Partnership
African Union and ILO advance second joint plan to drive decent work and social justice in Africa
The African Union and the ILO are launching a new phase of their partnership to drive jobs, skills, social protection and inclusive growth across Africa, with a 2025–2029 plan focused on scaling up delivery and measurable impact.
22 April 2026
Addis Ababa, (ILO News) — Building on the results of their first Joint Operational Plan, the African Union (AU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have taken a major step toward shaping Africa’s future of work, convening a joint planning meeting to finalize the second cycle of their Joint Operational Plan (JOP) for 2025–2029.
The meeting brought together technical leads and decision-makers from both institutions, alongside partners including the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), sat to align priorities, validate key outcomes, and define a clear roadmap for implementation.
At the center of discussions was a shared objective: translate long-standing commitments on decent work and social justice into coordinated, measurable action across the continent.
“The second phase of our Joint Operational Plan must be stronger and more results-driven,” said Dr Sabelo Mbokazi, Head of Labour, Employment & Migration at the African Union Commission “Regular follow-up, joint monitoring, and sustained coordination will be critical to translating our shared commitments into tangible impact across Africa.”
The new Joint Operational Plan will focus on critical areas shaping labour markets in Africa. These include employment creation with a strong emphasis on youth, skills development for a changing economy, expansion of social protection systems, and support for enterprise growth. Participants also addressed emerging priorities such as the green jobs and blue economy, digital transformation, and the transition from informal to formal employment.
The meeting also reinforced the importance of labour migration governance, gender equality, and the application of international labour standards. Strengthening labour statistics systems and improving policy coherence between macroeconomic frameworks and employment outcomes were highlighted as key enablers for impact.
“Expanding collaboration with like-minded institutions such as UNECA will be key to accelerating implementation,” said Khumbula Ndaba, Director of the ILO Addis Ababa Country Office and Special Representative to the African Union and the ECA. “At the same time, strengthening joint resource mobilization efforts will ensure the Joint Operational Plan delivers at the scale and pace required.”
Building on lessons from the previous implementation cycle, both organizations emphasized the need for stronger coordination across departments, clearer division of responsibilities, and more effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to be a validated Joint Operational Plan for 2025–2029, alongside a detailed annual work plan for 2026. These will outline concrete actions, timelines, and responsibilities, as well as a framework for resource mobilization and partnerships.
The AU–ILO partnership, rooted in decades of collaboration, continues to play a central role for Decent Work Agenda across Africa in advancing the Agenda 2063 – the Africa We Want, and SDG 2030.The renewed plan aims to accelerate progress toward inclusive growth, improved livelihoods, and social justice for all.
With priorities aligned and a roadmap in place, the focus now shifts to implementation at scale.