Blue Economy in African Island States: Decent Work, Prosperity, Sustainability”
The Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, Mrs. Patricia Francourt participated and delivered a speech in a Virtual Validation and Launch of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Programme Development of the Blue Economy in African Island States: Decent Work, Prosperity, Sustainability on 23-24 November, 2021. The event follows a regional workshop organized by the ILO in 2019, and hosted by Seychelles under the theme “Creating a sustainable future of work and a just transition towards Blue economy in African Island states.”
The new programme focuses on policy advisory, capacity building support and the facilitation of social dialogue in 4 key areas as follows:
- Sustainable Harvesting of living resources
- Sustainable Marine Based Renewable Energy
- Sustainable tourism, commerce and trade in and around the ocean
- Healthy oceans
The programme aims at promoting ecosystem and climate-resilient ocean-based industries and strengthening the collaboration between and within the United Nations systems and other international institutions, including South-South and Triangular Cooperation on Blue Economy matters in order to creating an enabling environment for the future of work in AIS while ensuring short, medium and long term sustainability of the resources and biodiversity.
In attendance was the hosts from the ILO ; Ms. Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa and Dr. Coffi Agossou Country Office Director for Madagascar, comoros , Mauritius and Seychelles as well as the following :
- The Ministers of the Island States in Africa
- The Permanent Secretary of the different Ministries
- The Representatives of Employers Organisations
- The Representatives of Workers Organisations
- The Representative of the Indian Ocean Commission
- The Resident Coordinators of the United Nations System
- The Representatives of Embassies, UN Agencies, international and national organisations
Also in attendance were officials from the Employment Department; Ms Veronique Bresson, Executive Director; Ms Susan Morel, Chief Policy Analyst and Ms Juliette Vidot, Senior Cooperation Officer.
