Effective investment facilitation and sustainable development
Effective investment facilitation and sustainable development
27–29 mai 2026
Le cours est disponible en English
Présentation du cours
Increasingly, governments and home countries are prioritizing the attraction of quality foreign direct investment (FDI)-investment that not only brings capital but also generates meaningful impacts on national development. This includes contributions to job creation, skills development, technology transfer, and broader sustainable development outcomes. Rather than focusing solely on the volume or quantity of investment, policymakers are placing greater emphasis on investments that support long-term economic inclusive growth, strengthen local SMEs, and align with social and environmental development priorities. Quality FDI is becoming an important tool for advancing inclusive and sustainable development strategies at the national level. At the same, investment decisions are increasingly shaped by expectations regarding sustainable development and responsible business conduct (RBC). Issues such as forced labour regulations, trade and sustainable development provisions, RBC clauses in international investment agreements, and social safeguards influence how investors companies participate in global markets. Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) play a pivotal role to enhance impact of FDI for the ghost economy, and to further unlock the development potential of FDI through facilitating technology and skills transfer, public private partnerships, and policy development. In this intensive 3-day course, FDI professionals from IPAs, as well as government and private institutions involved in trade, investment and sustainable development, will learn how to further harness FDI for sustainable development and decent work. The course is run jointly by WAIPA (World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Groupes cibles
This course is designed for a wide range of professionals working for regional, national, and municipal investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and other institutions/organizations with a similar mandate. This course might also be of particular interest to development practitioners with a specific interest in financing development through FDI investments, e.g., foreign affairs ministries or ministries responsible for trade, commerce and finance.
What topics does this course cover?
This course explores how IPAs can maximize the positive impact of FDI for Sustainable Development and decent work, using a range of tools and resources:
- FDI trends and insights
- Defining characteristics of quality FDI or “high impact’ FDI taking into consideration national priorities
- Frameworks and programmes to enhance impact of FDI in particular
- 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
- Responsible Business Conduct
- IPAs and investment facilitation for more and better jobs
- Measuring and communicating impact of FDI
What will I learn?
Participants learn how IPAs are improving their impact and shaping national development agendas in a wide range of areas, including:
- How to enhance alignment of FDI with national development priorities
- How to develop quality FDI projects
- How to engage with investors on Responsible Business Conduct for more and better jobs
- How to measure qualitative and quantitative impact of your IPA through definition of KPIs for decent work and sustainable development
What will I be able to do?
Participants will be equipped to advise their IPAs on specific ways to attract investment which will contribute more effectively to the SDGs, such as:
- Apply development frameworks for decent work in investment facilitation
- Create an enabling environment to ensure that FDI leads to positive social and economic outcomes
- Implement a system of investment promotion measures and aftercare services which enhances development impacts
As part of their participation, IPA participants will develop a strategy for their institution to integrate and align the SDGs along IPA and FDI related functions (promotion, facilitation, after care, planning, monitoring, and evaluation, ...). Other participants will have a better understanding of how to support IPAs to enhance development impacts of FDI.
Why should I join?
The ITCILO is part of the UN System and is the training arm of the International Labour Organization. The ITCILO is known for its innovative learning experiences and unconventional methodologies.
- An opportunity to connect and interact with colleagues from IPAs from across the globe on topics of mutual concern
- To learn from and with each other on best practices in IPAs on Investment promotion, digitization, resilience
- Connect and link up with exerts from the United Nations, ILO, UNIDO, UNCTAD and WAIPA on the latest information and innovations available
- Successful candidates receive an ITCILO Certificate of participation
- Partial scholarships are available for qualifying candidates.
- Women and participants from IPAs from the list of LDCs are highly encouraged to register
Partners
World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA)
WAIPA provides the opportunity for investment promotion agencies (IPAs) to network and exchange best practices in investment promotion. WAIPA has always dedicated, and continues to dedicate, time and effort towards building the human resources capacity of its Member agencies.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
UNCTAD supports developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively and helps equip them to deal with the potential drawbacks of greater economic integration. To do this, UNCTAD provides analysis, facilitates consensus-building, and offers technical assistance.
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
UNIDO is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.
International Labour Organization
The only tripartite U.N. agency, since 1919 the ILO brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States , to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
