Johannesburg – Sustainable development experts participated in the Responsible Business Forum (RBF) in Johannesburg from 31 August to 1 September to discuss inclusive growth, as well as ways to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region. IOM, the UN Migration Agency participated in a workshop focusing on decent work and economic growth.

During the workshop, attendees shared their views on how to encourage entrepreneurship and job creation, two key factors of sustained economic growth. Discussion topics were clustered under partnerships, inclusive growth and interlinkages to exploit synergies and minimize trade-offs between the SDGs and their targets. Jason Theede, IOM Senior Regional Thematic Specialist presented at the panel.

“It is imperative to find ways to facilitate south-south cooperation between governments, but it is equally important to bring private sector and academia into the debate as well,” said Theede.

Theede also mentioned the need to increase efforts for achieving continental and regional economic integration. He drew attention to IOM’s work in Southern Africa, including the guidance provided to States to develop bilateral labour agreements, as well as recommendations to leverage the potential of labour mobility for economic and social development in the region.

The Responsible Business Forum is organized by Global Initiatives with support from partners including Bloomberg, ING, Huawei and other major private sector entities. The forum provides a space for sharing knowledge and best practices and calling on all stakeholders to jointly address global challenges such as economic inequality.

IOM’s tools, such as the Regional Guide to Facilitate South-South Labour Mobility in Southern Africa, along with its support to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) commission to implement the free movement protocol, provide strategic information for facilitating intra-African labour mobility.

For more information, please contact:
Jason Theede at IOM Regional Office in Pretoria, Email: jtheede@iom.int
Jorge Galindo at IOM HQ in Geneva, Tel: +417179205, Email: jgalindo@iom.int