20th ILO Regional Conference
For Labour-based Practitioners
Employment Intensive Investment Program
15-19 May 2025
Adwa Victory Memorial Museum Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Hosted by:
The call for abstracts is now closed! Thank you to everyone who submitted—stay tuned for updates
Welcome to the 20th ILO Regional Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) to be held in Addis Ababa, a premier event bringing together experts from labor, social policy, and economic development to advance key regional goals for decent work, social protection, and sustainable development.
With up to 2,500 attendees, 50 sessions, and over 70 exhibitors, join us to explore innovations in labor rights, economic resilience, and policies fostering inclusive growth across the region.
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20th ILO Regional Conference 15-19 May 2023
A Word From Host
“Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great pleasure to invite you to the 20th ILO Regional Conference for Labour-based Practitioners, to be held in the vibrant city of Addis Ababa. This important gathering reaffirms our shared commitment to advancing decent work, social justice, and inclusive economic growth across our region.
The conference will bring together leaders, policymakers, and advocates from various sectors to engage on pressing issues within the regional labormarket landscape. It will provide an invaluable platform to exchange insights, share best practices, and shape strategies that prioritize the rights and well-being of workers and sustainble enterprises. Together, we have the opportunity to forge pathways toward social justice and build a future centered on dignity, equity and sustainability.
I encourage all participants to join us in Addis Ababa with an open mind and a readiness to engage in meaningful dialogue. Your voices, ideas, and perspectives will be instrumental in shaping solutions that uplift communities across our nations and help us navigate the complexities of our ever-evolving world.
We look forward to welcoming you to Addis Ababa and to a conference that promises to advance our shared goals for a brighter, fairer future.”
H.E Chaltu Sani
Minister of Urban and Infrastructure
“On behalf of the ILO, I have a pleasure of inviting you to the 20th Regional Conference to be held in May 2025 under the theme, “Resilient communities and Healthy Environment: the EIIP approach”. The Regional Seminar is a biennial event organized by ILO and Africa member countries. The conference is aimed at sharing knowledge, experiences and technologies on pro-employment & climate smart approaches. It also promotes mutual learning and networking among the participants and encourage South-South cooperation
Most of all, the conference serves as a platform to promote inclusive socio-economic development in Africa and forge a path towards social justice and ensuring a more sustainable and prosperous future for all individuals and communities
I call upon ILO constituent partners, international organisations, academia, civil society, and young professionals to take advantage of this event by signing up to participate, sharing knowledge products, hosting side events and exhibit your products.
I look forward to seeing you all in the beautiful city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in May 2025.
I thank you.“
Ms. Fanfan Rwanyindo Kayirangwa
ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa
A word from our organisers
In my capacity as Chairman of the National Organizing Committee, I take this opportunity to invite colleagues and all participants (practitioners, policy makers, Researchers, Academics and Development Partners) to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the 20th Regional Conference for Labour –based Practitioners, which will take place from the 19th – 23rd May, 2025.
The theme for the 20th Regional Conference is “ Resilient communities and Healthy Environment: the EIIP approach”.
As you all know Unemployment is a global challenge that is constraining livelihood opportunities for vulnerable people, driving the internal and external displacement and fuelling frustrations, particularly among the youth, leading to higher incidents of violence or conflict around the world. “Promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all” is one of the outcomes for the Sustainable Development Goals (#8). Through this outcome governments are expected work towards maximize decent work opportunities through a robust, inclusive and poverty-reducing growth. These are the challenges that we as practitioners must embrace and contribute in realising these ambitions of our people. The selection the theme is also premised on the belief that by uniting to address these critical issues, we can forge a path towards social justice and ensuring a more sustainable and prosperous future for all individuals and communities
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The 20thRegional Conference provides participants with a chance to deliberate on the role and contribution of employment intensive approach in achieving the above and other SDG outcomes, mainly focussing on building national capacities for employment creation, skills development, expanding employment-based social protection floor and conserving of the environment and addressing climate change and its adverse effects. By so doing, the Conference will contribute towards strengthening the global coalition for social justice and attainment of just transition for all.
The Conference will also deliberate on new developments and innovations in the construction technology including the use of natural resources and local materials, skills (anticipation, development and matching), work organization and fair labour standards, socially inclusive procurement, green infrastructure delivery and ICT that promote resilience and sustainable livelihood for the poor and vulnerable people.
The Conference will feature distinguished keynote speakers with local and global knowledge and experience. We shall also have high level technical presentations on policies, strategies and innovations related to employment intensive infrastructure delivery. The presentations will be complemented by plenary/ group discussions, site visits and exhibitions of products and services. The Conference will also offer an opportunity for interaction and networking among the participants. I therefore urge all participates to come prepared to take full advantage of the various sessions.
The National Organizing Committee is fully committed to deliver the most inspirational and educational Conference and ensure your safety, security and comfort during your stay here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The committee looks forward to meeting you in Addis.
