Creating more and better jobs for all is critical for achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth (SDG 8). Strategic investment in critical economic sectors, among others in infrastructure, is also an essential source of economic growth that provides the basis for expanding economic activities, promote trade, and create spillovers that can help in spreading resources more equitably. Such investments have the potential to create and sustain direct and indirect jobs, stimulate consumer spending, and create sustainable livelihoods for many. Investment in technology and innovations can further help in shaping employment outcomes in terms of both quantity and quality.

There is a growing recognition also that narrowing the investment gap in productive, and equitable access to basic services are key to achieving the SDGs, which underscores the necessity for a systematic approach to inclusive investment policies. The ILO’s Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) provides such an approach

The Academy on Employment Intensive Investment Programme covers the state-of-the-art policies, strategies and programmatic approaches for mainstreaming employment and decent work into national and sectoral development and investment plans. The Academy also provides the core expertise and skills to link infrastructure development with employment creation and poverty reduction, as a response to crises or economic shocks.

The one-week long learning programme provides an opportunity for in depth look at:

• Global socio-economic and geo-political trends (including technological change/digital divide, climate change, conflicts, etc) that are driving the current state of unemployment, poverty and inequality;
• Employment-intensive investment approach - theory and practice: supporting national and sectoral interventions at policy, institutional and programme levels relating to maximising employment creation, provision of transformative infrastructure and promoting circular economy in key economic sectors;
• Tools and methodologies for assessing the quantity and quality of jobs which are embedded in sectoral, trade and investment policies, programmes and projects:
• Transition towards formal employment and to a greener economy with emphasis on Nature base Solutions.

The Academy provides a unique space to craft a tailored learning journey while exchanging knowledge and experience with policy makers, sector managers, professionals, and practitioners from across the globe working in this domain.

The Academy is conducted using s a mix of training methods: lectures, plenary discussions, good practices, electives case studies, group work, and individual exercises.