ILO FAIRWAY – Interregional programme to promote decent work for migrant workers from Africa to the Arab States – Phase II

The FAIRWAY Programme Phase II seeks to work at a regional and inter-regional level in East Africa, West Africa and the Gulf Council Cooperation (GCC) countries, in order to implement three dimensions of gender-transformative labour migration governance relevant to the labour migration corridor through: 1. Improved intra and interregional dialogue and cooperation for effective labour migration interventions. 2. Improved decent work outcomes for women migrant workers in accordance with a gender-transformative agenda (including in the specific context of care work); and 3. Increased protection and empowerment of migrant workers through provision of services, protection of rights and representation (workers’ voice). Building on the lessons learned and achievements from FAIRWAY Phase I (2020–24), and other ILO projects operational in the Africa and Arab States regions, the focus of the Programme remains on the sectors where migrant workers are most vulnerable – namely domestic and care work, and construction work respectively. Phase II addresses the ILO’s priorities, and is aligned with the regional labour migration strategies in both regions, and recommendations from the midterm evaluation and gender analysis carried out under FAIRWAY Phase I. Leveraging the momentum and political buy-in under FAIRWAY Phase I and building on the communiqué of the first Africa Labour Migration Conference (ALMC), the Programme focuses on fostering cooperation and consensus building on labour migration governance and the protection of migrant workers including through the development of common positions on bilateral labour migration agreements (BLMAs) in collaboration with the East African sub-region (collaborating with the East African Community, EAC) and the West African sub-region (collaborating with the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS). In the Arab States, the Programme expands on an existing cooperation with the GCC Executive Bureau to focus on bringing about reforms in the GCC countries, with more limited, strategic interventions in Lebanon and Jordan.

Project symbol

GLO/24/01/CHE

Admin unit

RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut
RO-Africa

Start date

09/09/2024

End date

31/05/2028

Total allocation

2782178

Total expenditure

Status

Active

1193368

Development Partners

Switzerland, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

Country/Countries

Arab States - regional
Africa - regional

Outcomes

Output A.1. More and better statistics with reliable labour market information systems
Outcome 6: Protection at work for all
Outcome 5: Gender equality and equality of treatment and opportunities for all
Outcome 2: Strong, representative and influential tripartite constituents and effective social dialogue