The ILO portfolio of policy advice includes a range of interventions that act directly on the quantity and quality of jobs for the poor and the main expressions of social exclusion. The organizational base provided by trade unions and employers’ organizations is frequently at the core of action to bring together a variety of social institutions with government and public agencies in a common endeavour for sustainable community development.
The ILO is therefore implementing a programme on local economic development that brings together the decent work “toolkit” described in this chapter, in an integrated and participative approach. In 14 countries in different parts of the world, through a process of discussion, exchange of ideas and coordination of initiatives by the local actors, the ILO has helped local stakeholders develop and apply community-driven initiatives by building their own organizations and learning from ILO experience.
The ILO uses a similar approach when called upon to assist in reconstruction programmes in the aftermath of natural disasters, crises and armed conflicts. In such situations, it is vital to link measures that improve incomes to work rebuilding the economic and social infrastructure. The ILO’s crisis response programme thus aims to involve communities affected by disasters, through their own local organizations, in quick-acting measures to ensure that the risk of increased poverty is avoided.
Broadening and deepening the use of decent work policies and programmes raises productivity, increasing national resources and the incomes of people threatened by poverty. Integrated community-based programmes break the downward spiral of deprivation and replace it with a virtuous cycle in which the beneficial effects of social inclusion plus more and better jobs work in combination to build the human, social and physical infrastructure for sustained progress in reducing poverty. But to achieve a substantial reduction in poverty across the developing world, a considerable scaling-up of community action is required.
Spreading and replicating successful projects on the scale needed to reduce poverty substantially is only feasible where the institutional capacity is in place in communities across the developing world. Dynamic and effective social institutions, including trade unions, employers’ organizations, community groups and governmental agencies, need an enabling environment based on respect for fundamental principles and rights at work and other human rights. Partnerships between the public, private and voluntary sectors, coupled with partnerships between national and international agencies, are essential to ensure the sustainability of policies.
By focusing directly on creating the conditions for people living in poverty to work for a better future, the decent work approach mobilizes the broad spectrum of support across society needed to maintain progress and reach all poor communities. Furthermore, addressing the multifaceted features of poverty in communities and workplaces promotes integrated action by a variety of public, private and voluntary institutions for a common goal.
Step-by-step progress towards decent work for all builds confidence in the capacity of people to take the future in their hands through cooperation. It restores the self-respect and dignity that poverty undermines.
To learn more about this author, visit International Labour Organization's Website.
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