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Advancing the SDGs by improving livelihoods and resilience vi a economic diversification and digital transformation (“SDG South Pacific”) - Joint evaluation

eval_number:

3499

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/3499

location:

country:

Asia and the Pacific - regional

region:

Asia and the Pacific

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eval_title:

Advancing the SDGs by improving livelihoods and resilience vi a economic diversification and digital transformation (“SDG South Pacific”) - Joint evaluation

recommendations:

date:

2025-08-29 00:00:00.0

themes:

theme:

Conditions of work & equality

category:

Gender equality

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comments:

The CO recognizes that advancing inclusion is not only a matter of rights but a strategic imperative for ensuring the sustainability, relevance, and impact of programming. While the Joint Programme demonstrated pockets of strong inclusion practices such as legal reforms aligned with international labours standard and targeted training for women in ICT these were not applied consistently across the programme cycle. Disability inclusion, in particular, remains a critical area for improvement.

action_plan:

To address these gaps, the CO will take the following steps to strengthen inclusion in future joint programming: 1) Improve programme design with tailored and inclusive indicators: The CO will ensure that all ILO-led components include gender, disability, and environment sensitive indicators that are measurable, realistic, and aligned with national SDG reporting frameworks. This will enable more effective tracking of inclusive outcomes and strengthen accountability. 2) Invest in staff capacity and internal systems for mainstreaming inclusion: The CO will provide targeted training to staff and implementing partners on GEDSI (gender equality, disability, and social inclusion) principles, inclusive implementation approaches, and the application of accessibility standards. Tools and guidelines will be adapted to the Pacific context, drawing on good practices from other UN agencies and regional experiences. 3) Strengthen partnerships with UN agencies and local organisations: The CO will deepen collaboration with UN agencies and with local civil society organisations, to leverage technical expertise and align approaches. Joint planning and implementation efforts will focus on reaching marginalized populations and promoting inclusive policy reforms. 4) Ensure meaningful participation of marginalized groups: In future programmes, the CO will work to ensure that women, persons with disabilities, youth, and other underrepresented groups are not only beneficiaries but active participants in shaping interventions. This includes conducting regular, accessible consultations and creating feedback loops to adapt programming based on lived experiences. By embedding inclusion more systematically into its operations and fostering a culture of accessibility and equity, the CO is committed to delivering joint programming that reflects the values of decent work, non-discrimination, and sustainability especially for those most at risk of being left behind.

management_response:

Action not yet taken

progress:

Partially achieved

admin_units:

CO-Suva

title:

Recommendation 3: Mainstream inclusion Develop and implement targeted strategies for gender equality, disability inclusion and environmental sustainability mainstreaming, including consultation with women’s groups and Organisations of Persons with Disability. Integrate tailored indicators, staff training, inclusive implementation guidelines and accessibility standards in programming. Work with other UN Agencies, like UN Women to integrate best practices and deliver aligned programming. Relates to the following conclusions: The JP has made visible but uneven progress in promoting gender equality, disability inclusion, and non-discrimination. While some activities, particularly legal and policy reforms in Solomon Islands, reflect a commitment to international standards on workers’ rights and equity, the integration of gender equality, disability inclusion, and broader GEDSI principles across the programme has been inconsistent. Efforts to embed inclusivity have faced several structural challenges, including staffing limitations and inconsistent cross-agency collaboration, as seen in OHCHR’s early engagement difficulties. Nonetheless, promising examples emerged, such as targeted training with Tongan Women in ICT and community consultations aligned with SDG and human rights principles in Fiji. However, disability inclusion in particular remains an area needing greater attention, with limited targeted programming and engagement with PWDs. Lessons from other contexts are planned to inform future efforts, suggesting recognition of current gaps.

project_symbols:

RAS/22/53/UND

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/recommendations/2356423

information_source:

Country Office

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