Philippines joins the Global Accelerator aiming to expand jobs and social protection

The Philippines is the latest country to join the Global Accelerator as a pathfinder country. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) confirmed the official high-level commitment on 24 March 2024 aiming to foster a job-rich recovery, extend social protection, and facilitate just transitions towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The official expression of interest from the Philippines highlights the alignment of the Global Accelerator objectives with the country’s development frameworks, particularly the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan (PLEP) for 2023-2028, both of which underscore as a priority the creation of employment opportunities.

The Global Accelerator will support pathfinder countries like the Philippines to align national policies, close gaps and channel investments for social impact. It will help address coverage and financing gaps for universal social protection, create decent work, protect communities from climate change and other risks, and facilitate just transitions initially in the construction and transport sectors. With its potential to make a real difference in the lives of millions of people around the world, the Global Accelerator will also enhance multilateral cooperation for joint implementation.

The engagement process with the Global Accelerator started in 2023 with various national consultations that included international financial institutions, UN agencies, development partners, government agencies and other partners. On 28 February 2024, the Global Accelerator was presented to the Social Development Committee at the Cabinet level, which endorsed the country’s engagement in the initiative.

The Global Accelerator is a high-impact joint initiative of the United Nations (UN). Under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and other UN agencies actively support the Global Accelerator in the Philippines.

Following the official commitment, the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TBP) Inter-agency Council will serve as the National Steering Committee. The council will support the design and implementation of the national development roadmap and foster collaboration among the actors involved, including workers and the private sector. The national roadmap will set the direction and the entry points of the Global Accelerator in the Philippines.

The Philippines has already joined the Global Coalition for Social Justice, a ground-breaking initiative to reduce inequalities, promote decent work and advance social justice.