ILO Launches Africa Forum to Expand Jobs and Economic Opportunities for Displaced Communities
The ILO has launched the PROSPECTS Africa Forum to promote decent work, skills development and employment opportunities for refugees, internally displaced persons and host communities across Africa.
By GLEBM News
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched a new continental forum aimed at strengthening employment opportunities and economic inclusion for refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities across Africa.
The initiative, known as the PROSPECTS Africa Forum on Decent Work and Forced Displacement, brings together governments, employers’ organisations, workers’ representatives, development partners and regional institutions to develop coordinated strategies that promote decent work and sustainable livelihoods for people affected by displacement.
According to the ILO, Africa continues to experience growing displacement caused by conflict, insecurity, climate change and economic instability, making access to employment an essential component of long-term recovery and social stability.
The organisation said the forum seeks to strengthen collaboration among policymakers and labour market institutions while promoting practical solutions that improve access to jobs, entrepreneurship opportunities and vocational skills for displaced populations.
The discussions also focus on integrating displaced persons into local labour markets in ways that benefit both host communities and national economies.
ILO officials noted that expanding access to decent work can reduce dependence on humanitarian assistance, strengthen local businesses and improve economic resilience in communities hosting displaced populations.
Participants are expected to examine policies that encourage private sector participation, strengthen labour market governance, expand skills development programmes and improve social protection for vulnerable workers.
The forum forms part of the PROSPECTS Partnership, an international initiative that promotes education, employment and protection for refugees and host communities through collaboration between governments, development agencies and the private sector.
Labour experts at the meeting stressed that creating sustainable employment opportunities is critical to addressing the long-term effects of forced displacement while supporting inclusive economic growth across the continent.
The ILO also reaffirmed its commitment to working with African governments and employers to develop labour market policies that promote productivity, enterprise development and social inclusion.
Analysts say initiatives that combine employment creation with skills development and private sector investment could help transform displacement from a humanitarian challenge into an opportunity for economic participation and regional development.
