Project

Promoting workers’ rights and gender equality at work in Africa- Phase II

The project strengthens the capacities of African constituents to advance workers' rights, gender equality, and non-discrimination, contributing to social justice and decent work for all. It addresses gaps in participation in the ILO International Labour Standards (ILS) supervisory system, provides support and mentorship to meet reporting obligations, promotes the ratification of key gender equality-related ILS, builds capacity on Equality@Work topics and fundamental principles and rights at work, and pilots workplace initiatives in targeted sectors.

Project details

Duration

1 January 2025 - 31 December 2025

Development partner(s)

NORAD

Reference

RAF/24/10/NOR

Contact

[email protected] ; [email protected]

Additional details

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Background

Workers’ rights and gender equality are fundamental to achieving social justice and inclusive economic growth. Since 1919, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has served as the custodian of International Labour Standards (ILS), supporting tripartite constituents in the adoption, ratification, and implementation of these standards to promote decent work for all.

However, in many African countries, ratification of key conventions and active engagement with the ILS supervisory system remain limited—particularly in areas related to gender equality and non-discrimination. These gaps are driven by structural inequalities, lack of awareness, and limited capacities.

Trade unions are central to promoting the ratification and application of ILS, yet they often face barriers related to access to knowledge, tools, and resources. At the same time, challenges such as inadequate care policies, poor working conditions in the care sector, violence and harassment at work, and the gender pay gap continue to restrict women’s full and equal participation in the workforce.

In response, the ILO—supported by NORAD—is implementing the project Promoting Workers’ Rights and Gender Equality at Work in Africa – Phase II. The project is implemented in the African region, with country level interventions in Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana.

Project information

The project targets tripartite constituents in Ethiopia and Malawi, with a special focus on trade unions in Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ghana. It emphasizes the protection of workers' rights and gender equality. Direct beneficiaries include trade union leaders, women and young trade unionists involved in advocacy and reporting within the ILO system, employers, governments, and women workers of reproductive age, as well as workers with family responsibilities. Ultimately, the project aims to benefit workers and their families—particularly women and young workers—by strengthening rights protection, improving maternity and childcare support, and enhancing safeguards against violence and harassment at work.
The project focuses on two interlinked outcomes:

Outcome 1: Workers' organizations are empowered to advocate effectively for the ratification and implementation of ILS, with a strong focus on gender equality and use of the ILO supervisory mechanisms;

Outcome 2: Constituents are equipped to foster enabling environments for gender equality in targeted sectors through the implementation of Equality@Work initiatives.
The main activities include organizing regional and sub-regional trainings to strengthen trade union capacity on the ILO supervisory mechanisms and gender-related International Labour Standards (ILS), with a focus on empowering women and young trade unionists. Support is provided for national ratification campaigns in six focus countries, aimed at advancing key gender equality conventions. In Ethiopia and Malawi, targeted training and knowledge-sharing sessions are delivered to tripartite constituents (governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations) to enhance their ability to implement and scale up Equality@Work initiatives. At the workplace level, Equality@Work solutions are co-created - with employers and workers - and implemented across key sectors to promote women’s rights and economic empowerment.