Strengthening the evidence base for achieving SDG Target 8.7

The ILO RTA project is developing global and national research agendas through consultations with funding partners, policymakers, and researchers.

Within the framework of Alliance 8.7, ILO and IOM are collaborating on the USDOL-funded project “From Research to Action (RTA): Using Knowledge to Accelerate Progress in the Elimination of Child Labour and Forced Labour”. RTA project is committed to developing global and national research agendas and strengthening the evidence base for achieving SDG Target 8.7.

Building on an Evidence Gap Map, the project team is working with funding partners, policymakers, researchers, and social partners to develop a global research agenda, as well as national research agendas in five selected countries – Chile, Paraguay, Malawi, Nepal, and Uganda.

The Global and National Research Agendas

The global and national research agendas aim to identify priority research areas to advance global and national efforts against child labour, forced labour, and human trafficking. They involve three steps:

  • Step 1: Take stock of existing research, data, and policies on child labour, forced labour, and human trafficking. The results are summarised in an annotated bibliography to inform global and national evidence gaps.
  • Step 2: Identify research priorities by consulting policymakers, funding partners, and local stakeholders. The focus is on key research questions, knowledge gaps, data needs, funding priorities, and institutional constraints. The consultation will be coordinated and mainstreamed in the Pathfinder Countries process.
  • Step 3: Develop the research agendas in workshops at the global and country-level.

Download the Global Research Agenda Brochure

Download the Global Research Agenda PDF (detailed version)

The Consultation Process

Considering the COVID-19 situation, the consultation will be conducted in a two-stage process involving:

  • a survey and key informant interviews; and
  • a half-day virtual workshop.

A stakeholder survey will be circulated to elicit the needs and constraints to build knowledge for informed policy decisions in the fight against child labour, forced labour, and human trafficking. It will be disseminated to a broad group of policy actors, funding partners, and local stakeholders, such as academic researchers and social partners active in conducting research on the priority areas. The survey results and key informant interviews will inform discussions in a consultation workshop where a research agenda will be developed.

Expected outcomes

  • Facilitate knowledge transfer by linking the producer and users of research at the global level and within the country.
  • Formulate a global and country-specific strategy to deliver evidence.
  • Enhance collaboration among stakeholders to develop and update the knowledge base for achieving SDG Target 8.7.

More information

For more information, please contact: Lorenzo Guarcello (ILO) and/or Lorraine Wong (IOM)