Leveraging Social Investments: Financing for Jobs & Social Protection

12:30 - 14:00 CEST
Side Event Room 3 | FIBES Sevilla Exhibition and Conference Centre

Background

This FfD4 side event brings together the Governments of France, Uzbekistan, and Senegal with the ILO, World Bank, UN Joint SDG Fund, and UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, FAO, UN Women) through the Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection to address urgent financing challenges for just transitions. Amid global crises that have intensified financing gaps and left nearly half the world's population without social protection, the dialogue focuses on how governments can mobilize domestic and international resources for jobs and social protection by demonstrating that such spending generates economic returns and creates virtuous development cycles, showcasing country-led platforms that enhance multilateral cooperation for national financing efforts, and illustrating integrated policies and innovative financing mechanisms that overcome fragmentation to effectively promote employment and robust social protection systems.

Agenda

  • Introduction: Ms. Valerie Schmitt, Deputy Director of the ILO Universal Social Protection Department
  • Presentation: Mr. Souleymane Diallo, Director General for Planning and Economic policy, Ministry of Economy, Planning and Cooperation, Senegal. 

High-Level Panel 1: The panel will discuss the critical role of social investments—not merely as expenditure, but as a prerequisite for sustained growth and a key enabler for just transitions by reducing poverty and inequality, facilitating access to decent jobs and income security, and enhancing social coherence, stability, and resilience. 

  • Mr. Ilkhom Norkulov, First Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, Uzbekistan
  • Mr. Adama Mariko, Secretary General of Finance in Common and Deputy Director for Mobilization, Partnerships and Communication, AFD
  • Ms. Akustina Morni, Director of Policy, International Organization of Employers

High-Level Panel 2: The panel will discuss policy reforms and financing solutions for promoting investments in decent jobs and social protection. It will also examine how governments, development partners, the private sector, social partners, and civil society can collaborate to mobilize financial resources, enhance policy coherence, and address institutional and coordination challenges. 

  • Ms. Eva Granados, State Secretary for International Cooperation, Spain
  • Ms. Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, UN Resident Coordinator, Nepal
  • Mr. Jérémie Petit, Head of the economic affairs and global issues division at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France
  • Mr. Mahongora Kavihuha, Secretary General, Trade Union Congress, Namibia

Concluding remarks: 

  • Ms Laura Thompson, Assistant Director-General for External and Corporate Relations, ILO

-The event will be held in English, French, & Spanish, with interpretation available in all 3 languages-