Access to decent work acts as an antidote to social exclusion right across our global economy. SEED seeks to unlock the potential for creating more and better jobs in the small enterprise sector. Since this is where most women and men earn their living - in micro- and small enterprises, in self-employment, in the informal economy - this is where policies, regulations, business training, market development and organization building matter most.
The International Labour Conference (ILC) validated this idea in 1998 by adopting Recommendation No. 189 on "Job Creation in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises". This offers a vision of a vibrant, job-creating, poverty-fighting small enterprise sector. More recently, in 2007, the ILO’s tripartite constituency of governments, employers and workers’ organizations agreed on how to promote enterprise development in a manner that aligns enterprise growth with sustainable development objectives and the creation of productive employment and decent work. Now SEED is working with governments, social partners and communities, to craft new policy tools, invigorate entrepreneurship education and management training, and involve small business in new markets. The Programme conducts research on what works where and why, so that employment can be boosted through small enterprise development.
SEED’s mission is to strengthen understanding of how development of this economic sector can better serve employment goals. Most importantly, this knowledge is being put to work through policy guidance, technical assistance and international advocacy. ILO concerns and values drive the work that SEED carries out in improving job quality in small enterprises, increasing economic opportunities for women and youth, upgrading informal enterprises, identify opportunities for value chain development, etc.
The main areas of work are:
- Promotion of an enabling and sustainable business environment
- Business Development Services (BDS)
- Value Chain Development (VCD)
- Informal enterprise upgrading
- Promotion of an entrepreneurial culture
- Job quality in micro- and small enterprises
- Youth Entrepreneurship
- Women's Entrepreneurship Development (WED)