Promoting the Global Development Initiative with a Focus on South-South Cooperation in Employment in ASEAN

Many governments see employment deficits constraining economic performance. Within its commitment to achieve the UN SDG 8, Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, China is increasingly involved in supporting development projects at the multilateral level and to use this platform to share its development experiences with other countries. ASEAN countries are facing important changes in terms of demography, equity and inclusive growth, technology and the transition to the green economy, which have a strong impact on employment and labour markets. China is willing to provide a long-term support to ASEAN and countries in the area of employment. Activities such as policy formulation and implementation, capacity building, technical assistance for employment diagnostics, monitoring and evaluation also carries great significance. This project will build on existing work in the Asia and Pacific region to: Undertake research and contextual analysis to validate employment priorities for ASEAN; Support the development of employment policies and strategies, contribute to a human-centred recovery, with focus on gender, just transition, digitalization, informality, and public employment services and entrepreneurship development for target ASEAN countries, with a focus on disadvantaged groups such as youth and women, in particular pathfinder countries of the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions; Support the implementation of employment policies and strategies - pilot projects could be created to support effective implementation and increase high quality employment outcomes based on needs of ASEAN countries. This may include national strategies for youth employment, as a distinct strategy or as part of a national employment strategy in line with SDG 8.b.1; undertake research and contextual analysis to validate areas of strengthening public employment services (PES) and entrepreneurship development; and undertake knowledge sharing of lessons and experiences and promote peer learning of employment policies and strategies in the region. The three main objectives of the project are to: Underpin research and inform the development and implementation of employment interventions in ASEAN to achieve full and high-quality employment; Effective strategies for identified challenges and priorities for women and men, and vulnerable workers through peer learning including PES and entrepreneurship are created; Pilot implementation of key employment responses with ASEAN secretariat to provide better employment opportunities for all. The ILO will provide its long-time experience working in these three areas, and the methodologies built through its worldwide network of experts. This project will be backstopped by ILO Bangkok and its team of specialists, in collaboration with ILO Beijing Office and EMPLAB/EMPLOYMENT of ILO-HQ.

Project symbol

RAS/22/13/CHN

Admin unit

RO-Asia and the Pacific

Start date

07/12/2022

End date

31/12/2026

Total allocation

3949956

Total expenditure

Status

Active

2255857

Development Partners

China, Ministry of Human resources and Social Security

Country/Countries

Thailand
Cambodia
Philippines
Indonesia
Asia and the Pacific - regional

Outcomes

Outcome 3: Full and productive employment for just transitions
Outcome 5: Gender equality and equality of treatment and opportunities for all