Based on the Global Framework for Action which was signed between UNDP and ILO on September 16, 2020, the ILO and the UNDP Country Offices for Afghanistan wish to declare our common will to unite efforts and give strategic direction to the growing partnership between our entities in Afghanistan.

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world of work upside down and has caused a devastating toll on jobs, businesses, livelihoods and the well-being of people in the world in general and in Afghanistan in particular.

With ILO’s global lead on labour and the future of decent work and UNDP’s technical lead on the UN Framework for the Immediate Socio-economic Recovery from COVID-19 pandemic, we will make all the necessary efforts to confront this terrible toll including in the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, which is one of the areas where we are strengthening cooperation.

For that purpose, we have identified several priority areas in which we hope to realize synergies and drive innovation for greater impact at scale.  The following are some of the areas we will combine our efforts:

a.    Joint communication, advocacy and coordination; 

b.    Employment, informal sector work, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs);

c.    Social Protection, social cohesion and social dialogue;

d.    Gender equality and non-discrimination at work;

e.    Decent jobs for youth;

f.      Capacity building of the constituents to produce reliable data on the labour market;

g.    Undertake joint research and analytical work to support informed programmatic interventions; and

h.    Active cooperation on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus.

Today, with many Afghans suffering from extreme poverty, record unemployment and loss of livelihoods, UNDP and ILO have the responsibility and the will to take unprecedented action to jointly accelerate solutions on the ground and help people in Afghanistan to build a peaceful and resilient society.

“Building on the Global Framework for Action between ILO and UNDP, this partnership aims at enhancing synergy and efficiency, given our shared policy space and respective mandates” said ILO Senior Coordinator for Afghanistan, Ramin Behzad. “In line with ILO’s founding mission, it emphasizes a human-centered approach to advance social justice, as an essential element for a lasting peace; therefore, creation of decent jobs for all women and men in Afghanistan is a pivotal element of this partnership.”

UNDP and ILO, with the support of other development partners will work together to create more jobs, better work environment and improved livelihoods for the citizens of Afghanistan. This includes building on previous successful programmes aimed at creating decent jobs, income generation and development of markets.  

“UNDP, as the integrator of SDGs in the UN system works across the system to synergize all development interventions towards achieving the SDGs” said UNDP Resident Representative for Afghanistan, Abdallah Al Dardari. “This is a strategic partnership to leverage more resources, facilitate investment and create job opportunities for all Afghans.” he added.    

To this end UNDP will provide an initial grant of USD 150,000 to expand the programme and build on the success of the predecessor project. UNDP and ILO will work with the government of Afghanistan, and other partners to mobilize necessary resources to ensure the programme covers all of the provinces of the country and responds to the needs of citizens.

Mr. Ramin Behzad                                          Mr. Abdallah Al Dardari    

ILO Senior Coordinator                                  UNDP Resident Representative