence-based and coherent theory of change through increased American jobs and wage growth. Give particular attention to the 28-point Project Strategy and Framework and 20-point SF-424A Budget Narrative. Demonstrate measurable outcomes, innovation, adaptive management, sustainability, country and sector capacity, and strong fiscal stewardship. Ensure the funding request is consistent throughout the application and does not exceed $3 million. Include every required component because substantially failing screening criteria or omitting required elements can prevent merit review. Maintain active SAM registration and allow sufficient time for Grants.gov submission and validation. All else being equal, lower indirect cost rates receive positive consideration.