SDGs: Spaces for Engagement Alex Nkosi Policy Analyst ITUC-Africa

Coordinating Centres (for Research and dissemination of research findings) ITUC could from time to time be conducting research on various labour and trade union related work as well as on impact of development agendas on labour. At the country level, in conjunction with ITUC, the national trade unions could manage research and carry-out research work at the national level and even be responsible for dissemination of the findings. The main aim for such research endevours would be to inform the developmental discourse with evidence with the ultimate goal of influencing developmental policy.

Interlocutors on development agendas and labour matters Trade unions already play the role of intermediaries between workers and employers besides also acting as workers’ representatives. As interlocutors, the trade unions would speak on behalf of workers on matters that affect them within the development agendas with employers, policy makers including international finance institutions such as the IMF and WB who develop and enforce implementation of neo-liberal ideologies on poor Third World Countries.

National Trainer of Trainers Once the trade unions have been capacitated by ITUC as the programme project implementation shows, the trade unions could be responsible for outreach programmes and training others to understand the linkages between trade union, labour and development agenda frameworks as well as other deep rooted structural challenges that have and still affect Africa’s development including labour issues such as job creation, retrenchments under Structural Adjustment Programmes of the IMF/WB.

Advocates for policy improvement The trade unions could also be the centres for advocacy work around trade union, labour and global and continental development agendas. The trade unions could participate in national policy formulation entities so that they could influence infusion of labour issues into national policy development. However this could only be attained if the trade unions have been capacitated properly in global and continental development agendas.

Specific Engagement Spaces

Regional or Sub-Regional Body Entry Point Strategies to use African Union AU Secretariat-Agenda 2063; UNECA; Heads of States Meetings   High level policy interface meetings with AU; Influencing agenda development for Development meetings; Petitions; Sharing research findings ECOWAS ECOWAS Secretariat-Office of the Executive Secretary; Regional Trade Union Workshops, Sharing research findings; Policy briefs; Position papers Petitions Press Statements Interface meetings; Training workshops on Agenda 2030; Technical support

Regional or Sub-Regional Body Entry Points Strategies to use ECCAS ECCAS Secretariat; Office of the Executive Secretary; Heads of States Meetings Regional Trade Union Workshops, Sharing research findings; Policy briefs; Position Papers Petitions Press Statements Interface meetings; Training workshops on Agenda 2030; Technical support SADC Office of the Executive Secretary of SADC Secretariat; SADC Parliamentary Forum SADC Secretariat; Southern Africa Trade Union (SATUC)  

Regional or Sub-Regional Body Entry Points Strategies to use EAC East Africa Trade Union EAC Parliament; Heads of States Meetings Ministries of EAC Workshops, Sharing research findings; Policy briefs; Position Papers Petitions Interface meetings; Training workshops on Agenda 2030; Technical support CENSAD Office of the Executive Secretary-CENSAD Secretariat; Heads of States Meetings Regional Trade Union Training workshops on Agenda 2030 technical support

Regional or Sub-Regional Body Entry Points Strategies to use COMESA Office of the Executive Secretary of COMESA Secretariat; Heads of States Meetings   Workshops, Sharing research findings; Policy briefs; Position papers Petitions Interface meetings; Training workshops on Agenda 2030 technical support Member States National Assembly Portfolios; Ministries of Finance Planning and Development; Trade Unions; Petitions; Lobbying MPs; Workshops with MPs on Agenda 2030; Technical support.

Engagement Strategy

Offering technical Supporting to formulation of Regional, sub-regional and national Agenda 2030 strategies For the agenda 2030 to be implemented at all levels, there is need for regional communities to develop regional and sub-regional strategies that speak to the regional and sub-regional context as well as to resources available at such a level. Just as Regional Protocols and Declarations have implementation strategies, there is also need to make sure that all RECs in Africa have a strategy. This must go further down to the country level. ITUC could take up this role to offer technical services on the development of the strategies.

Holding high level policy interface meetings at all levels Implementation of policies and instruments requires political will. As such, ITUC will have to hold high level interface meetings with regional and sub-regional bodies where there seem to be no political will to implement Agenda 2030. UNECA High Level Meeting, UN, AU and EU

Training technocrats on Agenda 2030 ITUC will also have to plan to hold regional and sub-regional training sessions with different stakeholders to help policy makers get to understand what is required of them from Agenda 2030. Often times, regional bodies lack resources and the technical know-how to hold important meetings such as Agenda 2030 regional meetings.

Raising awareness of Agenda 2030 during critical events ITUC could also take advantage to show case Agenda 2030 issues during important events such as meetings of Heads of States and Government. ITUC could issue some of its policy briefs and petitions at during such occasions.

Thank you for your attention!