2014 and 2015 were record-breaking years for public-private partnerships (PPPs) at the ILO, with 92 new partnerships signed. Funding by PPPs reached USD 27,536,293 in 2014–15, or 6 per cent of all ILO extra-budgetary resources (XBTC) — compared to USD 17,840,862 in 2012–13 (3.5 per cent). This made PPPs the fifth largest contributor to the ILO’s extra-budgetary funding in the period.

PPPs require enhanced coordination, and this has created convergences within the ILO. Several technical meetings and dialogues took place during 2014–15, especially for companies wishing to learn more about ILO principles on a range of labour issues.

In 2014–15 the ILO adapted and updated PPP modalities for different levels of engagement, promoted wider engagement, and enhanced the content and scope of existing engagements. For example –

• A revised PPP template agreement for members of the ILO Global Business and Disability Network was developed in 2014. A new Charter 10 was launched in October 2015, committing signatories to increase their efforts in key areas such as non-discrimination, equal treatment and opportunities, job retention, accessibility, and respect of confidentiality, focusing on all types of disabilities and in particular mental and intellectual disabilities.
• Innovative PPPs have been developed that match ILO priorities to development partners’ and private sector partners’ policies and programmes.
• To further enhance ILO field offices’ capacity to engage in PPPs, direct support and training was provided to ten country offices. The Office also conducted pilot training for ILO staff in April 2015, to better identify needs and develop an innovative and modular training package that will be made available to all ILO staff

In the spotlight: Disability inclusion makes good business sense The ILO Global Business and Disability Network is a network of multinational enterprises, employers' organizations, business networks and disabled persons' organizations who share the conviction that the world’s 1 billion people with disabilities have talents and skills that can enhance virtually any business. In 2014–15 the network was strengthened; new and existing national networks were supported in China, Egypt, Peru, Saudi Arabia and Zambia. In October 2015, 11 major international companies became the first signatories of the newly created Business Charter on Disability. A tool to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the world of work, the Charter is the first of its kind to be initiated by companies. It covers a wide range of areas, from protecting staff members with disabilities from discrimination to progressively making company premises and communications accessible to all employees.