Skills systems are confronted by the need to respond to increasingly dynamic and fluid labour market and societal conditions. Climate change, technology, demographic shifts, migration and globalization are causing increasing disruption to the world of work, while making skills development increasingly complex, fluid and unpredictable. Addressing contemporary skills challenges requires more dynamic and integrated skills and lifelong learning ecosystems.

Recognizing the importance of innovation for the renewed calls for lifelong learning, the ILO has initiated a Skills Innovation Facility. The Skills Innovation Facility identifies and tests promising and innovative ideas and solutions that address the major skills challenges of today and of tomorrow.

Why the ILO?

“Investing in people’s capabilities” is one of the key recommendations of the Global Commission on the Future of Work. The ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work calls for action from ILO constituents to promote effective lifelong learning systems and quality education for all. Taken together, these calls for action provide the ILO with a unique opportunity to support Member States to develop and implement, through the process of social dialogue, education, training and lifelong learning, policies and programmes that promote people’s employability throughout their lives.