Addis Ababa, May 19, 2025 (FMC) — The 20th International Labour Organization (ILO) Regional Conference for Labour-Based Practitioners kicked off today, May 19, 2025, at the African Union Conference Centre in Addis Ababa.
The five-day conference is being held under the theme “Resilient Communities and Healthy Environment: The Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) Approach.”
It brought together policymakers, planners, practitioners, and researchers from across Africa and beyond to exchange best practices and innovative approaches for promoting decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods.
Ethiopia’s Minister of Urban and Infrastructure Chaltu Sani, Minister of Labor and Skills Muferihat Kamil, Minister of Women and Social Affairs Ergogie Tesfaye, and Minister of Planning and Development Fitsum Aseffa attended the opening, along with ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo and ILO Africa Regional Director Fanfan Rwanyindo. Dr. Martha Phiri, Director of Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), are also taking part.
The conference is jointly organized by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure, the Ethiopian Roads Administration (ERA), and the ILO. It highlights the Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP), which aims to address unemployment and environmental degradation through infrastructure development that maximizes local job creation.
Participants are expected to share experiences, explore new strategies, and reinforce partnerships to promote community resilience through labour-based infrastructure and environmental initiatives.