Employment-intensive Investment Programme Inter-regional forum for Asia and the Arab States

As nations in the Global South face climate change, natural disasters, conflicts, and economic downturns, regional cooperation becomes vital. The Employment-intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) South-South Technical Cooperation (SSTC) Inter-regional forum for Asia and the Arab States seeks to facilitate peer-to-peer learning among policymakers, research institutions, and development partners from these two regions, focusing on employment-intensive approaches for crisis response and climate adaptation works for sustainable development.

By bringing together government officials, ILO staff, development practitioners, research institutions, academia, and donor organizations, the EIIP SSTC Inter-regional forum for Asia and the Arab States aims to enhance the integration of employment-intensive investments intonational policies and programmes while fostering new South-South partnerships for knowledge transfer and collaboration.

Focus

Participants will assess challenges, gaps, and opportunities, form new SSTC partnerships, and create an action plan for integrating EIIP into national policies with ILO support

• Panel discussions & case studies: Sharing experiences and best practicesin EIIP implementation across Asia andthe Arab States. Also, exploring practical applications of EIIP in crisisresponse, recovery, and green job creation.
• Field visits: Observing rural community projects with a focus on natural resource management.
• Networking: Strengthening South-South partnerships and developing action plans for mainstreaming employment-intensive approaches.

Thematic areas

THEMATIC AREA 1

EIIP enhancing regional growth

This area explores the relevance of EIIP across the Arab States and Asia, highlighting its implementation scope - from project-based approaches to large-scale national programmes. With a wealth of regional experience, the focus will be on cross-learning opportunities, the history and concepts of EIIP, successful projects and national programmes, and the potential for South-South collaboration.

Paper 1: What Makes Employment/Intensive Investment Programme Relevant to our Regions?

THEMATIC AREA 2

Rapid crisis response through EIIP

Covering EIIP strategies, tools and training for crisis response and climate adaptation works, this session delves into employment-based interventions for natural disasters, conflicts, refugee crises, and economic downturns in Asia. It highlights peer learning, employment aspects in damage assessment, climate adaptation measures, and SSTC partnerships for crisis recovery funding.

Paper 2: EIIP for immediate response during and immediately after crises events

THEMATIC AREA 3

Recovery works and capacity building with EIIP

Focusing on long-term recovery and reconstruction through employment-intensive and local resource-based approaches. It will explore climate-resilient design, inclusive strategies, and environmental and social safeguards. Including institutional capacity building, effective procurement, training for public and private sector actors, and financing opportunities for green works.

Paper 3: EIIP: Recovery and Reconstruction Works - Implementation and Capacity Building Arrangements

THEMATIC AREA 4

Government-led PWP/PEP against poverty, climate change & crisis

This area examines national Public Works Programmes and Public Employment Programmes (PWP/PEP), their structure, impact, and role in poverty alleviation, climate adaptation, and crisis response. Topics include programme setup (rationale, political will, fiscal space, challenges), institutional capacity, targeting beneficiaries, wage policies, activity selection, and accountability frameworks.

Paper 4: Government-led Public Works Programme and Public Employment Programme to address poverty alleviation, climate change and crisis