Africa Commits to Decent Work for All at Landmark ILO Conference in Addis Ababa
Written By Maxine Ansah
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Africa’s vision for inclusive, employment-driven development took a bold step forward this past week, as over 2,500 participants from 51 countries gathered in Addis Ababa for the 20th Regional Conference for Labour-Based Practitioners, hosted by the Government of Ethiopia in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the African Union. The event culminated in a Ministerial Declaration that places decent work, inclusive growth, and climate resilience at the heart of Africa’s socio-economic transformation agenda.
Under the theme “Reimagining Socio-Economic Transformation Through Labour-Based Approaches”, the conference, held from 19 to 23 May 2025, showcased how employment-intensive investment programmes (EIIP) are reshaping Africa’s development pathway. The meeting marked a significant milestone in the continent’s efforts to align job creation with sustainable infrastructure and community resilience.
Employment at the Centre of Development Policy
The conference featured a strong call for integrated policy frameworks that treat employment not as an outcome but as a primary goal of economic strategy. In his keynote speech, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo challenged the conventional wisdom that treats employment generation, rights protection, and macroeconomic growth as mutually exclusive.
“Monetary and fiscal policies must evolve to recognise employment outcomes as key objectives alongside macroeconomic stability,” Houngbo told delegates.
Echoing this sentiment, Tagesse Chafo, Speaker of Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives, described labour-based infrastructure programmes as a model for sustainable development.
“It combines the urgency of job creation with the responsibility of environmental protection,” he stated.
Innovation on the Ground
Participants took part in a field visit to public works projects across Ethiopia, observing how local labour is being used to build critical infrastructure such as roads, irrigation systems, and flood protection. These site visits revealed how such initiatives not only create jobs but also transfer skills and boost local economies, especially for young people, women, and those in rural or fragile contexts.
Stephen Opio, Chief Technical Advisor for the ILO PROSPECTS project in Ethiopia and Sudan, highlighted the long-term value of such strategies.
“These approaches not only address immediate employment needs but also lay the foundation for medium-term economic recovery,” he said.
A United Continental Approach
One of the key outcomes of the conference was a renewed commitment to regional cooperation. Ministers and stakeholders from francophone, lusophone, and anglophone countries actively exchanged technical tools, lessons, and models, breaking down linguistic and policy silos that have historically fragmented labour development across the continent.
Partnerships with multilateral institutions such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank, GIZ, and UNHCR also featured prominently. Paula Schindeler, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ethiopia, emphasised the urgency of tapping into Africa’s demographic dividend.
“Increasing employment opportunities for young people in Ethiopia and countries across Africa is critical to make optimal use of the continent’s potential for accelerated economic growth,” she said.
From Dialogue to Action
Throughout the week, technical sessions explored how labour-based approaches can support climate resilience, technological innovation, and social protection. The African Union’s representative, Dr Sabelo, urged delegates to convert policy dialogue into concrete action, describing the conference as “a springboard for real action.”
Dr Mito Tsukamoto, Chief of the ILO’s Employment-Intensive Investment Programme, addressed the structural issues hampering Africa’s growth, such as informality, infrastructure deficits, and weak social protection systems.
“Infrastructure is more than concrete and steel, it is a path to dignity, equity, and opportunity,” she asserted.
A Vision for the Future
As the conference concluded, ILO Regional Director for Africa, Fanfan Rwanyindo, lauded Ethiopia’s leadership and hospitality. “Ethiopia has not only hosted us with grace, it has led by example,” she remarked. “This week we have seen what works. Now is the time to act; with unity, with urgency, and with the unshakable belief that every African deserves a chance at decent work and a dignified life.”
The outcomes of the Addis Ababa conference will inform deliberations at the 113th International Labour Conference and the Second World Social Summit later this year. The momentum generated also sets the stage for the next regional meeting, to be held in Lusaka, Zambia in 2027.
As African nations look ahead, the message from Addis Ababa is clear: sustainable development begins with jobs that empower people, build resilience, and unlock the continent’s vast potential.