About us

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is the only tripartite UN agency– bringing together governments, employers and workers representatives to elaborate labour standards and policies and promote decent work in different parts of the world.

ILO Decent Work Team and Country Office (DWT/CO)

ILO Decent Work Team (DWT) for North Africa and Country Office for Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan is based in Cairo- Egypt. It also covers the countries of North Africa (Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia) with the primary goal of promoting decent work and employment opportunities.

The ILO Cairo Office was established in 1959 with a mandate to oversee ILO activities and relations with constituents (government, employers’ and workers’ organizations) in Egypt and Sudan, and has been expanding ever since in size, scope and geographic coverage.

The Office relies on a team of senior technical specialists based in Cairo in addition to high-caliber local staff which provides technical and administrative support services. The office can also count on additional support from the Regional Office for Africa in Addis Ababa as well as ILO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland in all areas of expertise.

ILO DWT/CO in Cairo works under the responsibility of the Regional office for Africa based in Addis Ababa.

Mission and objective

The primary objective of the ILO DWT/CO in Cairo is to promote decent work in the countries that fall under its geographical jurisdiction. Decent work is the ultimate goal of all people. On the individual level, it involves work that is productive, that provides fair income and that guarantees security in the workplace and social protection for families. On the state level, it paves the way for broader social compliance and economic growth which results into the eradication of poverty.

The ILO DWT/CO in Cairo focuses its support on strengthening application of international labour standards, fundamental principles and rights at work; supporting decent employment, enterprise development and sustainable social and economic growth; enhancing social protection for all; and strengthening tripartism, social dialogue and freedom of association.

The assistance provided by the ILO DWT/CO in Cairo is largely based on technical advisory services, covering both policy and practical issues. The technical services focus on enhancing the capacities of constituents (governments, employers and workers) in the areas of policy development, programme and project design, and the adoption of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) in support of the national economic and social development policies and strategies.

Guided by the Decent Work Agenda, the ILO DWT/CO in Cairo plays a leading role in the implementation of several important technical cooperation projects and programmes in the relevant countries.

Partnerships

The office is keen on maintaining close partnership relations and collaboration with its social partners, the government, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) on the national as well as on the regional level.