UN & ILO Advocate for Employment-Driven Africa Development

The United Nations and the International Labour Organisation have called for employment-focused strategies to tackle protracted crises in Africa, highlighting the role of decent work, skills development, and local capacity building in building resilient communities.

Speaking at a side event during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, officials said labour-intensive approaches not only mitigate the impact of disasters but also address the underlying causes of instability.

The event, titled ‘Jobs and livelihoods, enhancing resilience: A means to address root causes of protracted crises’, brought together governments, UN agencies, employers’ and workers’ organisations, academia, and civil society.

ILO Assistant Director-General André Bogui stressed that lasting resilience requires inclusive labour markets and investment in local capacity. “It means building employment-intensive approaches and ensuring long-term development outcomes,” he said in a statement posted on ILO’s website.

UN Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Kamal Kishore, highlighted the Sendai Framework’s focus on proactive disaster prevention. He noted that recovery efforts should not only restore old jobs and infrastructure but also create diversified, resilient sources of income.

The discussion drew on Japan’s experience with natural disasters. Ambassador Nobuharu Imanishi of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that investment in infrastructure and continuous maintenance builds knowledge and expertise, which are crucial for recovery and resilience.

Representatives of the Japan Business Federation and the Japanese Trade Union Confederation shared lessons on business continuity, volunteer mobilisation, and protection of vulnerable groups, underscoring the importance of social dialogue and tripartite cooperation.

ILO Regional Director for Africa, Fanfan Rwanyindo, highlighted that employment-intensive projects can equip communities with new skills, enabling sustainable livelihoods and exit pathways from public employment programmes.

Participants showcased African initiatives ranging from climate-resilient agriculture and local road-building to skills training for marginalised groups. Speakers agreed that scaling such initiatives is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and advancing commitments under the Sendai Framework.

TICAD, led by the Japanese government since 1993, provides a platform for African ownership and international partnership in sustainable development. The ILO–UNDRR side event emphasised that decent work, skills, and social protection must remain central to Africa’s resilience and long-term development strategy.zz

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