The governments of France and Senegal, in partnership with Global Accelerator agencies including ILO, UNICEF, UNDP, FAO, WFP, UN Women, and the Joint SDG Fund, co-hosted the side event “Leveraging Social Investments: Financing for Jobs & Social Protection” at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4). The event convened governments, employers, workers, and development partners to emphasize how investments in decent jobs and universal social protection can drive inclusive growth, enhance resilience, and secure long-term development amid overlapping global crises such as climate shocks, inequality, and fiscal strain.
Valérie Schmitt, Deputy Director of the ILO’s Universal Social Protection Department, highlighted that nearly 3.8 billion people lack social protection, while 2 billion workers remain in the informal economy. She outlined the Global Accelerator’s goal of creating a virtuous cycle linking jobs, social protection, and financing in 18 “pathfinder” countries. Integrated approaches addressing informality, poverty, inequality, and skills deficits are essential to unlocking more financing for sustainable employment and stronger social protection outcomes.
Senegal showcased practical applications of the Global Accelerator, with Souleymane Diallo describing how the initiative aligns ministries, social partners, UN agencies, and IFIs to implement priority policies using the ILO’s “Structural Model for Sustainable Development.” By embedding social protection and decent jobs into all investments, including agriculture, Senegal aims to maximize social impact. Similarly, Cabo Verde highlighted the program’s role in bridging economic and social agendas, enabling policies that deliver both growth and equity.
High-level discussions, moderated by Jemimah Njuki of UN Women, examined how the Global Accelerator builds a compelling case for governments, the private sector, and International Financial Institutions to scale investment in social protection and employment programs. Adama Mariko from the Agence Française de Développement emphasized the high cost of inaction and highlighted AFD’s work in South Africa combining social protection, green jobs, and skills development. Spain’s State Secretary for International Cooperation, Eva Granados, noted the importance of aligning technical and financial assistance to advance just transitions.
The event also showcased the importance of inclusive, country-led platforms that bring together ministries, workers, employers, IFIs, civil society, and UN partners to drive systemic reform. Representatives from Namibia and Nepal underscored the essential role of workers and employers in designing and financing social protection systems, while evidence from Nepal illustrated how the Global Accelerator is expanding public spending on social protection and employment to maximize real impact on people’s lives. France’s Global Health Ambassador, Anne-Claire Amprou, described social protection as a high-return investment and emphasized the Accelerator’s role in aligning diverse stakeholders around a common objective.
Closing remarks by Laura Thompson, ILO Assistant Director-General, called for urgent action, sustained commitment, and smarter financing strategies to make just transitions a reality. The Global Accelerator is part of the Sevilla Action Platform, supporting FFD4 commitments by strengthening UN/IFI collaboration, national coordination platforms, integrated policy and financing for jobs and social protection, democratic governance, and domestic resource mobilization. The initiative provides a coordinated framework to align international support with country priorities, promote decent jobs, expand social protection, and advance formal economic transitions.
