Sudan, ILO Discuss Expanding PROSPECTS Programme and Recovery Support
The Minister of Human Resources and Social Welfare, H.E. Moatasim Ahmed Saleh, met today in Geneva with Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), on the sidelines of the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference.
The meeting was attended by H.E. Ambassador Hassan Hamid Hassan, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, along with a number of officials from both sides.
The Minister expressed Sudan’s appreciation for the important role played by the ILO in supporting decent work programmes, skills development, social protection, and capacity building. He commended the ongoing cooperation between Sudan and the Organization.
The discussions reviewed the outcomes of the previous meeting held between the two sides on the sidelines of the ILO Governing Body meetings in March, particularly regarding the dispatch of a technical mission to Sudan and the expansion of cooperation during the recovery and reconstruction phase.
The Minister outlined Sudan’s priorities in the areas of employment, skills development, vocational training, and social protection, emphasizing the importance of supporting economic recovery efforts and rebuilding national institutions affected by the war.
For his part, the ILO Director-General underscored the importance of expanding the PROSPECTS Programme to cover additional states in Sudan, particularly Khartoum State, in order to support recovery efforts and provide training and employment opportunities for targeted groups.
The two sides agreed to designate official focal points to follow up on the implementation of the agreed actions. The ILO appointed a senior official for this purpose, while the Sudanese side designated the First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan in Geneva as the focal point for coordination between the parties.
The meeting also discussed opportunities to enhance the participation of Sudanese professionals in the Organization’s programmes and mechanisms.
The Director-General expressed his support for providing greater opportunities for Sudanese nationals to benefit from the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme, secondment and professional attachment programmes, fellowships, and professional development and training opportunities within the ILO system.