Combatting Child Labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Cobalt Industry | NOI ILAB 18 03

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOI ILAB 18 03

This opportunity is a U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) Notice of Intent (NOI) regarding a planned grant competition focused on combatting child labor linked to cobalt production in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The notice is not the actual Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and it is not accepting applications. Instead, it serves as an advance signal that ILAB expects to release a formal FOA later, subject to the availability of funds, and that any eventual competition would be run through a competitive selection process.

If funded and formally announced, ILAB intends to make a single award using a cooperative agreement instrument. A cooperative agreement typically means substantial involvement by the federal agency during the life of the project (for example, collaboration on planning, oversight, learning, or coordination), rather than a more hands-off grant structure. The funding is categorized under Employment, Labor and Training (CFDA 17.401), and the projected award ceiling listed in the notice is up to USD 2,500,000 for one expected award. The opportunity is labeled as discretionary, meaning it is a competitive program rather than a formula-based allocation.

The purpose of the planned project is to strengthen efforts by the Congolese government and other relevant stakeholders to address child labor in the DRC cobalt industry, including issues that may arise along the cobalt supply chain. The notice lays out three core outcomes the project is expected to achieve. First, it aims to build a shared, common understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in addressing child labor in the DRC cobalt context. In practice, this could include mapping how child labor occurs, identifying drivers and vulnerabilities, clarifying where current systems fall short, and helping stakeholders align on priorities and realistic solutions. Second, the project is intended to increase the capacity of government and other key actors to address child labor in the cobalt industry. Capacity-building can encompass strengthening policies and enforcement approaches, improving interagency coordination, developing tools and guidance, and supporting stakeholders with training or technical assistance so that responses are not one-off but become embedded in ongoing institutions and processes. Third, the project is expected to improve private sector monitoring and remediation of child labor in cobalt supply chains. This points toward strengthening how companies identify risks, verify conditions, respond when child labor is found, and prevent recurrence through credible remediation and due diligence systems.

Administratively, the notice states that the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Office of Grants Management anticipated publishing the FOA as soon as possible and no later than July 2018, though it also notes the timeline could change. The practical instruction for interested organizations is to monitor Grants.gov, because that is where the FOA would be posted if it is ultimately released, and no email or paper copies would be provided. For organizations that want a sense of typical ILAB cooperative agreement expectations and how past applications are structured, the notice points to ILABs grants webpage (dol.gov/ilab/grants/) for general guidelines and examples.

Eligibility is described broadly in the listing as "Others" with a note to consult an additional eligibility field in the eventual FOA for clarification. Since this NOI does not include the FOA or attachments, the specific eligibility rules, required partnerships, geographic scope within the DRC, detailed activities, performance metrics, reporting requirements, cost principles, and application instructions would only be confirmed once the FOA is published. The key takeaway is that, at the NOI stage, the government is signaling intent, a likely funding level and award count, and the main results it wants to see: aligned stakeholder understanding, stronger public-sector and stakeholder capacity, and more effective private-sector monitoring and remediation to reduce child labor connected to cobalt production and sourcing in the DRC.

• The Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Combatting Child Labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Cobalt Industry" 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 May 24, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2018 NOTE This is a Notice of Intent. An announcement is not related to this notice. We are not accepting applications at this time.. (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 $2,500,000.00 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).

Apply for NOI ILAB 18 03

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