ILO: Evidence-based Strategies for Agri-food Jobs – Mirage News

Report on Evidence-Based Strategies for Agri-Food Systems and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Context

A side event at the 53rd Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS53) highlighted the critical role of data in achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The session, titled “Harnessing Data for Policy Making: Advancing Food Security and Decent Jobs in Agri-Food Systems (SE34),” focused on how bridging data gaps can generate evidence-based policies that advance SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) within the agrifood sector.

Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: An Application of SDG 17

The event exemplified SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by bringing together key international organizations to address interconnected development challenges.

• Organizing Partners: The International Labour Organization (ILO), French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), CARE International, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
• Collaborative Platforms: The session featured insights from the Decent Work for Equitable Food Systems Coalition, co-led by IFAD, the ILO, and CARE International, which aims to accelerate collective action to improve the livelihoods of food systems workers.

Key Objectives and Strategic Alignment with SDGs

Panelists outlined several core objectives for leveraging data to create more sustainable and equitable agrifood systems. These objectives are directly aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

1. Promoting Decent Work (SDG 8): Frank Hagemann, Director of ILO’s Sectoral Policies Department, emphasized integrating decent work principles into the transformation of agri-food systems. The goal is to make the labor of millions of food producers visible, ensure their rights are respected, and amplify their voices.
2. Enhancing Food Security (SDG 2): The discussions centered on how robust data can strengthen agri-food value chains, improve livelihoods, and ultimately increase global food security.
3. Reducing Inequalities (SDG 5 and SDG 10): A significant focus was placed on using data-driven policies to support equitable job creation, particularly for women, youth, and other vulnerable groups, thereby addressing SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
4. Informing Policy and Investment: Data-driven initiatives are crucial for identifying employment trends, policy gaps, and investment opportunities that can accelerate progress towards the SDGs.

Case Study: The JobAgri Pilot Project in Ghana

The event showcased findings from the JobAgri pilot project in Ghana as a practical example of data in action.

• Project Goal: To leverage data to inform and shape more coherent, targeted, and inclusive agricultural and labor policies.
• Methodology: The project generates and analyzes employment-related data within agrifood value chains.
• Impact on SDGs: By analyzing the interaction between value chains, production models, and farm structures, the project helps identify effective policy levers to advance decent work (SDG 8) and food security (SDG 2) at a national level.

Outcomes and Future Directives

The session concluded by outlining a forward-looking agenda rooted in data-informed policymaking and collaboration.

• Building on Past Agendas: The discussion expanded upon the outcomes of CFS52, which prioritized promoting decent work in food systems.
• Future Focus: The event aligned with the upcoming 2025 CFS Plenary theme on responsible investment and financing, which is critical for achieving SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
• Overarching Strategy: The ILO and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to using multi-stakeholder collaboration and data-informed policymaking to ensure that the global transition to sustainable food systems also delivers more and better jobs, contributing directly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article directly addresses this goal by focusing on increasing “food security” and improving “agri-food systems.” It discusses how data can lead to better investments and policies within the agrifood sector to ensure the world is fed sustainably.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  This is a central theme, with the terms “decent jobs” and “decent work” mentioned repeatedly. The article emphasizes that transforming agrifood systems has the “potential for decent job creation” and discusses using data to create policies that support this goal.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article explicitly mentions the need to support “equitable job creation, especially for… women.” It highlights that data-informed policymaking aims to deliver “more and better jobs, particularly for rural youth and women,” thereby promoting economic empowerment for women.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article is about a collaborative side event co-organized by multiple global partners (ILO, CIRAD, CARE International, IFAD). This “multi-stakeholder collaboration” and the focus on “bridging data gaps” to enhance evidence-based policymaking are core components of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

   • Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food. The article’s primary goal of “advancing food security” aligns directly with this target.
   • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems. The article mentions the “transition to sustainable food systems” as a key objective for the ILO and its partners.
   • Target 2.a: Increase investment in agriculture. The text states that bridging data gaps has the potential to increase “investments in the agrifood sector.”

2. Targets under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support decent job creation. The article’s main argument is that “robust data and evidence-driven policymaking can accelerate decent work creation.”
   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all. The article highlights the need to “support equitable job creation, especially for young people, women and vulnerable groups.”

3. Targets under SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities. The focus on delivering “more and better jobs, particularly for rural youth and women” supports women’s economic participation and opportunities in the agrifood sector.

4. Targets under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development. The event described was “co-organized by the ILO, French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), CARE International, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD),” which is a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership.
   • Target 17.18: Enhance capacity-building to increase the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data. The entire article is premised on “bridging data gaps” and “harnessing data for policy making,” as exemplified by the “JobAgri pilot project in Ghana” which “leverages data to inform employment and agricultural policy decisions.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article focuses on the need for data rather than citing specific statistical indicators. However, it implies the types of data and metrics that are crucial for measuring progress:

• Employment-related data within agrifood value chains: The article highlights the “JobAgri pilot project in Ghana” which generates and analyzes this specific type of data. This can be used to measure the number and quality of jobs in the sector.
• Data on employment trends: The article notes that data-driven initiatives help to “identify employment trends.” Tracking these trends, especially for youth and women, would be a key indicator of progress towards equitable job creation.
• Identification of policy gaps: An implied indicator is the use of data to systematically identify and close “policy gaps” related to decent work and food security.
• Data on investment opportunities: The article suggests that data can reveal “investment opportunities in the agrifood sector.” An indicator would be the volume and quality of investments made based on this data.
• Availability of robust data for policymaking: The core theme is “bridging data gaps.” A primary indicator of progress would be the increased availability and use of reliable data by governments and partners to design “better-targeted policies.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: miragenews.com