Programme contribution to Decent Work Alliance 2023-2024

• 73'858 marginalized workers (textile sector or domestic workers) were informed about their labour rights or received legal advice. 45 initiatives lead to significant improvements in social protection or working conditions, benefitting 30'125 workers. Workers whose labour rights had been violated received outstanding wages and social benefits worth US$ 3.4 million. 187 persons (120 children) were alleviated of extreme forms of exploitation.
• 2'935 youth successfully completed a certified VET course or certified job training, e.g. in solar photo-voltaic and electric installation, digital marketing or carpentry. 5'767 youth benefitted from job placement measures and/or entrepreneurship training. 2'704 were able to take up employment or start their own business after the trainings.
• 22'559 people incl. members of farming cooperatives in Western Africa and Central America increased the quantity produced, 17'264 enhanced the quality of their products (e.g. through certification) and 23'726 were able to increase their sales volume. A total of 28'228 people along value chains experienced an increase in their income of at least 10%. A 20% increase in the national minimum wage took effect in El Salvador. The monthly minimum wage increases from US$299 to US$359, benefiting around 320’000 textile workers.
• 68 initiatives in local policy processes were brought forward, 64 were adopted. 963'924 vulnerable people improved their access to information, participation and decision-making at local level.
• 830'900 people benefitted from DRR measures. 25'675 disaster/crisis-affected people's most urgent needs were met with emergency /early recovery assistance. 5'184 people were enabled to restore economic household security comparable to pre-disaster conditions. 38'845 people restored their access to ‘basic’ drinking-water.

The Alliance and some of its partners in the Global South have advocated for the ILO Convention 190 on the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work.

The alliance took part in SDC's Learning Journey "Strengthening Civil Society and Country Ownership" with the objective to enhance exchange and learning on conceptual understanding, policies and practice.

The alliance strengthens local civil society partners within their projects, which are linked to national development plans. Projects and their targets are developed in close collaboration with the local partner organisations.

Self-assessments took place on HQ and partner levels. Staff participated in trainings, exchanges and in learning events. Whistleblowing platforms and channels are in place, promoted, and used and compliance measures have been pursued.

1. Decent Work - Workers' Rights: Persons at risk of exploitation or exclusion have experienced a significant improvement in working conditions and social protection and exercise their rights.
2. Decent Work - Training, Job Skills and Labour Market Integration: Disadvantaged youth and adults have enhanced their job and employability skills and improved their access to the labour market.
3. Decent Work - Economic Empowerment: Target groups along the value chain (incl. small farmers; cooperatives and women’s groups; marginalized adolescents; factory, domestic and un-skilled workers; labour migrants and other vulnerable groups) have improved their economic living conditions.
4. Democracy Civil Society and Sensitisation: A democratic culture based on the rule of law, to the observance of human rights and the national law based on these rights is established. Local governance and public services are improved. The public in Switzerland is sensitized to global contexts and human rights issues (no SDC-programme contribution must be used for this last part of the outcome).
5. Disaster & Crisis: Communities and households affected by disaster and crises recovered their living conditions and/or strengthened their resilience

Phase 17 01.01.2023 - 31.12.2024   (Completed)