The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan joined the UN Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth with an action commitment to boost youth employment and community resilience to droughts in Madagascar. The government’s pledge consists in a green works programme that equips 300 young people with skills and provides access to jobs in infrastructure development projects implemented in collaboration with the International Labour Organization.

Through the Green Works Programme young people are engaged in the construction and rehabilitation of rural infrastructure in vulnerable agrarian communities in Amboasary and Bekily regions, located in Southern Madagascar. Youth receive technical and managerial skills, which are complemented with immediate access to employment and income generating opportunities. The Programme enables the meaningful engagement of youth in agricultural activities against, adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

The commitment from the Japanese Government will boost action and impact on three main thematic areas of Decent Jobs  for Youth, namely Green jobs for youth, Youth in fragile situations, and Youth in the rural economy in support of the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Japan and ILO’s Cooperation for Youth Employment through the Employment-Intensive Investment Programme

Japan’s successive voluntary contributions to the ILO have catalyze action and impact on field operations for job creation in Africa, while promoting decent jobs for young women and men. Some examples of collaboration include:

• Employment creation for youth to build sustainable peace in Gambia (2018)


• Youth employment opportunities for refugees and host community in Mauritania (2019)


• Supporting Mozambique in socio-economic recovery after cyclone Idai (2020)


• Supporting disaster resilience through waterworks restoration in Ethiopia (2021)


• Japan and ILO to support environmental and socio-economic resilience of Sudan (2021)


• Strengthening community resilience against COVID-19 and drought in Madagascar (2022)

Also, Japan has implemented bilateral assistance through JICA to support job opportunities for developing countries.

• Multifaceted support for the reform of National Institute of Professional Preparation (INNP) in Democratic Republic of Congo (2011-)


• Longstanding assistance for Vocational and Technical Training Center (CFPT) in Senegal since its establishment in 1984 (1984-)


• Technical cooperation on Youth Employment Project for Somalia (2017-2022)


• Capacity Development for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Malaysia


• Improvement of TVET Quality to Meet the Needs of Industries in Cambodia


• Capacity Building of Nursing Services in Bangladesh(2016-2021,2022-2026)


• Strengthening of DAE Mechanical and Architecture Departments in Government College of Technology, Railway Road of Punjab Province in Pakistan(2011-2014)

The Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Decent Jobs for Youth was launched in 2016 as a UN system-wide effort, focusing on the youth employment challenge that is central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It has emerged as a global, multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together governments, social partners, the private sector, youth and civil society organizations, and others. They work together to share knowledge, leverage resources and take action at country and regional level, to support young people in accessing decent work and productive employment worldwide. 

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Yuri Okazaki, Deputy Director, Specialized Agencies Division, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs I yuri.okazaki@mofa.go.jp

Ms. Yuriko Kuzuyama, 1st Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Madagascar I yuriko.kuzuyama@mofa.go.jp

Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth I decentjobsforyouth@ilo.org