Green Jobs Assessment Institutions Network
(GAIN)
Background and Rationale
Many countries are becoming interested in investment and development strategies that stimulate
growth, create jobs and enhance social inclusion in a green economy. Recognizing this growing
trend, the Rio+20 Outcome Document “The Future We Want”, devoted a full section on promoting
full and productive employment, decent work for all, and social protections. It encouraged efforts to
promote the exchange of information and knowledge on decent work for all and job creation,
including green jobs initiatives and related skills, and to facilitate the integration of relevant data
into national economic and employment policies.
ILO constituents are looking into opportunities to reshape their economic and labour policies and
investment decisions to maximize employment gains. However, these are predicated on the right
policy mix and an inclusive economic, social and institutional set-up informed by relevant policy
research and analysis. Countries are particularly interested in knowing about the direct, indirect or
induced employment, the gross and net effect on jobs of greening policies, and options available to
them to maximise employment gains, and put in place social safeguards and social protection where
needed. However, such information cannot be made available in the absence of thorough and
empirical assessments. This is compounded by the lack of technical capacity and expertise to
conduct assessments with appropriate methodologies and quantitative tools.
The Green Jobs Assessment Institutions Network (GAIN) – a network of institutions and experts on
the application of models for quantitative measurements and policy analysis, was initiated to help
build capacity for assessments and policy analysis particularly in developing and low income
counties.
Objectives of the Network
GAIN aims to provide a common pool of expertise at both institutional and individual level, in order
to enable national governments to access and utilize a research and advisory capacity for countrylevel assessments and subsequent policy making. It seeks to support the development and
strengthening of institutional capacity in the countries by providing direct technical support to local
institutions and by connecting them to other policy research institutions around the world.
The two specific objectives of GAIN are as follows:
1) To build and improve knowledge on quantitative and analytical methodologies and tools
relevant for the assessment of employment, social and economic dimensions of greening
policies, including Input-Output tables, Social Accounting Matrixes, Computable General
Equilibrium models, System Dynamic models, surveys and other assessment approaches.
2) To share knowledge and build capacity of national institutions to be able to carry out
assessments in their own countries, or support other countries where expertise is lacking,
thereby promoting a pooling of expertise and South-South and triangular cooperation in
research.
Structure and Functioning of the Network
GAIN is structured to allow a light, but effective mechanism to pursue its objectives. The ILO Green
Jobs Programme currently serves as Secretariat of the Network.
GAIN holds international conferences and workshops on a bi-annual basis. Between these
conferences, the Network operates through video-conferencing and webinars as well as through
email exchanges. Network members willing to discuss a particular assessment underway or
completed may invite other Network members to a dedicated session for peer review and
comments. The ILO Green Jobs Programme facilitates the organisation of such dedicated webinars.
The Network aims to have a web portal that will serve as a platform to disseminate information on
new research, announce events, reports or other information of relevance to GAIN members.
Indicative Products and Services
Through activities outlined above, GAIN aims to achieve the following results:

The elaboration of a training manual for macro-economic assessments of structural change
towards greening economies,

Enhanced capacity of research institutions participating in the Network,

Improved assessments methods,

A series of high quality assessment reports and conference papers,

Extended outreach of research products by Network members.
Membership
GAIN is open to all institutions and experts sharing common views and interest on measuring
economic and social implications of transitions to low carbon and greener economies, and
recognising the importance of rigorous and credible assessment methodologies and tools.
By joining GAIN, members commit to actively contribute knowledge, to share ideas and experiences,
and where possible to engage in collaborative research and policy advice on terms suited to their
institutional or individual circumstances.
Participation in the Network is free of charge. An expression of interest to join should be addressed
to the secretariat.
Contact
Mr Moustapha Kamal Gueye, Policy Specialist, Green Jobs
Email: [email protected] Tel: +41 22 799 7247
Mr Marek Harsdorff, Economist, Green Jobs
Email: [email protected] Tel: +41 22 799 7189