Partnering for Development

Our partners

• Governments

  Governments support the ILO by actively participating in policymaking, funding programmes and projects, and collaborating in partnership initiatives. Governments contribute to different funding modalities: non-core voluntary funding, earmarked for programmes and projects; core-voluntary funding that is unearmarked and through domestic trust funds, for ILO assistance in the country providing the funds. 

  • Non-core voluntary funding partners 
  • Core voluntary funding partners 
  • Domestic funding partners 

   

• European Union and other intergovernmental organizations

  The European Union (EU) is a key partner for the ILO. Also, other intergovernmental organizations (OIGOs) have a great potential in leveraging policy coherence. Contributions of the EU and other OIGOs’  allow the ILO to test policies and demonstrate what works on the ground.   

  Explore the European Union - ILO partnership page.

• United Nations

  Decent work is central to the 2030 sustainable development agenda. In cooperation with its UN partners, the ILO participates in Joint UN Programmes and manages allocations from global and country multi-partner trust funds (MPTFs). In 2022-23 the UN stood as the sixth-largest contributor to the ILO’s development cooperation programmes and projects. 

• South-south cooperation partners

  South-South cooperation refers to development cooperation between developing countries in the Global South. When South-South Cooperation is implemented with the support of a Northern partner, it is referred to as Triangular Cooperation. South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) is a tool used by governments, international organizations, academics, social partners, civil society and the private sector to collaborate and share knowledge, skills, know-how, and good practices in decent work.

  Discover the ILO SSTC partnership modality.

   

• Private sector and non-state partners

  As the UN’s sole agency where employers and workers work alongside governments to advance the decent work agenda, public-private partnerships (PPPs) play a vital role in achieving the ILO’s mission. In a dynamic global landscape, the private sector’s contributions to the ILO extend beyond traditional support, embracing innovation, entrepreneurship, and tailored solutions.

   

• International financial institutions (IFIs)

  The ILO has diverse partnership modalities with International Financial Institutions  (IFIs) for the provision of technical assistance to Member States, or through grants from thematic trust funds, support facilities or challenge funds. ILO’s expertise in the area of social safeguards, especially in the field of fundamental principles and rights at work, also remains a growth area for partnerships with IFIs and development banks, as well as for domestic funding.

   

• Parliamentarians, local governments and civil society

  The ILO engages with international non-governmental organizations, organizations of parliamentarians and regional authorities, as well as with faith-based organizations to support policy setting and legislative reform. Such partnerships strengthen participatory approaches, including in development cooperation programmes and projects.