Kigali – A joint United Nations mission engaged in consultations with the Government of Rwanda, social partners, international financial institutions and other development partners to discuss the perspectives and potential implementation of the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions in the country.
The mission identified several priority action areas for the Global Accelerator: formalizing and digitalizing the urban economy, supporting food security and increased productivity of the agriculture sector by modernizing, greening and enhancing inclusivity and gender equality, and promoting gender equality including in the labour market through investments in the care economy.
During the discussions, the need for assessments of employment-intensive sectors as well as a coordinated integrated financing strategy were highlighted as crucial for the success of the initiative, should Rwanda decide to join. Today there is evidence that social protection is not a cost, but an investment. The ILO conducted studies on the impact of social protection on economic growth in five developing and middle-income countries. Results show that for each dollar invested in social protection, the economy grows between 2 and 5 dollars after 2.5 years.
The Global Accelerator aims to support Rwanda’s efforts to rapidly expand social protection and create quality jobs to achieve just transitions and enhance the effectiveness of national strategies to achieve sustainable development goals. Rwanda started the development of its updated National Strategy for Transformation, which is a timely moment to join the Global Accelerator.
“Achieving gender equality through investments in the care economy could create up to 900.000 green and decent jobs, increase women’s labour force participation, and increase GDP by up to 17%.” said Mehjabeen Alarakhia, Women’s Economic Empowerment Regional Policy Specialist, East and Southern Africa Regional Office, UN Women.
Rwanda is currently at the initial stage of consultations to join the Global Accelerator as a pathfinder country. The political support gained during this joint mission paves the way for a formal expression of interest by the government of Rwanda.