The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has highlighted the need for strategic implementation of agenda to drive youth employment, social protection, labour migration governance and support to fragile states, in the framework of the 2030 sustainable development goals and the Agenda 2063 of the African Union.

According to the ILO, 2016 is a year for the implementation for most of the identified priority areas for Africa to achieve the 2030 sustainable development goals.

Specifically, ILO at its yearly meeting of field office Directors in the African region in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, highlighted the need for strategic implementation of its key priorities in the region.

ILO Director for Africa, Aeneas Chapinga Chuma noted that, youth employment remains the key to Africa’s development, adding that the ILO remains committed to building the resilience of people and nations through employment-centred recovery and social justice promotion to prevent conflicts.

I am excited about this year’s retreat, which comes at the beginning of a new biennium. When I joined the ILO, the previous biennium was well underway and the “table set”, so to say. As we embark on a new biennium, we do so with solid guidance from our constituents on what they expect from the ILO over the coming years. The 13th African Regional Meeting left us with 14 priority policy areas that should shape all our work plans as we go forward.

I will have an occasion in a later session to share with you some reflections on our performance, but I wish to take this occasion to profoundly thank all the Directors for your tremendous support to me in my function and to congratulate you on your achievements. It makes me proud to meet constituents all across the region, and I have now visited more than 30 countries, which underline and appreciate the consistent support they receive from the ILO.

When we met last January in Algiers, I noted that we were looking forward to a year of stocktaking and planning. In 2016, I see a year of “implementation”. As I remarked in my end-of-year message to you all, our programme of work for 2015 was largely prescribed to us, whilst the year ahead gives us more space to define our own agenda” Chuma said.

Speaking further, he said the decisions of the field structure review have been communicated, adding that, measures are currently being put in place to ensure the smooth hand-overs of country coverage where relevant.

In Algiers, I outlined my vision for the Regional Office. One year later, and “wiser for the wear” so to speak, I stand firm in my belief that we are on the right track. Let me recall the strategic direction that I shared with you last year, centred on four priorities: First, employment, notably youth employment: This, I believe remains the key to Africa’s development. I am confident that we have the tools to unlock the unemployment and underemployment challenge. I am delighted to report that along with the African Union, the African Development Bank and the Economic Commission for Africa, the ILO has re-engaged on a regional Joint Youth Employment Initiative that was first adopted during the 12th African Meeting of the ILO in 2011. This initiative has been designed to ensure policy coherence, build synergies and increase impact of various youth employment activities across the Africa region. The ILO aims to play a leading role as the initiative unfolds.

Second, social protection: The Africa region is pleased to be part of the ILO’s global flagship programme on “Building social protection floors for all”, taking forward work that has successfully been piloted in countries across the region. I am also very pleased that the ILO has fully engaged in the follow-up to the Ouagadougou+10 Plan of Action by availing specialized support in the field of social protection. Together with sister UN Agencies, we are currently championing social protection floors in the design of UNDAFs.

Third, labour migration: Increased mobility of working women and men across borders is set to become a permanent feature of the African and global economy. I am proud that the ILO plays a lead role in the joint African Union, International Organisation for Migration, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and ILO Joint Labour Migration Programme that will, amongst other things, strengthen effective governance and regulation of labour migration in Africa with the involvement of key stakeholders.
“Fourth, fragile states: 14 out of the 20 self-declared so-called fragile states across the world are in Africa. The ILO has a role to play in these circumstances by building the resilience of people and nations – through employment-centred recovery and through promoting social justice as a key driver to prevent conflict.

The Regional Office has developed a framework strategy for our engagement in fragile states. The strategy was endorsed by the 13th African Regional Meeting and will constitute our roadmap for developing a meaningful and effective approach to advancing the Decent Work agenda in some of the most vulnerable settings in our region”, he said.

Explaining the focus of the retreat, Chuma said it would enable directors of field offices in the region deliberate on how best to serve the tripartite constituents (government, workers’ and employers’ organizations) in Africa by strategically engaging development partners and creating new partnerships for strong resource mobilization.
“Collaboration, Capital and Compliance inform our agenda with a balance between key operational matters with larger policy issues in Africa”, Chuma said.