Rural development

The ILO Rural Employment and Decent Work Programme prompts multi-disciplinary responses to tackle decent work deficits that inhibit the capacity of rural areas as drivers of growth, job creation, crisis resilience and equitable development.

Its strategy aims to:

• Set rural areas at the core of national and international development policies
• Support a human resource-based rural development
• Promote productive enterprises and employment opportunities in farm and non-farm activities
• Improve working conditions in rural workplaces
• Extend social protection and labour standard coverage to rural areas
• Develop dialogue among employers, workers, authorities and other rural stakeholders
• Empower local stakeholders so they may impact policies and programmes
• Target women and youth as engines of rural development

Work consists of research, country-level interventions, capacity building and advocacy. Areas covered include value chains, skills, tourism, food security, social protection, occupational safety and health, labour standards, employment intensive works, statistics, social dialogue and labour inspection.

The Programme emphasizes shared responsibility and synergies for rural development, among ILO Constituents and ILO Units. It is coordinated by a Core Team that maintains an ILO rural vision and direction; prompts action, collaboration and delivery. The team also undertakes and supports strategic initiatives; disseminates products and approaches; develops external partnerships; and operates through a network of over 70 focal points on rural employment and decent work based throughout the Office.

For more information read the Programme Leaflet