Better Work Ethiopia works closely with our parent organizations – the International Labour Organization and the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group.  Currently, the programme is actively part of the coordinated ILO interventions in the country. 

We also work with different stakeholders on a national level. The Project Advisory Committee (PAC) gathers different national stakeholders to find solutions and foster improvements in the garment industry.  The PAC provides strategic advice on the directions of the programme, reviews progress on implementation, and serves as a platform for engagement among stakeholders on key industry issues through biannual meetings.

Key Better Work partners in improving working conditions in the garment industry and boost the competitiveness of the sector are:

Government

Better Work Ethiopia has been working closely with the national government in the country since its inception. 

Workers and unions

We work with unions and directly with workers to help realize their rights on the factory floor and find ways to boost their skills so that they can engage in productive discussions and negotiate with employers.

Factories and manufacturers

Factory and manufacturer enterprises are key partners in our efforts to create better conditions for garment workers in a way that also boosts business performance. We believe that effective cooperation and mutual trust between employers and their workers not only leads to better working conditions but also better results for business.

Brands and retailers

Our brands, retailers and intermediaries are industry leaders in the movement to re-imagine the global supply chain, where workers’ rights are realised and businesses gain a competitive advantage to grow.

Our partner brands, retailers and intermediaries commit to coordinate efforts in order to maximize impact, for example by reducing duplicate audits and by supporting improvement efforts of suppliers in a manner that is complementary and reinforces Better Work Ethiopia’s assistance to factories.

The following brands sourcing from the country’s factories are Better Work Ethiopia partners:

Development partners

Our work is funded through a combination of private sector fees for our services and grants from donors. We work closely with development partners to understand specific interests and goals and help to advance these goals through Better Work’s efforts. Development partners are actively engaged in our programme and are key partners in the development of strategies to improve garment sector supply chains.

Better Work Ethiopia is supported by the following key development partners (in alphabetical order):

♦ Department for International Development – UK Aid

♦ Germany (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ)