Belgium - ILO Cooperation

Belgium is founding member State of the ILO and has ratified numerous ILO Conventions, including the eight Fundamental Conventions, four Governance Conventions and 101 Technical Conventions. Belgium has proven to be a key partner in the pursuit of Decent Work all. Its national development agency, ENABEL, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ILO in March 2019. 

Belgium's strategic contributions to the ILO

Belgium funds the ILO through:

  • Assessed contributions to ILO’s Regular Budget, paid by all ILO Member States by virtue of their membership. From 2018 to 2022, Belgium contributed US$ 16.4 million.
  • Voluntary core funding contributions provided by nine ILO donors as a pool of un-earmarked, flexible resources allocated by the ILO to strategic areas and emerging priorities. From 2018 to 2022, Belgium contributed US$ 16.8 million.
  • Voluntary, non-core funding contributions earmarked for specific themes or projects. In 2020-22, Belgium contributed more than US$ 8.1 million.
Belgium's total financial contributions to the ILO, 2018 - 22 (US$ 41.4M)

Belgium’s support to ILO interventions

Thanks to the voluntary core funding contributions of the Government of Belgium, the ILO currently implements programmes in various countries, with more information on this work available here. Belgium also supports the Junior Professional Officer programme.

Belgium’s Priorities in International Development

Belgian development cooperation is focused on 14 partner countries: Benin, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda. Development programmes are implemented by Enabel.

Belgium channels its aid to a specific number of sectors:
  • Agriculture and rural development
  • Digitalization 
  • Education, training and employment
  • Energy
  • Environment and climate
  • Gender
  • Governance
  • Health
  • Water and sanitation