As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen social protection and promote youth employment across Africa, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) held a series of high-level engagements with member States on the margins the African Union Commission’s Sixth Session of the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Social Development, Labour and Employment, held in Windhoek from 27 to 31 July.
The discussions focused on expanding cooperation in youth employment, social protection, women’s economic empowerment and poverty reduction, while identifying new opportunities for collaboration to advance inclusive development across the continent.
Key areas of focus at the STC meeting included expanding pathways from social assistance to sustainable livelihoods, extending social protection to workers in the informal economy, improving institutional coordination through integrated digital systems, and mobilizing sustainable financing for social protection programmes.
Led by Zuzana Schwidrowski, Director of ECA’s Socio-Economic Development Division, the ECA delegation also held bilateral meetings with member States to discuss areas for deeper collaboration.
