In a concerted effort to enhance social protection coverage in Ondo State, the International Labour Organization's Global Accelerator Lab (GALAB) supported the development of a strategy to bolster the registration of individuals and households into the state's social register and health insurance schemes. This initiative specifically targeted those at risk of child labour and forced labour.
"This collaboration with Ondo State is a significant step towards achieving SDG 8.7 on eradicating forced labour, modern slavery, and human trafficking and securing decent work for all men and women," said Dr. Vanessa Phala, Director, ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia and liaison office for ECOWAS, who was represented by Emmanuel Danjuma, National Programme Coordinator for the GALAB Project.
© ILO The two-day meeting, held from 17 to 18 July in Akure, brought together members of the state's technical working group on social protection. This group included representatives from various ministries, departments, and agencies. The meeting aimed to develop comprehensive strategies to update the social register and increase enrolment in the health insurance scheme.
Key objectives of the meeting included formulating a strategy to include individuals and households at risk of child and forced labour in the state social register, and enhancing collaboration among the technical working group members. The expected outcomes included a well-defined strategy for the inclusion of vulnerable populations and increased registration for health insurance.
The meeting was facilitated by the State Operations Coordination Unit with support from the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget. Discussions were participatory, with stakeholders and technical working group members contributing to the development of the strategies. The GALAB National Project Coordinator provided guidance on collaboration with the state for the strategy's implementation.
"The discussions were productive, and we identified concrete steps to improve the social protection system in Ondo State," said participant - Ms. Abegunde Omolade, a representative from Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency.
"This will make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable families." - Abegunde Omolade.
© ILO Following the strategy meeting, a five-day community engagement session took place from 19 to 24 July. This engagement targeted traditional leaders, cocoa farmers' association leaders, and women and youth leaders across twenty project communities. The sessions aimed to mobilise these communities and sensitize them on the criteria for inclusion in the social register and access to health insurance and other social protection programmes.
The meeting concluded with a review of the community engagement on 25 July, focusing on the progress made and the next steps. This initiative underscores GALAB's commitment to strengthening social protection frameworks and ensuring vulnerable populations in Ondo State receive the support they need.
The collaboration involved key implementing partners such as the State Operations Coordination Unit (SOCU), State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, demonstrating a robust multi-stakeholder approach to addressing social protection challenges in the State.
This initiative by the ILO's GALAB project in Ondo State is a positive example of multi-stakeholder collaboration in strengthening social protection systems to address child labour and forced labour. By ensuring vulnerable households have access to social safety nets, the project is contributing to a future of decent work for all.
About GALAB Project
The Strategy Development to Boost Social Protection Registration in Ondo State is delivered as part of the GALAB project, funded by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) and implemented by the ILO as part of its 8.7 Accelerator Lab network. GALAB tackles child labour (SDG Target 8.7) in six countries.
It works with communities to address root causes through policy changes, skills training, and social protection. By collaborating with the Alliance 8.7, GALAB empowers communities to break the cycle of child labour and build a future where all children can thrive.
