Freedom Shield: Global Forced Labor Import Prohibition Initiative

The Freedom Shield: Global Forced Labor Import Prohibition Initiative is a U.S. Department of Labor funding opportunity designed to strengthen global efforts to prevent the importation of goods produced through forced labor. The initiative provides large-scale awards ranging from $7 million to $18 million to eligible organizations working to identify, prevent, and address forced labor across international supply chains.

What Is the Freedom Shield Initiative?

The Freedom Shield: Global Forced Labor Import Prohibition Initiative supports efforts to combat forced labor associated with goods entering international markets.

The initiative focuses on strengthening the ability of organizations and stakeholders to:

Identify forced labor risks.
Prevent forced-labor-produced goods from entering supply chains.
Address forced labor in international trade.
Improve supply-chain transparency.
Strengthen systems for detecting and responding to forced labor.

The funding opportunity is part of broader efforts to address forced labor, human trafficking, labor exploitation, and responsible global supply chains.

What Is the Purpose of the Funding?

The initiative is intended to support organizations developing or implementing approaches that help prevent the importation of products connected to forced labor.

Potential areas of work may include:

Forced labor identification.
Supply-chain monitoring.
Risk assessment.
Prevention strategies.
International trade compliance.
Research and analysis.
Capacity building.
Stakeholder coordination.
Tools and systems for detecting forced labor.
Strategies for addressing forced labor risks in global supply networks.

Projects should demonstrate a meaningful connection to the initiative’s objective of reducing the presence of forced-labor-produced goods in international commerce.

How Much Funding Is Available?

The estimated total program funding is $18 million.

Individual awards are expected to range from:

Minimum award: $7 million.
Maximum award: $18 million.
Estimated total program funding: $18 million.

Because the award size is substantial, applicants should be prepared to demonstrate strong organizational capacity, technical expertise, and the ability to manage large-scale international programs.

Who Is Eligible?

The opportunity has broad applicant eligibility.

Eligible applicants may include:

Commercial organizations.
International organizations.
Educational institutions.
Non-profit organizations.
Faith-based organizations.
Community-based organizations.
Public international organizations.

There is no restriction based on religious character or affiliation. Faith-based organisations can therefore apply provided they satisfy the applicable eligibility requirements.

What Types of Organizations May Benefit?

The broad eligibility structure allows organizations from different sectors to participate.

Potential applicants may include organizations with expertise in:

Labor rights.
International development.
Supply-chain management.
Human rights.
Trade.
Corporate responsibility.
Forced labor prevention.
Research and data analysis.
Worker protection.
International cooperation.

Applicants should ensure that their organizational expertise directly supports the objectives of the funding opportunity.

Why Forced Labor Import Prevention Matters

Forced labor can occur at multiple points within complex international supply chains, making it difficult for businesses, governments, and consumers to identify products associated with exploitation.

Import prohibition initiatives seek to address this problem by strengthening the systems used to identify and prevent goods produced through forced labor from reaching markets.

Effective interventions can help improve:

Supply-chain accountability.
Worker protections.
International trade integrity.
Corporate due diligence.
Detection of labor exploitation.
Coordination between relevant stakeholders.

How to Prepare a Strong Proposal

Step 1: Understand the Funding Objective

Clearly establish how the proposed project will contribute to preventing the importation of goods associated with forced labor.

Step 2: Define the Forced Labor Challenge

Explain the specific supply-chain, trade, or labor problem the project will address.

Use evidence to demonstrate the scale and significance of the issue.

Step 3: Present a Practical Solution

Describe the proposed intervention and explain how it will improve the identification, prevention, or response to forced labor.

Step 4: Demonstrate Organizational Capacity

Large awards require significant implementation capacity. Applicants should demonstrate relevant experience, technical expertise, financial management systems, and the ability to manage complex partnerships.

Step 5: Establish Measurable Outcomes

Define clear results that can demonstrate whether the project has improved forced labor prevention or import-control capabilities.

Step 6: Build Relevant Partnerships

Where appropriate, applicants should identify partners with expertise in labor rights, trade, supply chains, research, government engagement, or worker protection.

Tips for Applicants

Connect the project directly to forced labor prevention: Avoid proposals that address labor issues only generally.
Demonstrate international relevance: Explain how the intervention can address risks across global supply chains.
Show technical capacity: Large-scale awards require credible implementation and management capabilities.
Use measurable indicators: Define concrete outcomes and performance measures.
Explain sustainability: Show how project systems, knowledge, or partnerships can continue beyond the funding period.
Demonstrate collaboration: Identify relevant stakeholders and explain their roles.
Review eligibility carefully: Broad eligibility does not eliminate other application or award requirements.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Proposing activities unrelated to forced labor import prevention.
Failing to demonstrate organizational capacity for a large award.
Using broad statements without measurable outcomes.
Ignoring supply-chain or international trade dimensions.
Providing an unrealistic implementation strategy.
Failing to explain how project results will be sustained.
Assuming that eligibility alone guarantees funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Freedom Shield Initiative?

It is a U.S. Department of Labor funding opportunity supporting efforts to prevent the importation of goods associated with forced labor and strengthen responses to forced labor in global supply chains.

How much funding is available?

The estimated total program funding is $18 million, with individual awards ranging from $7 million to $18 million.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include commercial, international, educational, and non-profit organizations, as well as faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and public international organizations.

Can faith-based organizations apply?

Yes. The opportunity does not restrict eligibility based on an organization’s religious character or affiliation, provided the organization meets the applicable requirements.

What types of activities does the initiative support?

The initiative focuses on activities related to identifying, preventing, and addressing forced labor connected to international trade and global supply chains.

Is the opportunity limited to U.S. organizations?

The stated eligibility includes international and public international organizations, indicating that the opportunity is not limited solely to U.S.-based organizations. Applicants should review the official funding notice for any additional jurisdictional requirements.

What should applicants emphasize?

Applicants should emphasize a clear connection to forced labor import prevention, strong technical and organizational capacity, measurable outcomes, and the ability to implement large-scale activities effectively.

Conclusion

The Freedom Shield: Global Forced Labor Import Prohibition Initiative represents a significant funding opportunity for organizations working to strengthen forced labor prevention and supply-chain accountability. With awards ranging from $7 million to $18 million, applicants will need to demonstrate a strong understanding of forced labor risks, credible implementation capacity, measurable results, and a practical strategy for preventing forced-labor-associated goods from entering international markets.