ILO Strengthens Institutional Capacity for Sustainable Use of Just Transition Assessment Model in Nigeria

Abuja (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO), with support from the French Government and in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment’s Climate Change Department (CCD), has strengthened national capacities in the use of the Just Transition Assessment Model (JTAM) through a dedicated workshop held from 13th to 16th May 2025 at the UN House in Abuja.

The JTAM, formerly known as the Green Jobs Assessment Model (GJAM), was developed by the ILO in 2021 in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the NDC Partnership, with technical input from SINTEF Industri, Norway. The model serves as a vital tool for evaluating the employment and labour market impacts of climate policies and the transition to a greener economy.

The model will support policy assessment and planning for Nigeria’s climate change strategies, including the revision of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Participants included key government ministries, workers' and employers' organizations, and research institutions. The model was officially handed over to the Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) for further development and application in the country.

The workshop brought together 50 technical staff from relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, alongside representatives from workers' and employers' organizations and leading research institutions. The intensive training aimed to equip stakeholders with the skills necessary to analyze and interpret data through JTAM, ensuring informed decision-making that aligns with Nigeria’s Just Transition Action Plan and the revision of NDC 3.0.

In his remarks, Marek Harsdorff, Technical Officer for the Just Transition Priority Action Programme, ILO Geneva, highlighted the importance of the initiative in fostering a fair and inclusive shift towards environmentally sustainable economies. Stephen Agugua, National Project Coordinator for the ILO Just Transition and Green Jobs Project, and Meron Assefa Arega, Economic Researcher, SINTEF Industri, provided technical expertise and facilitated discussions on the model’s adaptation to Nigeria’s policy framework.

A key milestone of the workshop was the formal handing over of JTAM to the Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan, which will further develop and integrate the model into national planning efforts. This transfer aligns with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between ILO and NISER in July 2022, reinforcing continued collaboration on research and application of the model to inform economic and social development policies.

Through initiatives such as these, the ILO remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s efforts in advancing decent work principles, social protection, and environmentally sustainable economic growth—ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition to a greener future.