ILO ProAgro Ethiopia partners with FES and ActionAid to promote national stakeholders’ alliance for advocacy

© ILO/ProAgro

© ILO/ProAgro

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (ILO News) - The ILO-ProAgro Project, Friederich Ebert Stiftung (FES), and ActionAid in Ethiopia, whose projects range from promoting responsible business and labour dialogues to climate actions, have collaborated to advance national stakeholder engagement. This collaboration aims to better understand and promote just transitions for sustainable development. The three organizations brought together diverse stakeholders, including trade unions, civil societies, research institutions, environmental and social activists, employers, and relevant government institutions, for a one-day brainstorming session on current policy frameworks, national action plans, and potential gaps and opportunities to advance the inclusive process.

The workshop examined existing climate action-related policy frameworks, including the Government’s Climate Resilient Green Economy Agenda. While the workshop acknowledged the government’s commitment to green transitions, it also noted a lack of clarity among relevant stakeholders regarding roles and responsibilities for action.

In July 2024, the Government of Ethiopia demonstrated political will by launching the 2024-2030 NDC Implementation Plan to operationalize its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). This launch signals a strong political commitment by the Government of Ethiopia to steer transformational investments to build a climate-resilient green economy by 2030.

Experts from ILO, FES, trade unions, CETU Women Committee, Agricultural Federation, Ethiopian Coffee Association, Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association, academia, and NGOs such as ActionAid Ethiopia affiliates, OXFAM, and Mercy Corps participated in the consultative workshop.

The participants committed to sustaining the alliances, with national trade union leaders pledging to raise awareness actively. This collaborative effort galvanizes collective action in promoting a just transition in Ethiopia, securing the livelihoods of workers and their communities during the shift to a low-carbon economy. It emphasizes the importance of safeguarding workers’ rights throughout this transition process. The ILO’s contribution to the alliance will focus on employment, gender, and skills dimensions.