About the department

Who we are and what we do

The promotion of sustainable enterprises is at the heart of the ILO Decent Work Agenda, which contributes to job and wealth creation, just transition to environmental sustainability, inclusive economies and societies, productivity growth and enterprises formalization.

The ILO Department of Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and Just Transition (ENTERPRISES) collaborates with its tripartite constituents on promoting sustainable enterprises through advisory services and technical cooperation.

Our work is organized around four units: Cooperatives, Multinational Enterprises and Enterprises Engagement, Small and Medium Enterprises and Social Finance, with support from a management team coordinating the department’s work plan, communication, partnerships and environmental initiatives.

organizational chart of the Department of Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and Just Transition

Why sustainable enterprises matter

Around the world, demand is growing for businesses that are motivated by more than just profit. Companies and consumers are increasingly looking for products and services that have a positive impact on the community, the environment and society.

It is in workplaces that the social, economic and environmental dimensions come together inseparably. Sustainable enterprises are a principal source of growth, wealth creation, employment and decent work. Therefore, fostering sustainable enterprises is a major tool for achieving decent work, sustainable development and innovation that improves standards of living and social conditions.

How we make a difference

Our Global Technical Team brings together staff in the HQs of Geneva, the ILO field offices and the International Training Centre (Turin), to work as one for delivering ILO sustainable enterprises agenda.

Through our action, we envision countries where conditions are favourable for sustainable enterprises to thrive, contribute to social justice and generate decent jobs, regardless of their size, ownership or sector.

ILO ENTERPRISES Management Team 

  1. Director

    Rie Vejs Kjeldgaard

    Rie Vejs Kjeldgaard is the Director of the Department of Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and Just Transition. Prior to this assignment she was the Director of the Partnership and Field Support Department. Also, she has served as the Deputy Regional Director of the ILO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in attention to several other management positions including as the Deputy Sub-Regional Director for Southeast Asia, New Delhi; the ILO Country Director for Viet Nam; the Manager of the ILO Global Programme on Decent Work Country Level Policy Analysis. She has also served as an Enterprise Specialist in several positions including as a Senior Specialist in Enterprise Development; the Global Manager of a Technical Corporation Programme on Job Quality in Micro and Small Enterprises; Enterprise Development Specialist in the ILO Regional Office for Asia and Pacific in Bangkok; and as Senior Specialist in Enterprise Development, ILO Headquarters in Geneva. Prior to the ILO she worked as Head of Product and Market Development in the pharmaceutical industry.

  2. Deputy Director 

    Vacant

  3. Social Finance

    Craig Churchill

    Craig has more than two decades of microfinance experience, in both developed and developing countries. As Chief of the ILO's Social Finance Programme, Craig focuses on the potential of financial services and policies to achieve social objectives. Craig has authored and edited over 40 articles, papers, monographs and training manuals on various microfinance topics. Craig has a BA from Williams College and an MA from Clark University, both in Massachusetts.

  4. Cooperatives

    Simel Esim

    Simel is the Manager of the Cooperatives Unit at the ILO in Geneva. Before joining the Cooperatives Unit, Simel worked as a Senior Technical Specialist in the ILO’s Regional Office for Arab States between 2004 and 2012. Her professional experiences before the ILO include working at the International Center for Research on Women, Development Alternatives, Inc. and the World Bank in Washington, D.C. on a range of issues including informal economy, women’s economic empowerment and labour migration. Simel Esim holds a BA in political science, an MA in International Economics and Middle East Studies and a Ph.D. in economics with a concentration in development economics.

  5. Multinational Enterprises

    Githa Roelans

    Githa Roelans is the Head of the Multinational Enterprises Unit. The unit provides policy advice and technical assistance to governments, employers and workers in ILO member States as well as enterprises on the application of the ILO Tripartite Declaration concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration). The unit is the ILO’s lead unit on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC). Githa joined the ILO in 2007 where she held posts in the Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour and the Bureau for Gender Equality before joining the Enterprises department. Previously she worked in the UNIDO Beijing Office (China) and held senior advisory positions in global consultancies in Brussels (Belgium). Ms. Roelans is a Belgian national and graduate of the University of Leuven, where she subsequently held research and management posts.

  6. Small and Medium Enterprises

    Dragan Radic

    Dragan Radic is Head of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) unit of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The unit provides policy advice and technical assistance in the area of productivity, enterprise formalisation, inclusive entrepreneurship, value chain/ market systems development and in the area of enabling environment for sustainable enterprises. Dragan joined the ILO in 2008 as Senior Specialist for Employers’ Activities. Prior to joining the ILO, Dragan was a Chief Executive Officer of Accuro Health Insurance in New Zealand and Business Services Manager of New Zealand Nurses Organisation. He holds MBA degree from New Zealand Massey University and Honours Degree in Psychology.