Geneva, 16 May 2025 — The International Labour Organization (ILO) has taken a significant step forward in its mission to promote decent work worldwide, thanks to a landmark USD 2 million agreement signed with the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). This collaboration enhances the ILO’s Regular Budget Supplementary Account (RBSA), a vital flexible funding mechanism designed to address urgent and evolving labour challenges in crisis-affected and other eligible countries.
The agreement, formalized today in Geneva, positions Qatar as the second emerging development partner—following Brazil—to contribute to the RBSA since its inception. This milestone underscores Qatar’s growing strategic role on the global development stage and signals a new chapter of deeper, longer-term cooperation between the two institutions.
Mr. Fahad Bin Hamad Al Sulaiti, Director-General of QFFD, and Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the ILO, signed the agreement in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of QFFD. Beyond the financial commitment, the partnership marks a deliberate pivot towards sustained joint action aimed at driving impactful change.
The RBSA’s flexible funding enables the ILO to respond swiftly and effectively to global crises, supporting initiatives such as decent job creation in conflict zones, promoting gender equality, advancing green transitions, and fostering inclusive economic recovery. It empowers the ILO to allocate resources strategically and timely to where they are most needed.
QFFD’s generous contribution aligns seamlessly with the ILO’s 2024–2025 Programme and Budget priorities and sets the stage for expanded collaboration in South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC). Key areas of future cooperation include:
Facilitating technical peer exchanges with countries across the Horn of Africa, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Arab States, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Co-designing and implementing skills development and employment projects tailored to fragile and crisis contexts.
Supporting global events and knowledge platforms, including contributions to the upcoming World Summit for Social Development in Doha and enhanced engagement through the ILO’s training infrastructure in Turin and beyond.
This strategic partnership between QFFD and the ILO establishes a foundation for sustained innovation, capacity-building, and measurable impact, reinforcing the global commitment to decent work and inclusive development.