Decent work is now recognized as a global goal and a universal commitment. The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 marked the agreement of United Nations Member States on a set of 17 concrete goals designed to achieve peace and prosperity for all on a healthy planet. The SDGs reflect a worldwide concern to achieve decent work for all: SDG 8, in particular, is termed “decent work and economic growth,” and its achievement of the broader 2030 Agenda. 

In this context, development cooperation has come to be understood as part of a broader international effort aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, in which the ILO will promote the Decent Work Agenda as a basis for political governance and sustainable social and economic growth.

Through its development cooperation, the ILO is committed to the promotion of decent work and the operationalization of the ILO Centenary Declaration within the framework of the 2030 Agenda, in alignment with the  ILC 2018 Resolution on ILO effective development cooperation in support of the SDGs and its subsequent plan of action. Together, these documents guide ILO’s action for increasing and diversifying the ILO’s resources and partnerships at the global, national and local levels to better serve its constituents. The ILO also affirms its commitment to the principles of effective development cooperation   and collaborates with the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) in their promotion, including in areas such as Private Sector Engagement and South-South and Triangular as well as South-South Cooperation.

This entire process depends on promoting the crucial role of tripartism, meaning active engagement with governments, employers and workers., in the design and implementation of development cooperation programmes and projects.