Regional Seminars for Labour-based Practitioners

The Regional Seminars for Labour-based Practitioners have been a cornerstone event since 1990 for the Employment-intensive investment programme of the International Labour Organization (ILO). These seminars are held every two years, bringing together stakeholders from around the world to discuss and exchange views on employment-intensive investments and local-level planning. They offer a rich source of knowledge on the issues, challenges, best practices, and research findings related to the application of labour-based technologies. 

Objectives 

The main objectives of the seminars include: 

• Facilitating the sharing of knowledge and experiences on state-of-the-art policies and practices relating to pro-employment and local resource-based approaches. 
• Promoting mutual learning among participants and networking. 
• Encouraging South-South cooperation 

Audience 

The seminars attract a diverse audience, including ministers, policy makers, planners, researchers and academics, labour-based practitioners, NGOs/CSOs, and other interested stakeholders from Africa, America, Asia, and Europe. 

Achievements 

Over the years, the seminars have consistently provided valuable insights and fostered collaboration among practitioners and stakeholders, contributing to the advancement of labour-based approaches and employment-intensive investments. The seminars have evolved in scope and participation, offering an international platform for South-South learning on pro-employment practices and becoming a self-financing, nationally-owned and organized event. 

Record of Regional Seminars since 1990

The proceedings and papers offer a unique rich source of knowledge on the issues, challenges, best practices and research findings on the application of labour-based technologies and local level planning.
 

• 20th Regional Conference for Labour-based Practitioners
  Theme of the seminar: Resilient communities and Healthy Environment: the EIIP approach
  2025, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• 19th ILO Regional Seminar for Labour-Based Practitioners 
  Held in Kigali, Rwanda in 2023, focused on promoting skills and productive (decent) jobs. 
• 18th ILO Regional Seminar for Labour-Based Practitioners 
  Held in Tunis, Tunisia in 2019, focused on sustainable and inclusive local development.
• 17th ILO Regional Seminar for Labour-Based Practitioners 
  Held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2017, focused on delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• 16th ILO Regional Seminar for Labour-Based Practitioners 
  Theme of the seminar: Labor based approaches as solutions for sustainable development challenges in the context of decentralization
  2015, Cotonou, Benin
• XVth Regional Seminar of LBT practitioners in Africa 
  Theme of the seminar: Labour-based approaches in infrastructural works: from policy to action for job creation
  2014, Yaoundé, Cameroon
• 14th Regional Seminar for Labour-Based Practitioners 
  Theme of the seminar: Public Works for Decent Jobs and Poverty Reduction: Policies and Practices
  2011, Accra, Ghana Public Works for Decent Jobs and Poverty Reduction: Policies and Practices
• 13th Regional Seminar for Labour-Based Practitioners 
  Theme of the seminar: Employment Intensive Approach in the Construction Sector - A Catalyst for Achieving Prosperity for All
  2009, Kampala, Uganda
• 12th Regional Seminar for Labour-Based Practitioners 
  Theme of the seminar: Prioritizing Employment in Government Policies and Investments in Infrastructure Programmes
  2007, Durban, South Africa
• 11th Regional Seminar for Labour-Based Practitioners 
  Theme of the seminar: Integrated labour-based approaches for socio-economic development
  2005, Mombasa, Kenya
• Tenth Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners 
  Theme of the seminar: Labour-based technology for poverty reduction
  2003, Arusha, Tanzania
• Ninth Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners 
  Theme of the seminar: Towards appropriate engineering practices and an enabling environment
  2002, Maputo Mozambique
• Eighth Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners 
  Theme of the seminar: The New Millennium - Challenges for employment-intensive investments
  2000, Cairo, Egypt
• Seventh Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners 
  Theme of the seminar: Contracting in employment-intensive works
  1999, Lusaka, Zambia
• Sixth Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners 
  Theme of the seminar: The right tool for the job - A review of tools and equipment for labour-based infrastructure works
  1997, Jinja, Uganda
• Fifth Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners 
  Theme of the seminar: Labour-based contracting
  1996, Accra, Ghana
• Fourth Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners 
  Theme of the seminar: Urban infrastructure development, education and training
  1995, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Third Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners 
  This seminar reviewed the application and efficiency of labour-based methods in road construction and maintenance - no special theme
  1993, Harare, Zimbabwe
• Second Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners 
  This seminar reviewed ways of improving the application of labour-based methods in road construction and maintenance in the region - no special theme
  1992, Mohales Hoek, Lesotho
• The First Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners 
  This first seminar reviewed the current practice in general - no special theme
  1990, Mbeya,Tanzania