Step 01
The Global Accelerator engages with countries that possess considerable potential to amplify investments in jobs and social protection. The engagement currently occurs through two modalities – pathfinder countries and the M-GA, which qualifies non-pathfinder countries to access technical expertise and catalytic funding, to put them on the path of becoming pathfinder countries.
Pathfinder countries are at the heart of the Global Accelerator. They are countries that possess considerable potential to amplify investments in jobs and social protection. By giving a high-level political commitment, these countries have resolved to advancing decent jobs, expanding social protection and promoting just transitions.
Divided by geography, many pathfinder countries are united in the persistent challenges they face, such as lack of decent jobs, social protection deficits, high levels of informality, inequalities affecting women and young people and vulnerable groups. They also face constraints in financing sustainable development, while navigating major economic, demographic, technological, and environmental transitions.
Through nationally owned roadmaps, developed through social dialogue among governments, social partners and other stakeholders, pathfinder countries identify priority reforms, investments and partnerships needed to address these challenges.
The roadmaps help translate political commitment into coordinated action by aligning policies, financing and partnerships around shared national priorities.
Pathfinder countries benefit from a combination of political engagement, technical support, financing opportunities, and global and national partnerships designed to accelerate progress towards decent jobs, social protection, just transitions while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Pathfinder countries can access specialized expertise, practical tools and capacity development support through the Technical Support Facility, helping them design integrated solutions and advance the implementation of the policy priorities identified in their national roadmaps.
The Global Accelerator supports countries in developing integrated financing strategies that help mobilize domestic and international sources of finance — including official development assistance, domestic public resources, development finance from multilateral and public development banks, and private sector investment — to support national priorities for jobs, social protection and just transitions.
Pathfinder countries may access development cooperation funding opportunities that support the design and implementation of national roadmaps and play a catalytic role in mobilizing broader partnerships and investments by connecting countries with United Nations entities, development partners and international financial institutions.
Pathfinder countries participate in high-level global and regional policy dialogues that shape international discussions on jobs, social protection and just transitions. These include major global processes and forums such as the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), the Finance in Common Summit (FiCS), the High-level Political Forum (HLPF), and other strategic platforms that provide opportunities to showcase national progress, exchange experiences and influence global agendas.
Pathfinder countries benefit from knowledge exchange and peer learning opportunities at national, regional, and global levels. Through communities of practice, technical workshops, policy forums, capacity building and knowledge exchange events, countries can share experiences, access practical tools and methodologies, and learn from innovative approaches and lessons emerging across the Global Accelerator network.
Pathfinder Countries can leverage the Global Accelerator to strengthen high-level political leadership, bring together ministries and key stakeholders around shared objectives, and foster more coordinated approaches across policy areas. By breaking down institutional silos, strengthening coordination across stakeholders and aligning policies and investments, enabling conditions are created for ambitious reforms and their effective implementation.
Countries join the Global Accelerator through a nationally led process that combines political commitment, stakeholder engagement and strategic planning. As a nationally owned and led process, it can be initiated by governments, United Nations Resident Coordinators or members of United Nations Country Teams.
By joining the Global Accelerator, pathfinder countries commit to advancing integrated approaches to jobs, social protection and just transitions through high-level political leadership, inclusive governance and social dialogue. This includes strengthening coordination across ministries and stakeholders, promoting integrated policy approaches, mobilizing financing and partnerships, and fostering collaboration with development partners and international financial institutions to support implementation of nationally owned roadmaps.
Step 02
National Governance Mechanism Established
Know moreStep 03
Initial Diagnostics and Roadmap Development
Know moreStep 04
Roadmap Endorsement
Know moreStep 05
Implementation
Know moreIn addition to the pathfinder countries, several countries engage with the Global Accelerator through the “M-GA”, which is a partnership between the UN and World Bank, to further joint action on jobs and social protection for just transitions.
M-GA prioritizes various thematic areas like climate change, fragility and informality, and allows technical cooperation activities, in pathfinder and non-pathfinder countries, to be designed and implemented, in line with the Global Accelerator approach. The countries that are not yet pathfinder countries are expected to utilize the catalytic funding through the UN-WB joint programmes to become pathfinder countries.