Notice of Intent: Program to End Modern Slavery FY 2023

The Program to End Modern Slavery is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, which operates within the broader mandate of advancing global efforts to eliminate human trafficking. The program reflects a sustained congressional commitment, with significant annual appropriations since fiscal year 2016, aimed at reducing the prevalence of modern slavery through evidence-based and research-driven interventions. This Notice of Intent signals the Department’s plan to issue a future funding opportunity and provides early insight into program priorities, allowing prospective applicants to prepare for a forthcoming competitive process. The primary purpose of the program is to measurably and substantially reduce human trafficking in targeted populations across partner countries and jurisdictions. The initiative emphasizes the use of Intervention Development Research, a structured methodology that integrates both qualitative and quantitative research approaches to better understand trafficking systems. Through this methodology, applicants are expected to identify risk and protective factors, develop theories of change, and design and pilot interventions that can be tested, refined, and ultimately scaled or adapted for broader use. The program places strong importance on generating rigorous evidence that demonstrates measurable reductions in trafficking prevalence. Funding under this program is expected to support a wide range of activities tied to research and pilot implementation. These include prevalence measurement, monitoring and evaluation systems, and the development of evidence-based programming strategies. Projects must incorporate survivor-centered and trauma-informed approaches, ensuring that interventions are ethically grounded and responsive to the needs of affected populations. Additionally, the program encourages collaboration across sectors, including partnerships with governments, academic institutions, civil society organizations, private sector entities, and international organizations to strengthen outcomes and expand impact. Eligibility for the anticipated funding opportunity is broad and inclusive. Commercial, international, educational, and nonprofit organizations are expected to be eligible, including faith-based and community-based organizations as well as public international organizations. The program explicitly notes that prior experience with U.S. Department of State funding is not required, lowering barriers to entry for new applicants. However, administrative requirements such as obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier and registering in the System for Award Management are mandatory for organizations selected for funding, and applicants are encouraged to complete these steps in advance to avoid delays. The submission process is not yet open, as this document is a Notice of Intent rather than a formal Notice of Funding Opportunity. The Department anticipates releasing the official funding announcement on Grants.gov within a few months of this notice. At that time, applicants will be able to submit proposals through the designated grants management platform. The future announcement is expected to provide detailed application components, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions, which are not specified in this notice. Evaluation of applications under the program will likely focus on the rigor of the proposed research design, the feasibility and scalability of interventions, and the strength of partnerships, particularly with local actors. The program underscores the importance of co-creation and participatory research, requiring local stakeholders to be actively engaged in all phases of project design and implementation. This approach is intended to ensure that interventions are contextually appropriate and sustainable. Although specific timelines for application submission and award decisions are not yet available, the notice indicates that the funding opportunity is forthcoming and contingent upon the availability of funds. There is no defined performance period stated in this notice, but projects are expected to align with the program’s long-term goal of reducing trafficking prevalence through iterative research and intervention development. Organizations interested in applying should monitor Grants.gov and the State Department’s website for the official announcement and prepare required registrations in advance.

Register early in SAM.gov and obtain a UEI well in advance to avoid delays once the NOFO is released