Additional US$1 million will boost implementation of the Global Accelerator under the expanded ILO-Korea partnership programme.
BANGKOK – The Government of the Republic of Korea is reinforcing its commitment to promoting decent work and social justice worldwide, through additional funding in support of the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions.
On 10 April 2025, an agreement was signed at the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok by Park Il-Hoon, Director General of the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MOEL), and Mia Seppo, ILO Assistant Director-General for Jobs and Social Protection. Under this agreement, the Republic of Korea will provide an additional US$2.8 million to the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme (I-KORP), raising total funding for the 2024–26 cycle to US$11.95 million.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Park stated: “Since launching the ILO-Korea partnership programme in 2004 with an initial contribution of US$500,000, Korea has demonstrated a model partnership, with support expanding to over US$10 million in a single cycle (2024–2026). Building on this, the Korean government is committed to playing a greater role in the international community and will actively participate in and support initiatives that contribute to the well-being of other countries.”
Of this new funding, US$1 million will be dedicated to the ongoing Global Accelerator project titled “Delivering on national commitments: Korea’s support to the implementation of the Global Accelerator,” bringing the total project budget to US$2.35 million. This contribution showcases a successful example of a bilateral cooperation in support of the Global Accelerator and reinforces Korea’s role as a key partner in advancing inclusive and sustainable development through decent work and social protection — positioning the country as one of the leading donors championing the Global Accelerator.
The project aims to accelerate decent job creation and expand social protection in Global Accelerator pathfinder countries, where the integration of labour market policies, social protection systems, and macro-structural measures is identified as priorities to advance the Global Accelerator’s goals. The project’s implementation follows a dual approach that combines global-level activities with country-specific interventions, all tailored to national contexts, shaped by demand, and informed by each country’s Global Accelerator roadmap and development priorities.
In addition, the project will deepen synergies and complementarities with other ILO-Korea partnership initiatives and broader Global Accelerator efforts, including the Joint SDG Fund joint programmes, the Global Accelerator global project, and M-GA (Multistakeholder Engagement to Implement the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions and the World Bank Social Protection and Jobs Compass) activities.
The additional funding of US$1 million will allow the project to extend its reach to more pathfinder countries, intensify engagement in key policy areas, strengthen strategic partnerships, and further amplify its contribution to the overarching objectives of the Global Accelerator.
The Republic of Korea plays a growing role as a key partner in the ILO’s development cooperation programme. The ILO-Korea Partnership Programme for 2024-26 was signed in June 2024. It focusses on labour market policies and employment services, youth employment, social protection, occupational safety and health, international labour standards, and cooperatives as well as support to the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions.