The EU-ILO Youth Employment Expert Network is informing national employment policy processes and country-level action through a series of events in Rwanda, Malawi and the Philippines between October and November 2026.
Co-funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the initiative brings together experts, policy makers and development partners to inform employment policies, strengthen partnerships and translate knowledge and evidence into practical action for youth employment.
Convened in close collaboration with national governments, social partners, EU Delegations and development partners, the events combine technical exchanges on effective and inclusive youth employment policies and programmes with opportunities for meaningful youth engagement and collaborative development of solutions tailored to national priorities.
Rwanda: Bringing youth voices into National Employment Policy implementation
The first event took place in Kigali, Rwanda, from 7 to 8 October 2026, as part of the validation process for Rwanda's National Employment Policy 2026-2036. It was convened in collaboration with ILO project Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills for Youth in Rwanda's Digital Economy, funded by the Government of Luxembourg, through its technical partnership with the Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA) throughout the two-year policy review, consultation and validation process and in consultations with workers, employers and the ecosystem actors.
The event featured technical sessions on effective youth employment programmes, meaningful youth engagement and partnerships for employment promotion, drawing on international evidence, including the recent ILO-World Bank systematic review of active labour market programmes for youth, and practical experiences from national and international partners.
The final day, 9 October, was dedicated entirely to young people's participation in the NEP process. Youth representatives reviewed the NEP priorities and jointly drafted a Call to Action, outlining concrete recommendations for NEP implementation. The recommendations were presented to MIFOTRA, providing a direct channel for youth perspectives to inform the policy's implementation and monitoring.
Malawi: Informing the development of a new National Employment and Labour Policy
In Salima, 3-5 November, the Network will support the government-led review of Malawi's National Employment and Labour Policy (NELP) through a three-day technical workshop convened in close collaboration with the Ministry of Labour (MoLVI), the EU Delegation to Malawi and development partners.
Participants will draw on national experience and international evidence to identify youth employment priorities for the new policy, focusing on skills development, labour market transitions, entrepreneurship and productive employment opportunities in key economic sectors.
Particular attention will be given to agriculture and agribusiness, including experiences from partners such as IFAD, alongside emerging opportunities in the digital economy, tourism and other sectors.
Through facilitated co-ideation sessions, participants will jointly develop policy recommendations and practical solutions for interventions to support the new NELP and Malawi's development objectives.
Philippines: Strengthening regional learning and action on active labour market policies
The series will continue in the Philippines from 24 to 26 November 2026 with a regional technical workshop bringing together policymakers, experts and practitioners from Cambodia, the Philippines and Uzbekistan.
Jointly organized through the EU-ILO Network of Youth Employment Experts , the "Intergenerational Employment: enhancing older workers' labour market integration" project and, and "Delivering on national commitments: Korea's support to the implementation of the Global Accelerator" project, both funded by the Republic of Korea, the workshop will focus on active labour market policies (ALMPs) and their role in promoting inclusive employment, particularly for young people.
Drawing on ILO-World Bank evidence and country experiences, participants will examine ways to strengthen employment services, skills development and social protection linkages. Country-level working groups will also co-develop practical recommendations to inform national policy discussions and future technical cooperation.
From knowledge exchange to practical action
Across the three events, the Network is demonstrating how connecting evidence, expertise and and a variety of development actors can strengthen national employment policies and translate knowledge into action.
