The AU-ILO Joint Planning Meeting held on 8 April 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has reassured on the strengthening of the collaboration and coordination between the African Union (AU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote decent work and social justice in the continent.
The joint planning meeting featured 20 representatives from both institutions to discuss key areas of mutual interest and chart a path forward for joint initiatives and partnerships.
According to a statement from the ILO issued on Thursday which highlighted the major decisions taken during the meeting, the opening remarks from Messrs. Alexio Musindo and Sabelo Mbokazi underscored the importance of the partnership between the AU and ILO in promoting economic development, social justice, and decent work across the African continent. They highlighted the significance of joint efforts in addressing pressing challenges such as unemployment, labour migration, and gender inequality.
Mbokazi, who is the Head of Labour, Employment & Migration Division, AU Health, Humanitarian Affairs &Social Development, said: “Through sustained collaboration between the AU and ILO, we’ve not only outlined clear policies but also established a solid framework for future cooperation, ensuring our joint efforts continue to yield tangible results.
“By working together, we can leverage our respective strengths to address the challenges of unemployment, inequality, and social injustice that persist in many African countries”, the labour expert added.
After participants had made a comprehensive review of progress made since the establishment of the partnership was conducted, focusing on key achievements, challenges encountered, and lessons learned, they acknowledged the strides made in promoting employment creation, decent work, and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Similarly, the successful commissioning of studies, dissemination of findings, and engagement with stakeholders were highlighted as notable achievements.
Some of the discussions during the meeting on various thematic areas, include the promotion of Employment Creation and Decent Work of which participants discussed strategies for promoting employment creation and decent work as part of the implementation of the AfCFTA.
The key topics included labour provisions in the AfCFTA, gendered effects of trade restrictions on labour market outcomes, and the promotion of Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) – Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Others are the nexus between Free Movement, Legal Migration, and Trade; Fair Recruitment, Human Trafficking, and Smuggling of Migrants; and Global Coalition for Social Justice.
On the way forward, the participants agreed on the need for Development of Policy Briefs on key thematic areas discussed during the meeting, including employment creation, labour migration, and social justice, to serve as actionable recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders.
Similarly, on Capacity Building and Dialogue, the participants recommended organizing capacity-building workshops and dialogues to enhance understanding and implementation of labour-related provisions of the AfCFTA and other relevant frameworks to facilitate knowledge sharing and foster collaboration among stakeholders.
This is even they proposed on Engagement with Stakeholders to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, regional organizations, civil society, and the private sector, to garner support and mobilise resources for joint initiatives and that collaboration with academia and research institutions was also emphasised to leverage expertise and data for evidence-based policy making.
On Continued Monitoring and Evaluation, the participants stressed the importance of ongoing monitoring and evaluation to track progress, identify challenges, and adapt strategies accordingly. Regular reporting mechanisms and feedback loops would ensure accountability and transparency in the implementation of joint initiatives.
The AU-ILO Joint Planning Meeting was concluded participants reaffirming their commitment to advancing shared goals of promoting employment creation, decent work, and social justice in Africa.
The ILO stated that the meeting also served as a platform for fruitful discussions, knowledge exchange, and strategic planning, laying the groundwork for future collaboration and partnership between the AU and ILO.
As the AU-ILO partnership continues to evolve, participants expressed confidence in its ability to make meaningful contributions to the socio-economic development of the continent and the well-being of its people.
