The Free State Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) hosted an EPWP Summit which kicked off with an Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner in the evening on 7 July 2022 in Bloemfontein.

The event was officiated by Free State Province Premier, Honourable Sisi Ntombela and was attended by officials who are driving the implementation of the EPWP in the province's municipalities and government departments.

These awards are aimed at honouring EPWP implementing bodies that have performed well in creating EPWP work opportunities and positively impacting the lives of people in the province.
Most of the recipients of the awards, have contributed to job creation for the poor and the youth in Free State Province. Some of recipients include provincial Department of Social Development and Department of Public Works.

Invited guests included officials from national government and partners including the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ILO received an award for the International Positive Profiling of EPWP, a category that recognises a support agency that have showcased work of the province internationally and provided technical support on the mainstreaming of Labour-Intensive Methods in the implementation of EPWP programmes and projects.

The Premier, Honourable Ms Sisi Ntombela, highlighted how the EPWP has assisted the province with decreasing the rate of unemployment.

For the ILO, the recognition of its support is an inspiration to continue creating visibility for the EPWP internationally, creating cross learning with other countries and contextualising international good practice to South Africa.