The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in partnership with ILO and UNDP, convened a high-level event at the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), aimed at building global momentum for integrating decent work principles into recovery and resilience processes.
Grounded in ILO Recommendation No. 205 on Decent Work and Employment for Peace and Resilience, and guided by the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus, the discussion explored scalable interventions and collaborative strategies to promote employment, uphold labour rights, expand social protection and address challenges such as child labour and informality.
"Job creation, worker protection and institution building are not optional - they are the very foundation of peace, recovery, and human dignity" said Francesco d'Ovidio, Director, ILO Office for the State of Qatar.
"Decent work transforms recovery from a temporary response to a sustainable path towards stability and social cohesion, providing people with dignity, stability and purpose, while helping communities recover, reduce inequality and prevent renewed conflict", he added.
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In her opening remarks, H.E. Wafaa Bani Mustafa, Minister of Social Development of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, emphasized that despite limited resources and a sensitive geopolitical context, Jordan has successfully balanced humanitarian response with sustainable development, maintaining stability while fostering international cooperation. "Jordan's experience demonstrates how institutional resilience, proactive planning, and multi-stakeholder partnerships can transform crises into opportunities, she said.
H.E. Hind Kabawat, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in Syria, underscored the crucial role of Syrian returnees in driving the nation's recovery and sustainable development. "Syria's greatest investment lies in its human capital, a valued asset reflected in the success of our diaspora communities", she stated. "Our approach ensures that social protection and employment initiatives are aligned to promote inclusive growth and strengthen social cohesion."
The discussion also underscored the pivotal role of private enterprises in driving the transition from short-term support to long-term, sustainable solutions. H.E. Ambassador Tarek El Nabulsi of the League of Arab States noted that supporting projects for people with disabilities and productive families to establish entrepreneurial initiatives reflects a shift from providing direct assistance to empowering individuals to achieve self-reliance and economic participation through formalization of businesses. "This approach reflects a broader movement toward integrating decent work principles within market systems, ensuring that recovery efforts translate into lasting livelihoods and social cohesion", he said.
The session reaffirmed the importance of incorporating decent work principles across humanitarian and development strategies to achieve people-centered recovery.
Ms. Sheri Ritsema-Anderson, UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan highlighted the need to place people at the centre of recovery. "People living in fragile and conflict-affected settings want to support and protect themselves and their families. Our role is to help them achieve sustainable livelihoods", she said. "The shift from humanitarian assistance toward long-term approaches must begin as early as possible."
Participants from governments, employers' and workers' organizations and civil society shared experiences and lessons from Jordan, Syria and Ukraine, highlighting how decent work can foster stability, strengthen communities and transform recovery into long-term resilience.
Mr. Vasyl Shylov, Head of the International Relations Department at the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine, noted that social dialogue has become a "lifeline" for protecting workers under extreme conditions. He explained that trade unions play a vital role in coordinating efforts between local authorities, enterprises and workers. "Recovery should not only be fast, it should be fair" he said, calling for a renewed social contract rooted in equity and inclusion.
Mr Mohammed Fakhri Farhn Mogdadi, Head of Jordan's National Council for Family Affairs spoke on the importance of a comprehensive framework to address child labour, built on strong legislation, coordinated prevention measures and social protection systems. This cross-sectorial approach illustrates how multi-stakeholder collaboration can translate policy into tangible outcomes for the most vulnerable.
A UNHCR representative emphasized that "promoting self-reliance from the very beginning of displacement means aligning humanitarian response with development, integrating both refugees and host communities, and preparing for return by providing access to employment and training". This means calling for early and coordinated action to strengthen resilience, foster inclusion and create sustainable livelihoods for displaced persons and their host communities.
Acknowledging the support of Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany, speakers underscored the need for sustained and inclusive partnerships to scale up practical solutions that bridge humanitarian relief with long-term development. The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen collaboration across sectors and to accelerate progress on decent work in crisis-affected regions.
