Pushing for trade union innovation in a changing world of work

The Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting for the Africa and Middle East region of the BWI-UtoU-SBTF, held online on 13 November 13, 2023, was a successful collaboration by project stakeholders. The meeting reviewed the external evaluation results for the period 2018-2022, examined the new project design for 2023-2027, and deliberated on the implementation progress for 2023.

Chaired by Jasmin Redzepovic, BWI Assistant Education Secretary, the meeting included a total of 38 participants. Among them were representatives from 15 project unions spanning 7 countries, 3 Swedish affiliates, and BWI staff from both the region and the head office, including Tos Anonuevo, BWI Education Secretary, and Patrick Fonjallaz, BWI Global Finance Officer.

The session focused on the outcomes of the external evaluation of the Union-to-Union program from 2018-2022, implemented in two phases (2018/19 and 2020/22). The deliberation acknowledged amendments to certain indicators and expected results during implementation, attributed in part to the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, budget adjustments, and results monitoring. At the regional level, there was a heightened emphasis on supporting affiliates in the project cycle, with a particular focus on achieving results related to occupational health and safety, infrastructure projects, and Chinese multinational corporations.

Garikanai Shoko, Assistant Regional Representative of BWI Africa and Middle East overseeing UtoU coordination in Africa, presented the external evaluation report for 2018-2022, the design of the new project for 2023-2027, and the implementation progress for 2023. The presentation highlighted the project's partial effectiveness in safeguarding income, jobs, and lives during the pandemic, with various contingencies activated and valuable lessons learned by BWI and its affiliates.

Christer Wälivaara, a strategist of SBTF, BYGGNADS, Sweden, conveyed his congratulations on behalf of the BWI Swedish affiliates. He commended the project actors for their resilience in the face of challenges, particularly political changes in Sweden that led to a substantial reduction in funding from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). Offering encouragement for the future, he stated, "the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror because where we are going is more important than where we have been."

Looking ahead to the new phase of the project (2023-2027), 19 BWI affiliates from 7 countries will concentrate on the two project objectives aligned with the BWI Strategic Plan adopted at the 5th World Congress. The unions expressed optimism, emphasising the importance of organising as a central pillar for their survival. Strategies for growing membership, with a targeted focus on the proportion of precarious and vulnerable workers, were discussed.