The Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions initiates a co-constructive process for its results framework with key development partners

Geneva – A consultative workshop was held on March 23, 2023, with the participation of various development partners including international financial institutions, development banks, and representatives of UN agencies, to initiate a process of co-constructing the results framework of the Global Accelerator. 

The objectives of this workshop, which is considered the initial stage of a process of developing a common vision around the Global Accelerator`s value proposition, were to: bring together the inputs, suggestions, and general orientations of the participating development partners and financial institutions on the theory of change and expected results; and, have collective progress on the establishment of solid results, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework by creating strong indicators. 

In her opening remarks, Shahra Razavi, the Director of the ILO Social Protection Department, underlined the importance of the interest and support shown to the Global Accelerator by representatives of participating development partners and international financial institutions (Belgium, Canada, EU, Finland, France (AFD, DAEI, MoFA), Germany (BMZ, GIZ, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs), Ireland, Kenya, The Netherlands, Norway, OECD, Sweden, and the World Bank along with IFAD, UN EOSG, UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, and the Joint SDG Fund Secretariat). 

To complement the opening remarks, representatives of UNICEF and UNDP, which are part of the operationalization coordination team of the Global Accelerator, also spoke. David Stewart, Chief of Child Poverty and Social Protection (UNICEF) emphasized the importance of how each pillar of the Global Accelerator offers transformative and accelerator impact for the countries. Renata Rubian,  Head of the UNDP Programme and Policy Unit, conveyed how much stakeholder institutions’ programmes and priorities can be aligned with the objectives of the Global Accelerator. 

In two separate moderated discussions the participants presented their ideas, contributions, and suggestions with a particular focus on linking with initiatives, systems, and tools, on the scope of the Global Accelerator and its approach, and on its indicators and partners’ alignment strategies. 

As a result of the discussions, most organizations subscribe to the fundamental objectives of the Global Accelerator. Moreover, its integrated approach aligns with their development policy objectives to a great extent. The sessions on the transfer of knowledge and experience through which concrete examples of integrated policy approaches were shared as part of the organization’s interventions provided valuable contributions to the Global Accelerator`s further progress. 

All the participating organizations showed their support and commitment to cooperation on the co-construction process of the results framework and expressed the critical importance of the alignment with the Global Accelerator at all levels. It was underscored that the process of co-construction would be iterative, based on consultations with development and financing partners. 

At the end of the workshop, Sangheon Lee, the Director of the ILO Employment Policy, Job Creation and Livelihoods  Department emphasized that the inputs gathered from the workshop are significant to build an evidence-based results framework for the Global Accelerator. He closed the event by focusing on the cruciality of creating synergies and enhancing cooperation not only on the global partnerships level but also on the implementation level in countries with different priorities and strategies.