Sustainable Development

The Government of the Philippines created a communication platform BaLinkBayan for Filipino returnees, which functions as a one-stop online portal for diaspora engagement. BaLinkBayan is a means to connect Filipino individuals and communities to the Philippines through the Diaspora to Development (D2D) program of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) BaLinkBayan focuses on the five of the D2D: diaspora investment and entrepreneurship, diaspora philanthropy, brain gain program, educational exchange, and medical mission coordination. 

FAO Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (SAFE) initiative addresses energy needs during emergencies and protracted crises, and builds resilient livelihoods in a sustainable manner. The work of the SAFE project in this area can have important multiplier effects – from better food security, nutrition and health, to the sustainable management of natural resources, greater resilience to climate change and natural hazards, and increased livelihood opportunities. 

The ILO project “Development of capacities to promote union affiliation and coverage of collective bargaining in Colombia” (COL/13/05/ NOR) sought to develop the internal capacities of trade unions, complementing the projects that had been developed before in the field of strengthening of tripartite spaces. According to the final evaluation of the project, the context also played an important role in its success, through the approval of Decrees 160 and 017, which have facilitated social dialogue between public authorities and trade unions.

FAO is working towards building the capacity of poor and vulnerable youth in migration prone areas, including cash transfers beneficiaries, and engaging them in productive activities along agro-food value chains; and support youth entrepreneurs to scale-up their businesses along selected value chains.

FAO supports rural youthwith alternatives to migration in a number of countries through fostering decent rural employment in sustainable agriculture and agribusiness along value chains.

The Ethiopian National Rural Job Opportunity Creation Strategy targets rural job seekers, primarily the unemployed and underemployed, literate and illiterate, and those without regular and sufficient income, both women and men, who are above 15 years of age. Furthermore, landless and school drop outs, technical and vocational trainees, and university graduates, farmers evicted from their land due to the expansion of urbanization and industrialization and those who need special support because of disability will be potential beneficiaries of the strategy.

FAO is supporting the channeling of remittances (using the “1+1” matching approach) for agricultural development, nutrition and social protection in national food systems, including by assisting migrants and their families and communities in formulating small- and medium-scale enterprises in fruit, vegetable and livestock production and agribusiness.

The government of Nepal is revising the minimum wage set for workers in the country. According to a source at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, a worker shall get paid at least Rs 13,450 a month from 17 July 2019 (revised up from the previous minimum of Rs 9,700). 

This project is funded under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Stability addressing the root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa.

Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras agreed to lay the foundation for an understanding on establishing a Comprehensive Development Plan that will promote development and create opportunities in the region, in order to help prevent migration while simultaneously attacking its structural causes.