ILO co-hosts the 17th Africa regional seminar for labour-based practitioners

Addis Ababa (ILO News): The 17th regional seminar for labour-based practitioners, held in Addis Ababa from 13-17 November 2017, discusses new developments and shares experiences on the application of employment-intensive approaches in the delivery of essential infrastructure.

The seminar under the theme, “Delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals”, mainly focusses on building national capacities for employment creation, expanding employment-based social protection floor and conserving the environment - including addressing climate change and its adverse effects.

In his opening statement, Mr. George Okutho, Director of CO-Addis Ababa, highlighted that ILO aims to take an active part in the discussion of how investments in different sectors (e.g. infrastructure, agriculture, environment, social development) can be shaped to tackle the key development challenges towards achieving the SDGs.

He pointed out that through Goal 8, the Sustainable Development Agenda places social justice and decent work for all at the heart of Agenda 2030, where ILO is taking a lead. The resolution on “Advancing Social Justice through Decent Work” was adopted by the 2016 International Labour Conference calling ILO to play a convening role in reviewing the decent work dimension of the 2030 Agenda.

Following that, Mr. Okutho assured of ILO’s continued support to make 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals work through decent work and employment intensive investment approaches (EIIP) in the creation of sustainable public goods, including sustainable and environmentally friendly infrastructure.

The regional seminars for labour-based practitioners are held every two years, bringing together practitioners, planners, policy makers, researchers, funding and development partners and all others involved in infrastructure development from the African region and beyond to discuss new developments, share experience and ideas on the application of employment-intensive approaches in the delivery of essential infrastructure. The objective of the seminars are thus to facilitate sharing, learning and expanding of knowledge through presentation, discussion and debate on the state of the art of policy, practice, research and development and to exchange views on specific themes related to employment-intensive investments and local resource-based approaches.
-----------------------------------------------------
Website of the 17th Regional seminar for labour - based practitioners