As one of the founding Member States of the ILO, the United Kingdom (UK) has been a valued partner of the ILO since 1919. The United Kingdom has ratified 89 Conventions, including the eight fundamental ILO Conventions as well as two Protocols. In addition to annual, assessed contributions made by the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to the ILO’s regular budget, the Government of the United Kingdom is a major contributor to the ILO’s development cooperation programme through its Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) . It was among the ILO’s largest development cooperation partners between 2020-2023.

The United Kingdom’s strategic priorities for development cooperation:

• The 2021 Integrated Review described the government’s vision for the UK’s role and action in the world over the next years to support achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The 2023 Integrated Review refresh built on the approach set out in the Integrated Review and set out the next evolutionary step in delivering on its aims, against the backdrop of a more volatile and contested world. The reviews commit to an international development strategy building on strategic priorities: climate and biodiversity; global health security; open societies and conflict resolution; girls and women rights; humanitarian preparedness and response, including food security and famine prevention; science and technology; and trade and economic development.
• The 2022 UK Government’s Strategy for International Development revisits the UK’s approach to international development building on the Integrated Review. It sets out a broad direction of aid under four priorities: 1) deliver honest and reliable investment supporting partner countries to grow their economies sustainably; 2) provide women and girls with the freedom they need to succeed, unlocking their future potential, educating girls, supporting their empowerment and protecting them against violence; 3) provide life-saving humanitarian assistance driving a more effective international response to humanitarian crises; and 4) take forward the work on climate change, nature and global health.