Sweden focuses on development cooperation with ILO in Zimbabwe
Sweden’s diplomatic corps in Harare paid a courtesy visit to UN agencies in Zimbabwe, including the ILO, to get first-hand information on the implementation of development cooperation programs and strategic partnerships.
1 March 2016
HARARE (ILO News) – A delegation of the Swedish Embassy in Zimbabwe led by Ambassador Lars Ronnas paid an official working visit to ILO office in Harare to better connect with the status of implementation of development programs in the country.
The Swedish delegation was briefed by the ILO Officer-in-Charge, Adolphus Chinomwe, on the role of key development partners to ILO’s work, including the Government of Sweden which supported ILO’s work in the sub-region for over 30 years.
This presence translated to over USD20 million for various national and regional programs, stressed Adolphus Chinomwe by highlighting the fact that Sweden’s support started with the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) from 1980-2006, which was an off-shoot of the Swedish Employers´ Federation “Look After Your Firm” developed in the 1970s for local small and medium entrepreneurs.
In Zimbabwe, in 1977, SIDA funded a programme which saw the ILO adapt the SIYB materials to reflect the needs of entrepreneurs in developing countries. The adapted training package was called “Improve Your Business“(IYB). It was launched in Harare in the mid-1990s, and gave birth to other packages including the “Generate Your Business Idea” (GYB) and the “Expand Your Business” (EYB).
The Sweden’s development assistance (SIDA) together with DANIDA, Irish Aid and NORAD funded the ILO/ASIST (Advisory Support, Information Services and Training) – an Employment Intensive Investment Programme from 1980-2006. From 2006 to date, SIDA has supported a number of programmes on Corporate Social Responsibility; HIV and AIDS for workers and employers and for the transport sector; the ILO Commission of Inquiry, and the on-going UN Joint Programme on Gender Equality being jointly implemented with UN Women and UNDP.
The Head of Development at the Embassy of Sweden, Ms Maria Selin, commended the leading role that the ILO has taken on green jobs and the green economy, noting that the Embassy had a lot to learn from the ILO experiences and pointed that this could be an area for future cooperation.
The ILO is currently working within the UNCT structure in Zimbabwe to support the country in rebuilding and strengthening national capacities to achieve full economic, political and social recovery for a positive impact on the lives of Zimbabweans.
The Swedish delegation was briefed by the ILO Officer-in-Charge, Adolphus Chinomwe, on the role of key development partners to ILO’s work, including the Government of Sweden which supported ILO’s work in the sub-region for over 30 years.
This presence translated to over USD20 million for various national and regional programs, stressed Adolphus Chinomwe by highlighting the fact that Sweden’s support started with the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) from 1980-2006, which was an off-shoot of the Swedish Employers´ Federation “Look After Your Firm” developed in the 1970s for local small and medium entrepreneurs.
In Zimbabwe, in 1977, SIDA funded a programme which saw the ILO adapt the SIYB materials to reflect the needs of entrepreneurs in developing countries. The adapted training package was called “Improve Your Business“(IYB). It was launched in Harare in the mid-1990s, and gave birth to other packages including the “Generate Your Business Idea” (GYB) and the “Expand Your Business” (EYB).
The Sweden’s development assistance (SIDA) together with DANIDA, Irish Aid and NORAD funded the ILO/ASIST (Advisory Support, Information Services and Training) – an Employment Intensive Investment Programme from 1980-2006. From 2006 to date, SIDA has supported a number of programmes on Corporate Social Responsibility; HIV and AIDS for workers and employers and for the transport sector; the ILO Commission of Inquiry, and the on-going UN Joint Programme on Gender Equality being jointly implemented with UN Women and UNDP.
The Head of Development at the Embassy of Sweden, Ms Maria Selin, commended the leading role that the ILO has taken on green jobs and the green economy, noting that the Embassy had a lot to learn from the ILO experiences and pointed that this could be an area for future cooperation.
The ILO is currently working within the UNCT structure in Zimbabwe to support the country in rebuilding and strengthening national capacities to achieve full economic, political and social recovery for a positive impact on the lives of Zimbabweans.