AID grant no. 519-0000-980-B2 with the Fundacion Obrero Empresarial Salvadorena (FOES) for the trust fund project agreement -- strengthening labor organizations for development project

The FOES will provide worker organizations with loans, grants, TA, and training to carry out development projects which directly benefit workers and farmers. Loans will target income- producing activities such as food production, microenterprise development, marketing, etc., while grants will be made for projects with social benefits but no income-producing returns, such as health services, education, labor/management training, small-scale road and bridge construction, etc. The FOES"s main task will be providing worker organizations with TA and training to plan and prepare projects and to strengthen their technical, administrative, and managerial capabilities. A special component will focus on developing labor-management relations and cooperation on mutually beneficial projects. To upgrade the FOES"s own institutional capabilities, the grant provides funding for training and hiring personnel, procuring additional office space, equipment, vehicles, etc., and upgrading managerial and accounting functions. The project is expected to reach about 250 worker organizations (cooperatives, local, and neighborhood organizations) and at least 30 unions and campesino organizations to benefit up to 100,000 workers and their families.