Developing a global strategy for youth employment and the promotion of safe and secure working environments
Background
In 2009, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted the Global Jobs Pact, acknowledging the role employment and workplace-related challenges played in undermining the achievement of many of the Millennium Development Goals. The pact includes a crisis response framework designed to guide national and international policies and stimulate economic recovery – particular in the wake of financial crises, as well as conflict and/or natural disasters. With many low- and middle-income countries witnessing rapid population growth, developing and operationalizing a global strategy for youth employment is an important component of the Global Jobs Pact and it is one of the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 8. Related targets pertain to promoting safe and secure working environments, not least for migrant populations (8.8), and eradicating forced labour, slavery and human trafficking, including the recruitment and use of child soldiers (8.7). Rapidly urbanizing environments may pose additional challenges that are as yet largely unexplored.
Objective
To generate a sustained dialogue within the ‘world of work’ and across multi- and bilateral donor agencies on the need to develop a coherent and coordinated approach to youth employment. Eventually we aim to establish an observatory on youth employment trends serving as an evidence-base for the elaboration of a global strategy.
Expected Benefits
• On the global level: Youth employment is an important programming component for donors and implementing agencies working on the interface between humanitarian, development and peacebuilding concerns (the so-called “HDP nexus). The project would seek to promote inter-agency collaboration, particularly in crisis-affected regions.
• In Switzerland: With the ILO and many of its partner organizations from the ‘world of work’ located in Geneva, Switzerland could play a catalyzing role in developing a global strategy.
Contact Information
Dr. Dominic Eggel, , phone: +41 22 908 58 02
The Graduate Institute, Geneva
