Workers in a factory in Lesotho

SUSTAIN

Sustainable Trade and Investment in Southern Africa

Work in a factory in Maseru, Lesotho © ILO
Project details

1 November 2024 - 28 February 2027

European Commission

RAF/24/01/EUR

Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa

Karl Pfeffer, Project Manager, [email protected]

The project “Promoting decent work and capacity building for labour ministries, labour inspections and social partners to advance international labour standards and responsible business conduct (RBC) through sustainable trade and investments in Southern Africa (SUSTAIN – Southern Africa)" aims to further harness trade and investment to advance decent work opportunities for women and men in Southern Africa through increased respect for International Labour Standards (ILS) and the adoption of responsible and sustainable business practices.

What SUSTAIN does?

Supporting research

SUSTAIN supports a series of case studies and policy briefs will be developed at the regional and country level on the trade, investment decent work and RBC nexus

Capacity development

For ILO tripartite constituents (governments, employers, workers) & critical stakeholders through online elearning, and national % subregional regional workshops on trade, investment, RBC, decent work

Facilitating dialogue

Strengthening dialogue and experience-sharing between constituents, at sub-regional & national level sharing lessons learned and effective approaches for capacity development of countries on the trade

Countries of intervention

Botswana
Botswana flag

Botswana

Lesotho
Lesotho flag

Lesotho

Namibia
Namibia

Namibia

South Africa
South Africa

South Africa

News and stories

Botswana validates investor guidelines to enhance impact of Foreign Direct Investment

Botswana validates investor guidelines to enhance impact of Foreign Direct Investment

Investment facilitation for decent work

Investment facilitation for decent work

No trade without labour, enhancing the voice of African workers in trade and investment
SUSTAIN Project Workers workshop

No trade without labour, enhancing the voice of African workers in trade and investment

Publications and documents

More and better jobs through trade, the role of responsible business conduct and international labour standards

Research Brief

More and better jobs through trade, the role of responsible business conduct and international labour standards

Social dialogue for sustainable trade and investment, the case of South Africa

Social dialogue for sustainable trade and investment, the case of South Africa

Investor Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct and Decent Work

Investor Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct and Decent Work

Project partners

SADC logo
EU Logo

Related resources

ILO Helpdesk for business on international labour standards
An illustration showing three helpdesk staff.

ILO Helpdesk for business on international labour standards

Botswana strengthens commitment to decent work and responsible business conduct through trade and investment
Sustain Botswana group

Sustainable Trade and Investment in Southern Africa

Botswana strengthens commitment to decent work and responsible business conduct through trade and investment

Integrating Trade and Decent Work
TRADE CARGO BOAT.jpg

ILO Programme

Integrating Trade and Decent Work

Multinational Enterprises, Development and Decent Work: the ILO’s MNE Declaration

Multinational Enterprises, Development and Decent Work: the ILO’s MNE Declaration

Integrating Trade and Decent Work: What Works and Why?

High-level seminar

Integrating Trade and Decent Work: What Works and Why?

Labour Provisions in Trade Agreements Hub

LP Hub

Labour Provisions in Trade Agreements Hub

MNE Declaration and trade and investment

MNE Declaration and trade and investment

South Africa appoints national tripartite focal points for the promotion of the ILO MNE Declaration

Sustainable Trade and Investment in Southern Africa

South Africa appoints national tripartite focal points for the promotion of the ILO MNE Declaration

Financial literacy as a catalyst for inclusive growth in Zimbabwe
Line up of officials at the certificate handover ceremony with a trainer receiving carrying her baby

Start and improve your business

Financial literacy as a catalyst for inclusive growth in Zimbabwe

Namibia becomes the 20th ILO Member State to appoint national focal Points for the promotion of the ILO MNE Declaration

Sustainable Trade and Investment in Southern Africa

Namibia becomes the 20th ILO Member State to appoint national focal Points for the promotion of the ILO MNE Declaration

Strengthening social dialogue on decent work, trade and investment

Sustainable Trade and Investment in Southern Africa

Strengthening social dialogue on decent work, trade and investment

South Africa’s social partners convene to advance decent work through responsible business conduct in trade and investment
South Africa SUSTAIN workshop

Sustainable Trade and Investment in Southern Africa

South Africa’s social partners convene to advance decent work through responsible business conduct in trade and investment

Investment facilitation for more and better jobs

Research Brief

Investment facilitation for more and better jobs

Aligning skills development with Sustainable Investment for more and better jobs

Aligning skills development with Sustainable Investment for more and better jobs