The ILO and UNHCR held a regional consultation to discuss the agencies’ 2020-2021 Joint Action Plan and ways forward in developing their partnership. The action plan focuses on strengthened collaboration between the two agencies to promote decent work and productive employment for host community members, refugees and other forcibly displaced persons across the Middle East and North Africa.

The meeting brought together ILO and UNHCR representatives from the region and from HQ to reflect on current programmes and implementation, lessons learnt, and provide input that will support the development of the new phase of collaboration.

The Joint Action Plan builds on three key priorities. These include improving governance of access to the labour market and decent work; strengthening ILO fundamental principles and rights at work, and improving working conditions and social protection; and increasing opportunities for jobs, skills and lifelong learning, income and livelihoods.

It seeks to operationalize an ILO-UNHCR Memorandum of Understanding, signed in 2016 and which is being implemented on the global, regional and country level.

The regional partnership has contributed to strengthening labour market assessments across different countries; promoting socio-economic inclusion through skills development, financial inclusion and social protection; advocating towards policy change; enhancing employment through labour intensive infrastructure and other employment initiatives, addressing child labour; among others.

The session was the last in a series of similar consultations taking place. Moving forward, a new joint action plan will be put in place, taking stock of the various programmes discussed and ways to further strengthen cooperation and key areas of focus.