The U.S. Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) plans to release a funding opportunity for the **Program to End Modern Slavery (PEMS)**. This program aims to implement and rigorously evaluate promising interventions to reduce the prevalence of human trafficking, including forced labor and sex trafficking, and mitigate its harms. The focus will be on scientifically validating the effectiveness of anti-trafficking strategies, fostering evidence-based programming, and utilizing trauma-informed, victim-centered approaches.

PEMS supports interventions that show promise but lack rigorous evaluation, adaptations of successful approaches from other fields for anti-trafficking purposes, and initiatives with robust research designs that have not yet been funded for implementation. Partnerships with local governments, academia, civil society, private sector entities, and international organizations will be encouraged to ensure effective and sustainable outcomes. Local expertise will play a key role in project implementation.

Since its inception, PEMS has received $25 million annually from Congress, with $200 million allocated to date. The TIP Office will prioritize programs that emphasize research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) to validate and refine intervention strategies. This upcoming funding opportunity builds on past PEMS efforts, including the **Intervention Development Research initiative** and the **Human Trafficking Research Initiative**, managed by Innovations in Poverty Action.

While applications are not yet being accepted, the TIP Office anticipates publishing a detailed Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov) in the coming months. Eligible applicants include commercial, international, educational, non-profit, faith-based, community-based, and public international organizations. Prior experience with Department of State cooperative agreements is not required.

Applicants must register for a **Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)** and be active in the **System for Award Management (SAM.gov)**. Subrecipients are required to have a UEI but do not need SAM.gov registration. Early preparation of these registrations is strongly encouraged, as they are mandatory for all applicants.

This initiative offers an opportunity to contribute to the growing body of evidence on effective anti-trafficking measures and foster partnerships for sustainable impact. Interested organizations should monitor Grants.gov for the NOFO and prepare to engage in this critical global effort.