Research Brief

Investment facilitation for more and better jobs

This brief explores how foreign direct investment can support more and better jobs through productivity gains, technology transfer, skills development, enterprise linkages and responsible business conduct, while highlighting the key role of Investment Promotion Agencies in attracting and supporting investment that advances decent work, inclusive growth and lasting development impact.

As countries increasingly look beyond the volume of investment flows, this brief explores how FDI can lead to more and better jobs including productivity upgrades, technology transfer, skills development, enterprise linkages and promoting responsible business conduct. A central focus of the brief is the unique role of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs).

Positioned at the heart of the investment facilitation cycle, IPAs have a powerful opportunity to influence how investment supports sustainable development—through targeted promotion, responsible business conduct advocacy, investor aftercare, and long term monitoring.

By integrating sustainability, decent work principles, and responsible business conduct into their strategies, IPAs can help attract investment that supports inclusive growth and delivers lasting development impact.