Round-up of activities at the EU Policy Forum on Development

The International Organisation of Employers (IOE) continues to be highly involved in the European Union's Policy Forum on Development (PFD). As a member of this vital policy group, IOE serves as the global representative of the private sector. 2021 was a crucial year for the PFD, as the European Commission set out its programming ahead of their planning for partnership and cooperation programmes until 2027.

Some of the main highlights from the PFD this past year, together with employers' contributions, include:

• Adoption of the EU Global Multi-annual indicative programme (MIP).
  • Despite some areas of the MIP being closed to open consultation, the private sector has been included as a key actor for development. Employers requested that the EU ensures that programmes align with current regional and national development priorities and are developed in consultation with existing local actors, such as employers’ and business organisations.
  • Africa: Specific PFD consultations for the EU Africa Strategy(in March and December 2021) were held, which culminated in theMulti-annual indicative programme (MIP) for Sub-Saharan Africa (2021-2027). IOE and its members supported all priority areas, especially Education and Skills, Digital Skills, and Sustainable Growth and Decent Jobs. Employers pushed for increased support for capacity development of employer and business associations, which was taken on board. We will continue working to ensure this assistance materialises into on-the-ground financing activities.
  • Other regions: regional PFD consultations for Asia Pacific and Latin America/Caribbean took place alongside thematic PFD consultations, which all fed into the global MIP.
• With the support of the IOE's Gender Network, PFD consultations for the third EU Gender Action Plan (GAP III 2021-2025)took place, with employers strongly supportingwomen's leadership in economic and business activities. This support included calls to enhance women's digital skills to increase female-led online entrepreneurship and promote gender equal education. IOE is now a member of the steering committee to monitor the implementation of the GAP III.
• IOE supported theconsultation on the EU Youth Action Plan, which is expected to clarify and operationalise the engagement of youth in EU external action for the period 2022-2027.
• The EU also announced its Global Gateway, which follows such initiatives as the China Belt and Road Initiative (2013), the G7 Build Back Better World, and the UK Clean Green Initiative.

Background

The PFD brings together civil society organisations, business organisations, and local authorities with representatives from DG INTPA (Directorate-General for International Partnerships), DG NEAR (Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations) and the EEAS (European External Action Service). The members debate development issues and how the EU is responding to them. As the global private sector representative on the PFD Task Team, which sets the agenda of the PFD, IOE is also included in PFD consultations on the new budget and programming.

Currently, IOE supports the engagement of different national and regional employer organisations to the Forum.

We encourage all interested members to be part of this ongoing work and push for a strong employer voice in EU development policy activity. Contact Anetha Awuku (awuku(at)ioe-emp.com) if you are interested in learning more or contributing to this crucial initiative.

IOE will continue to provide feedback in our role as the global representative of business at the PFD.