ILO and WAIPA launch global platform to drive better jobs through responsible investment

Geneva (ILO News) - On 9 December 2025, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) launched a new Community of Practice (CoP) for investment promotion agencies (IPAs) on foreign direct investment (FDI) for more and better jobs. The initiative builds on the ten-year ILO and WAIPA collaboration on investment promotion and facilitation for decent work and responds to growing requests from IPAs for practical guidance and peer-to-peer exchange.

Githa Roelans, Head, ILO Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct Unit, and Dushyant Thakor, WAIPA Deputy Executive Director, formally launched the CoP, in which 61 IPAs from diverse regions have already become members. Hosted on the ITCILO eCampus platform, the CoP offers a dedicated space for IPA professionals to share experiences, access practical tools, and engage in peer learning and discussions on how to steer investment promotion and facilitation towards more decent work opportunities and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The launch webinar brought together IPA practitioners from all regions. It provided an opportunity to present the deepened partnership between the ILO and WAIPA and the joint initiatives that paved the way for the CoP, such as the joint ILO-WAIPA Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Framework on FDI for More and Better Jobs and the yearly Effective Investment Facilitation and Sustainable Development course. Participants received an introduction to the objectives of the platform and the main features tailored to IPA needs, including:

• Regular live webinars and virtual events on topics identified jointly with the participating IPAs, such as impact-oriented investment promotion, designing skills partnerships with investors, social dialogue in investment projects, responsible business conduct and aftercare.
• A knowledge hub with guidance materials, case studies and tools for IPAs on FDI facilitation that supports decent work and inclusive growth.
• Discussion forums where IPA practitioners can exchange experiences, ask questions and share good practices across regions.
• A networking space that helps participants connect with peers facing similar challenges and identify opportunities for collaboration and joint learning.

Content is progressively being made available in English, French and Spanish to support wider participation in the CoP.

During the launch webinar, participants shared their priorities and expectations for the CoP. Many highlighted the need for support on measuring FDI impact on jobs and skills (including indicators and data), designing skills and training partnerships with investors, and strengthening local linkages and supplier development. They also underlined the importance of practical resources, such as diagnostic tools to assess FDI quality and decent work outcomes, and case studies on how IPAs link FDI to more and better jobs. Key sectors and thematic areas identified by participants included financing, infrastructure and the investment climate; green and just transition and sustainable economy sectors; artificial intelligence and advanced technologies; digitalization and data-driven activities; and labour, skills, and the informal economy and small and medium enterprises.

The CoP is open to staff of investment promotion agencies and related institutions involved in investment promotion, facilitation and aftercare. Interested IPA representatives can join the Community of Practice by contacting ITCILO at [email protected].

By providing this dedicated space for learning, dialogue and collaboration, the ILO and WAIPA commit to supporting IPAs in playing a stronger role in promoting investment that generates more and better jobs, advances responsible business conduct and contributes to a just and sustainable future of work.

The CoP is open to staff of investment promotion agencies and related institutions involved in investment promotion, facilitation and aftercare. Interested IPA representatives can join the Community of Practice by contacting ITCILO at [email protected].