Strengthening and Institutionalizing the Decent Work SMART LAB in Brazil

The Decent Work SMART LAB is an inter-institutional knowledge management initiative initially created in an ILO project designed to support the Brazilian policy to combat slave labour that quickly gained traction and scope, to deal with all matters related to the promotion of decent work in Brazil. Structured through an international technical cooperation agreement signed between the Federal Labour Prosecution Service (FLPS), and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the SMART LAB has the objective of contributing to the achievement of SDG 8 of providing decent work for all in Brazil. The three main outcomes are: OUTCOME 1 - Knowledge on world of work issues, including research and statistics that constituents and partners apply in order to promote decent work as a key element of sustainable development, increased by 30%; OUTCOME 2 - Decent work agenda’s stakeholder capacities increased by 30% to implement effective and well-informed interventions, and; OUTCOME 3- Institutionality and sustainability of Decent Work SMART LAB developed. Practically speaking, the SMART LAB will develop and disseminate information through digital observatories about slave labour, child labour, decent work, diversity, etc., and develop and train decent work stakeholders in the use of digital managerial tools such as online planning tools, online targeting and coverage tools, and online direct beneficiaries monitoring tools. Moreover, the knowledge basis of decent work will also be improved through the production and dissemination of applied research as, for example, a study about mortality rates and life expectancy tables of rescued workers in comparison to natural control groups (e.g. similar workers that were not rescued). Brazil’s comparative advantages, in terms of its development as an information society provide an opportunity for the creation of a “smart” laboratory for the gathering, processing and analysis of data based on the principles of advanced knowledge management, results based management, and evidence based research. Internally, the SMART LAB also works as an intelligence unit supporting other ILO areas in generating diagnostics, designing interventions, and supporting monitoring and evaluation activities. The Theory of Change of the SMART LAB is based on the premise that this initiative can potentially generate quality information and knowledge products capable to influence and inform the policymaking process of projects, programmes, and policies focused on the promotion of the decent work agenda aligned with SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, and more specifically Targets 8.5 on equality, 8.6 on youths, 8.7 on the worst forms of labour, and 8.8 on occupational safety and health.

Project symbol

BRA/19/50/BRA

Admin unit

CO-Brasilia

Start date

01/10/2019

End date

31/12/2025

Total allocation

1071113

Total expenditure

Status

Active

746928

Development Partners

Brazil, Tribunal Regional do Trabalho da 4 Regão

Country/Countries

Brazil

Outcomes

Outcome 1: Strong, modernized normative action for social justice