Opportunity Information: Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 18 015
The grant opportunity titled "DRL Labor Programs to Combat Slavery in West Africa" is a U.S. Department of State initiative run through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL). It is a discretionary funding opportunity intended to support practical, on-the-ground projects that help combat slavery and help formerly enslaved people reintegrate into society in West Africa. In plain terms, the program is looking for proposals that either prevent and reduce slavery-related practices, strengthen responses to them, or directly support people who have escaped or been released from slavery so they can rebuild their lives safely and sustainably.
This opportunity was released under Funding Opportunity Number DRLA DRLAQM 18 015 and is associated with CFDA number 19.345. Funding is offered through either a grant or a cooperative agreement, which generally means that some awards may involve closer collaboration with the U.S. government compared with a standard grant. The notice describes an open competition, so multiple organizations can apply and will be evaluated against the program goals and requirements.
In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, and nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status. The listing also includes an "Others" category, indicating that additional applicant types may be eligible as clarified in the full announcement. This range suggests DRL is open to proposals from universities, research centers, local and international NGOs, and other mission-aligned entities with the capacity to implement programs in West Africa.
The funding scale is significant. The award ceiling is listed as $1,000,000, and the agency expected to make two awards. That implies a competitive environment where applicants should present a focused project design with credible partners, realistic implementation plans, and strong monitoring and evaluation approaches. While the notice excerpt does not specify a floor amount, the ceiling and the limited number of awards typically push applicants to propose well-structured projects that can demonstrate clear results within the award period.
Key dates in the published record show the opportunity was created on October 31, 2017, with an original closing date of January 12, 2018. Even though these dates indicate the original competition window has passed, the opportunity still provides a useful picture of the kinds of anti-slavery and reintegration work DRL has been interested in supporting, and it may resemble later or future solicitations from the same bureau.
The central purpose is twofold: combating slavery and supporting reintegration. "Combating slavery" can encompass a variety of interventions depending on country context, such as strengthening identification of forced labor and slavery-like practices, improving worker protections, supporting community-based prevention, or addressing the systems that allow exploitation to persist. "Reintegration" typically points to longer-term assistance for survivors, which can include access to education, livelihoods, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and community acceptance measures that reduce the risk of re-enslavement or retaliation. Because the solicitation specifically highlights West Africa, applicants would generally be expected to demonstrate regional knowledge, local partnerships, and an understanding of how slavery-related practices manifest in targeted areas.
Overall, this DRL opportunity is designed for organizations that can propose credible, rights-based programming that reduces slavery and helps survivors safely rejoin society. The funding level and expected number of awards indicate DRL was looking for a small number of relatively robust projects with measurable impact, implemented by applicants with strong technical capacity and the ability to operate effectively in West African contexts.Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 18 015
- The Department of State, 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 "DRL Labor Programs to Combat Slavery in West Africa" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 31, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 12, 2018 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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): DRL Labor Programs to Combat Slavery in West Africa
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "DRL Labor Programs to Combat Slavery in West Africa."
Which U.S. government agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL).
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program supports practical, on-the-ground projects in West Africa that (1) combat slavery and slavery-related practices and/or (2) support the safe, sustainable reintegration of formerly enslaved people into society.
What kinds of projects is DRL looking to fund?
Based on the description, DRL is looking for proposals that do at least one of the following: prevent or reduce slavery-related practices, strengthen responses to slavery-related practices, or directly support people who have escaped or been released from slavery so they can rebuild their lives.
What does "combating slavery" mean in this opportunity?
In this context, "combating slavery" can include interventions such as strengthening identification of forced labor and slavery-like practices, improving worker protections, supporting community-based prevention, or addressing the systems that allow exploitation to persist, depending on the country context.
What does "reintegration" mean in this opportunity?
"Reintegration" generally refers to longer-term support for survivors so they can safely rejoin society and reduce the risk of re-enslavement or retaliation. Examples mentioned include access to education, livelihoods, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and community acceptance measures.
What geographic region does this program focus on?
The program focuses on West Africa. Applicants would generally be expected to demonstrate regional knowledge and an understanding of how slavery-related practices manifest in targeted areas.
Is this an open competition?
Yes. The notice describes an open competition, meaning multiple organizations can apply and will be evaluated against the program goals and requirements.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DRLA DRLAQM 18 015.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 19.345.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
Funding may be provided through either a grant or a cooperative agreement.
What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement for this opportunity?
The notice indicates that a cooperative agreement may involve closer collaboration with the U.S. government compared with a standard grant. The specific level of involvement would depend on the award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, and nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status. The listing also includes an "Others" category, which suggests additional applicant types may be eligible as clarified in the full announcement.
Does this opportunity allow universities and higher education institutions to apply?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Can nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status apply?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status are explicitly included in the eligibility list.
What does the "Others" eligibility category mean?
The notice includes an "Others" category, indicating that additional applicant types may be eligible as clarified in the full announcement.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is listed as $1,000,000.
How many awards does DRL expect to make?
DRL expected to make two awards under this opportunity.
Is there a minimum award amount (a funding floor)?
The excerpt provided does not specify a floor amount.
When was this opportunity created?
The published record shows the opportunity was created on October 31, 2017.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date listed was January 12, 2018.
Is the application window still open?
Based on the dates provided (closing date of January 12, 2018), the original competition window has passed.
Why might this opportunity still be useful to review even if it has closed?
Even though the original window has passed, the opportunity provides a clear picture of the types of anti-slavery and reintegration projects DRL has been interested in supporting and may resemble later or future solicitations from the same bureau.
What kinds of organizations does DRL seem to want for this program?
The description suggests DRL is interested in organizations with the capacity to implement robust, rights-based programming in West African contexts, including credible partners, realistic implementation plans, and strong monitoring and evaluation approaches.
What should applicants emphasize to be competitive, given the award ceiling and limited number of awards?
The notice implies a competitive environment (two expected awards and a $1,000,000 ceiling), so applicants would likely need a focused project design, credible partnerships, realistic implementation planning, and strong monitoring and evaluation to demonstrate measurable impact.
Does the program prioritize direct services for survivors?
The description explicitly includes direct support for people who have escaped or been released from slavery, especially assistance that helps them rebuild their lives safely and sustainably, which aligns with reintegration-focused services.
Does the program support prevention and systems-level work as well as survivor support?
Yes. The solicitation describes interest in preventing and reducing slavery-related practices, strengthening responses, and supporting reintegration, which together cover prevention, response, and survivor-centered support.
What general implementation expectations are implied for West Africa?
Because the focus is West Africa, applicants would generally be expected to demonstrate regional knowledge, local partnerships, and an understanding of local manifestations of slavery-related practices in the targeted areas.
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