How does the respect of workers' rights results in a productive workforce? Can development projects truly succeed if they put communities at risk? What happens when workers' rights are overlooked, or is community safety treated as an afterthought? How can we ensure that the benefits of infrastructure and investment are shared, not shadowed by harm?

Development projects inevitably interact with communities and create employment opportunities, bringing both tremendous potential for positive impact and significant risks that must be carefully identified and managed throughout the project cycle. The way projects address labour and working conditions of workers as well as community health and safety, security concerns often determines whether development initiatives become drivers for sustainable progress or sources of harm and instability.

These elements are fundamentally interconnected. Pollutants, industrial hazards, and communicable diseases do not respect project boundaries, affecting both workers and surrounding populations. When workers face unsafe conditions, entire communities can be affected through industrial accidents, environmental contamination, or social unrest.

When communities lack adequate safety protections, the workforce becomes vulnerable and project sustainability is compromised. Course Overview In this joint AfDB-ITCILO training, you will explore how to embed robust Labor and Working Conditions as well as Community Health, Safety and Security practices into every stage of project preparation and implementation.

The course draws on the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Declaration on the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the African Development Bank's Integrated Safeguards System (ISS), harmonized with E&S safeguards requirements of other Development Finance Institutions.