UN offices in Somalia 2006
| International Labour Organization (ILO) The International Labour Organization is the UN specialized agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. The ILO formulates international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations setting minimum standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organize, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity and treatment, and other standards regulating conditions across the entire spectrum of work related issues.
Strategic Objectives of the ILO
ILO Project Initiatives in Somalia Promotion of Economic Recovery, Employment Creation and Support to Decentralisation in Somalia (ILO/PERPS) is supporting local economy recovery drawing heavily on the documented experience of the ILO InFocus Programme on Crisis Response and Reconstruction (IFP/CRISIS) in other post conflict countries to adapt and implement an economic recovery model for the Somali environment. The model involves two main components:
The project has focused on placing the concept of decent work, and the theme of employment for peace as a critical component of the development agenda of local authorities, donors and other agencies. The sub-projects that have been implemented in phase 1 have concentrated on creating immediate short-term employment opportunities and providing tangible benefits. These have acted as entry points to communities, created credibility and a foundation for more long-term development initiatives with communities that are often suspicious, very skeptical and in many instances downright dismissive of aid and agencies.
Livelihoods Since beginning its operations in Somalia in April 2002, the ILO/PERPS, has created about 90,000 work days all over Somalia from North West to Central Somalia. ILO supports local economic recovery by employment intensive job creation that acts as an entry point to the community providing incomes and stimulating demand, and acting as a foundation on and around which longer term Local Economic Development (LED) initiatives are built. In Mogadishu, a community-based employment project was implemented in six of the sixteen districts, employing 600 people, 70% of whom were women. This was the first small step in establishing a community-based Local Economic Development forum in Mogadishu. The project was the largest single legitimate employer in Mogadishu, with approximately 46,000 workdays of employment created. With the local roads authority, North East Somalia Highway Authorities (NESHA), the project commenced a pilot Employment Intensive Infrastructure Programme (EIIP) project on the Jeriban to Gara’ad road. It has created approximately 4,000 workdays of employment. ILO has also assisted in the formation of LED forums in Jeriban District. In the northwest a more stable environment has allowed a number of EIIP projects to be launched. ILO has so far created approximately 39,000 workdays of employment. The project has developed the capacity through joint on-the-job implementation and self-learning especially to the local authorities, municipalities, Village Development Committees (VDCs), District Development Committees (DDCs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), and the Private Sector. ILO has established a resource centre that includes document, information and access to designated websites for the promotion of Local Economic Development (LED) activities and use of appropriate technologies. ILO has constructed a Community Resource Center in Koosar Settlement Area and the provision of block making machines and carpentry tools so as Koosar residents can be trained and obtain employment through the supply of blocks and materials to the construction of low cost housing in the settlement area. In Sanag region, ILO has implemented a road improvement employment intensive project and the activities were carried out through four different communities and their VDCs with a total of 200 workers. This was the largest employment project in the Sanag region.
Contacts:
ILO Area Office for Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda
ILO Crisis Response and Reconstruction |