Strengthening Inter-regional Cooperation for Safe, Regular, and Orderly Labour Migration in Ethiopia

The “Strengthening Inter-Regional Cooperation for Safe, Regular, and Orderly Labour Migration in Ethiopia” initiative is a national programme implemented by the International Labour Organization to support Ethiopia in advancing safe, orderly and regular labour migration, with a strong emphasis on rights-based and gender-responsive governance.

The project aims to enhance governance systems, support fair recruitment, strengthen protection mechanisms across the migration cycle, build institutional capacities at federal and regional levels, improve skills development and qualification frameworks, strengthen regional coordination, and promote safer and regular migration pathways for Ethiopian workers, particularly women and youth. The project addresses long-standing systemic challenges, including fragmented governance structures, limited availability and use of labour migration data, limited skills development and recognition mechanisms, inconsistent oversight of recruitment processes, and persistent vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers.

Programme focus

The project is structured around four interrelated interventions areas:

1. Strengthening Institutional Capacities and Evidence Systems at national and international level to monitor labour migration trends and generate reliable labour market information to inform evidence-based policies.
2. Improving Skills Development and Recognition for potential and current migrant workers seeking overseas employment.
3. Strengthening Protection System Across the Migration Continuum for migrant workers from pre-departure through employment abroad to return and reintegration.
4. Professionalising and Improving Overseas Recruitment, improving regulation, oversight, and professional standards of Ethiopian overseas recruitment processes to promote fair recruitment practices.

Partnerships and impact

The project is implemented by the International Labour Organization in close collaboration with key national stakeholders, including Ministry of Labour and Skills (MoLS) and Regional Bureaus of Labour and Skills (BoLS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and its diplomatic missions, Ethiopian Migrant Associations in destination countries, Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MoWSA) and relevant Regional Bureaus, the National Partnership Coalition/Council and regional counterparts where operational, Ethiopian Statistics Service (ESS), Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU), Confederation of Ethiopian Employers’ Association (CEEA), selected Private Employment Agencies (PrEAs), SeeFar, and other relevant NGOs directly supporting migrant workers

Through these partnerships, the programme promotes coordinated, inclusive and sustainable labour migration governance reforms aligned with national development priorities and international labour standards.