Supporting Ministry of Labour and Social Development in analysis, policy and capacity development

Over the last four decades Saudi Arabia has achieved important socio-economic development. In April 2016, the Kingdom launched the Saudi Vision 2030, an ambitious long-term plan for sustainable development. To build the institutional capacity necessary to achieve the goals of the vision, the National Transformation Program (NTP 2020) was launched in June 2016 across 24 governmental institutions operating in the economic and development sectors. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development (MOLDS) is responsible for a number of the targets of the NTP2020, as well as the actions needed to reach them. This project is a direct response to a demand by MOLDS for ILO support. It will provide technical assistance and policy advice in a number of key thematic areas in support of KSA Vision 2030 and NTP 2020, and other national initiatives. It builds on the synergies between the national long-term vision and the global agenda for sustainable development where the ILO is a contributing agency the UN Common Country Strategic Framework 2017-2021. It is intended to develop the capacity of MOLSD and its staff in various directorates to formulate and manage national development strategies, and of the social partners where applicable. The government’s aims as informed by the KSA Vision are to: - lower the rate of unemployment from 11.6 per cent to 7.0 per cent; - increase the economic contribution of the private sector from 40 per cent to 65 per cent of GDP; - Increase women’s participation in the workforce from 22 per cent to 30 per cent, especially in managerial and leadership positions. The ILO will provide technical assistance and support, as well as capacity building, in three priority areas agreed upon between the ILO and the MOLSD: (1) boosting women’s employment and moving towards a more inclusive labour market; (2) enhancing social dialogue mechanisms for better policy formulation; and (3) assessing the child labour situation and developing actions for its elimination.

Project symbol

SAU/18/01/SAU

Admin unit

RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut

Start date

31/05/2018

End date

31/10/2022

Total allocation

1776452

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

1505111

Development Partners

Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Labour and Social Development

Country/Countries

Saudi Arabia

Outcomes

Outcome 3: Economic, social and environmental transitions for full, productive and freely chosen employment and decent work for all