Dr Volodymyr Sidenko, Dr Igor Chernyshev
and Prof. Tetiana Melnyk

Contact Information

Ms Astrig Marandjian-Lapeyre (first left), Messrs Hugo Oberson and Igor Vokatch with the participants
of the Conference (third and fourth from right)

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The on-line international conference “Potential of Green Economy and Rural Tourism:  A promise for sustainable regional development” was held on 9-10 November 2021. It was jointly organised by the Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law, Green Jobs and Sustainable Development International Centre (GJASD International) and the National Association of Rural and Ecotourism Organizations’ Development (Russian Federation). The conference was organised around the following topical areas:

  • Green jobs, decent work and sustainable development.
  • Rural tourism as a tool for village areas’ sustainable development.
  • Problems of green economy formation in the regions.
  • International, intergovernmental and public organizations as an effective tool for developing new approaches to building the models of sustainable food systems.
  • Employment and social relations in the rural areas.
  • Challenges and opportunities for international and national tourism development.
  • Social, philosophical and economic aspects of a green economy.
  • Education for sustainable regional development.


The conference was distantly attended by 86 participants representing the ILO Enterprise Department;  Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives; Moldova Cooperative Trade University; Tajik State University of Commerce;  Research Laboratory on Business Law, University Hassan 1st, Morocco; International Business Development, BRUNEL Business School, Great Britain; Wegener Centre for Climate and Global Change, Graz University, Environment Agency, Austria; Paris-Pantheon-Sorbonne University, France; UNESCO Chair of the Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russian Federation; University of Helsinki, Finland;  Association “Tourism for Help”, Switzerland; Avid College, Maldives;  Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland; University of Agribusiness and Rural Development, Bulgaria; College of Media and Mass Communication, American University in Dubai, United Arabs Emirates; as well as independent consultants and researchers.

The conference was opened by welcoming addressed made by Professor Vitaliy Ivanovich Teplov, Rector of Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law, Head of the UNESCO Chair on Education for Sustainable Development of Cooperatives; Mr. Andrey Anatolyevich Izvarin, First Deputy Head of the Governor’s Office, Belgorod Region; Mr. Oleg Kobiakov, Director of FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation; Mr. Vic Van Vuuren, Director of the  ILO Enterprises Department; and Mr. Yves Chamorel, President of Green Jobs and Sustainable Development International Centre (GJASD International).

Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities, made a special welcoming address and wished participants successful discussions and fruitful work.

 

Map of Armenia

​      Meeting participants

 Ms. Wilma Perante, Philippines Statistics Authority (Region 8)

M. I. Vokatch presents a global view on cooperatives
Opening Session: Mr S. Chinzorig, Parliament Member, Chair of Parliamentary Sub-Committee on SDGs, Minister for Labour and Social Protection; Ms A. Ariunzaya , Chairperson, NSO; Mr Tim De Meyer, Director, ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia; Mr A. Amarbal, Director, Population and Social Statistics Department, NSO; Mr Kh.Amgalanbaatar, President, Confederation of Mongolian Trade Union (opening speech). ​
With university students
University students, faculty of Economics
  • Participation in the "Meetings for the development of rural tourism in Armenia”
  • In May  2017, Mr Igor Vokatch, General Secretary, carried out a programming mission to Madagascar with the objective to meet with the representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, other national authorities, such as public authorities, social partners, NGOs, private actors and the international organisations, involved in the promotion of rural tourism. The mission was supported technically and logistically by the ILO Country Office in Antatananarivo The meetings held were geared towards the development of concrete recommendations for the preparation of a programme for the promotion of rural tourism in Madagascar. As a result of the mission, GJASD International has prepared a Roadmap for the development of rural tourism in Madagascar, which has been submitted for comments to the ILO Country Office and the Hotels, Catering and Tourism, ILO Sectoral Depratment. Based on the comments, GJASD International is finalising the Roadmap for its submission to the Ministry of Tourism as a joint document with the ILO Country Office in Madagascar. 

    Promotion of agritourism and green jobs in Madagascar (in cooperation with the ILO Country Office). 

    Presentations and lectures covering such issues as green economy; sustainable enterprise and cooperatives; agritourism; green jobs and decent work, etc.​

    ​Vice-President of GJASD International participated in the Scientific and Practical Conference Imperatives and Innovative Mechanisms for Ensuring Decent Work in the Conditions of Emerging New Economy  (Kiev, Ukraine, 25-26 April 2017), where he was an invited honorary participant and addressed the Conference during the opening session.
Mr Igor Vokatch, General Secretary, delivers a lecture on "Green jobs and cooperatives"

 Ms Rosanna Urdaneta, DDG TESDA 

Ms Florabela Carausu, GOPA Luxembourg S.A.R.L.: Sustainable  grassroots tourism through green jobs: Measurement issues 
Meeting with Prof. V. Teplov, Rector of the University
(third from the left)

Meeting with Prof. V. Teplov, Rector of the University
(third from the right)
«Together, we can find solutions» Mike Horn

Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities

H.E Ambassador Daniel Pruce, British Ambassador to the Philippines

Mr I. Chernyshev responds to questions from the Workshop participants
Mr Igor Vokatch and ILO officials attending the WESO presentation.

In April 2020, GJASD International signed a service contract with the Expertise France (www.expertisefrance.fr/web/guest/accueil) for the provision of individual expertise as part of the international cooperation project “Statistics through Eastern Partnership” (STEP). In particular, individual expert consultancy was provided at the “Webinar to exchange experiences in conducting household sample surveys in labour statistics”. The webinar, organised from Paris via Zoom, was held from 16-19 June 2020 with the participation of 34 senior labour statisticians from the partnership countries.

STEP is an EU-funded regional cooperation programme in statistics with a budget of 4.7 million euros (eu-step.eu). The programme is managed by Eurostat and implemented by a consortium led by Expertise France. It is being implemented in the six Eastern Partnership countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and the Ukraine.

STEP aims at strengthening the statistical evidence base through more and better quality official statistics. The ultimate goal is to support evidence-based policymaking.

As specified in the STEP Work Programme, the webinar was held within the framework of Component C2: Increase the level of harmonisation of methodologies both between the countries and with the EU.

Activity C2.1 – Labour market statistics: Labour Force Survey and Labour Cost Index

Objective: Strengthen the quality of labour market statistics and their harmonisation with ILO standards; design and implement algorithms for the calculation of the Labour Cost Index aligned with international standards

Expected results: Improved application of sampling methodologies and survey tools in LFS and its questionnaires aligned to the recommendations of the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS); harmonised statistical data on employment and unemployment.

  • The General Secretary of GJASD International participated in the Forum on “Development of Co-operatives in Central Asia: Exchange of Experience with International Agencies to Strengthen the Associations of Cooperatives in Central Asia” (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 30 June-2 July 2017), where he made a presentation at Session 3 on "Exchange of experience with international agencies to strengthen cooperative associations in Central Asia". The Form was organised by the International Cooperative Alliance-Asia and Pacific and Cooperative Union of Kyrgyzstan (www.ica-ap.coop/icanews).
Mr Prensilevich signs a copy of the book for Dr Valentyna Medvedieva, Lecturer at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts 
Group work

In August 2021, GJASD International signed the fifth service contract extending its collaboration with Expertise France for the provision of individual expertise as part of the international cooperation project “Statistics through Eastern Partnership” (STEP).

The contract contributed to the implementation of the training course called Communication for Statistics (C4S) that aimed at developing national training courses on communication for statistics. This was the last training course under Phase 3: "Cross-fertilisation among the pilot countries" that was successfully accomplished by the participants from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine on 5 October 2021.  

Association Member agreement is signed: ​Prof. V. Teplov,
 and Mr Yves Chamorel
Bio-products grown in the Kalavan Mountain
Mr Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President, GJASD International, introduces  STS-429
  • Promotion of eco-tourism, green jobs, and sustainable enterprises nurturing cultural heritage and traditional practices in Macedonia (FYR), in cooperation with local entrepreneurs, NGOs, municipalities, government bodies and tourism agencies.
  •  Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law (Associate Member of GJASD International) ​​​

Participants of the book launch event  
The education system in Philippines
Mr Bertrand Piccard, with his characteristic insight and sense of humour, did not leave anyone indifferent to the call for   governments to support such start-ups and spur investment in such operations
Ms Akiko Sakamoto, ILO Office
for Southeast Asia and the Pacific
Forum participants. Mr Igor Vokatch, Secretary General, GJASD International (last row third from right)
  • Visit to the Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law   
  • Launching of the book “Ukraine and the ILO” organised in Kiev, Ukraine

    On 23 October Messrs Gregory Prensilevich and Igor Chernyshev organized a book launch event in Kiev (Ukraine). The event was dedicated to the book they wrote together entitled “Ukraine and the ILO” in two Volumes (link to the book). It was attended by 15 persons, including two former ILO senior officials from Ukraine, the former ILO National Coordinator in Ukraine, the former Ukrainian diplomats who worked in the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva as well as the former Ambassadors of Ukraine in Canada, the European Union (Brussels), Italy, Switzerland and Turkey.​

    The book is dedicated to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the International Labour Organization (www.ilo.org/100/en/) .

    ​Given that Mr Chernyshev and Mr Prensilevich are co-authors and members of GJASD International, the book launch event was held in conjunction with the Association’s name.​

Eco-hotel in the mountains

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During the meeting discussions

Mr Vic Van Vuuren, Director of the ILO Enterprise Department
WESO report presented by:  Ms Catherine Saget, Chief of the Work Income and Equity Unit, ILO Research Department,
and Mr Vic Van Vuure, Director of the ILO Enterprise Department (left corner),

Participants shared experiences, stories and lessons on how to create a dynamic environment for start-ups to access technologies and investments. They also called for more attention to the potential of start-ups to tackle development challenges.

The five-invited start-ups received seed money from the Solar Impulse Foundation to support the following innovations: 

Yab Tun Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, opens the 62nd ISI World Statistics Congress: “Statistics is the DNA of decision-making and policy changes that affect every  of humanity”.     
  • Participation in the Meeting of the Working Group of Experts on the Measurement of Sustainable Tourism (UNWTO, Madrid 20-21 October 2016). The Meeting of the Working Group (MWG) was organised for the first time by the UNWTO and gathered together both users and producers of tourism statistics (see: statistics.unwto.org/wg_meeting). GJASD International prepared the issue paper “Green Jobs for Sustainable Tourism” that was distributed to the participants of the MWG. The paper contains relevant technical definitions and measurement tools and invites the Working Group to consider including green jobs dimension in the MST framework. The GJASD International’s initiative has been taken on board and the social aspect (employment) has been retained in the MST Framework and enhanced with green jobs dimension. The UNWTO Statistics and Tourism Satellite Account Programme will prepare a roadmap for the implementation of the Working Group recommendations and decisions.
  • Participation in the visit of the Swiss business delegation to Kazakhstan organised jointly by the Chamber of Commerce Switzerland-Russian/CIS and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Geneva.

​      Mr. Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan, Jr., Mnsa, DAP President and CEO

Ms Isabelle Duran, UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General, opens a special event
In the office, of Prof. V. Teplov, Rector of the Universit

The meeting was organised on 6 April by the ILO Project Team led by Ms Katherine Brimon (Senior Project Officer in charge of Output 3, ILO Country Office for the Philippines) and Mr Cezar Dragutan (Project CTA). The meeting was also attended by Mr Yves Chamorel (President of GJASD International - the implementing partner of Output 3), Lead Experts of GJASD International in TVET, labour statistics and LMIS, as well as two representatives of the Knowledge Community Inc. (KCI), a local company engaged for the project implementation in three regions of the Philippines. In addition, Ms Akiko Sakamoto (Senior Skills and Employability Specialist) and Mr Prat Tuca Jordi (Technical Officer, Enterprise Development and Skills), both from the ILO Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok), also attended the meeting. It total, there were 14 participants, including a Senior Officer working on a similar project in Malaysia.

Ms Brimon opened the meeting and after a short introduction gave the floor to Mr Dragutan who welcomed the participants and asked Mr Chamorel to present the Lead Experts of GJASD International.

Thereafter, Mr Dragutan made a brief Power-Point presentation on the project’s content and major outputs, followed by discussion of the project implementation plan, need for subject-specific methodological information to be collected by the KCI specialists and eventual challenges to be faced by the experts and local project teams in the process of project realisation.

At the end of the meeting, which lasted for about two hours, it was agreed that experts of GJASD International would send to Ms Brimon a request for specific information required to begin their work as well as a Background Paper on Demand for Skilled Workforce and Application to TVET Delivery Planning.

Mr Khalid Hassan

In his opening statement Mr. Khalid Hassan stressed that the National Workshop was convened at a time when the Philippines was transitioning to a post-pandemic environment that highlights the importance of well-informed labour market policies. In particular, the country’s National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) emphasises skills development as key to effective recovery both of jobs and businesses – a component which is likewise a priority under the Philippine  Decent Work Country Programme 2020 to 2024.

 There were nine key speakers whose presentations were followed by questions and answers sessions. The GJASD International’s experts made four comprehensive presentations covering such key issues as analysis of regional supply of skilled labour force and areas of alignment of the LMI in the Philippines to the needs of demand driven TVET.

Among other presentations were the following:

  • “Availability of LMI data for ensuring the demand driven TVET delivery” by Ms. Wilma Perante, Regional Director, Regional Statistical Service Office VIII, Philippine Statistics Authority.
  • “The LMI data used in steering and managing labour markets, their potential and limitations” by Ms. Grace. A. Baldoza, Division Chief, Labor Market Information, Research and Career Guidance Advocacy, Bureau of Local Employment, DOLE.
  • Area-based demand-driven TVET and the relevance of up-to-date region-specific LMI” by Ms. Rosalina Constantino, TESDA Planning Office Executive Director.

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For two days, the Show offered workshops, meetings, forums and round tables, around 83 stands of exhibitors.

Representatives of GJASD International participated in the 1st International Climate Show (Geneva 2018), where they met Mr Bertrand Piccard.  Mr Yves Chamorel, President, and Mr Igor Vokatch, General Secretary, represented GJASD International at the 2nd International Climate Show. They organised, moderated and made presentations at the Workshop “Eco-Tourism: My green   trip - Experience in Armenia”, jointly with Ms Astrig Marandjian-Lapeyre, President and Founder of the Miassine Foundation (Armenia).

Eco-rural tourism in the Martouni Mountain

The International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) meets roughly every five years. Participants include experts from governments, mostly appointed from ministries responsible for labour and national statistical offices, as well as from employer’s and worker’s organizations.

 The International Conference of Labour Statisticians is invited to make recommendations on selected topics of labour statistics in the form of resolutions and guidelines, which are then approved by the Governing Body of the ILO before becoming part of the set of international standards on labour statistics.

Mr Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President of GJASD International, participated in the 20th ICLS held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 10-19 October 2018 (www.ilo.org/global/statistics-and-databases/meetings-and-events). It was his seventh conference, where he participated this time as a Senior Adviser to the Head of the Ukrainian Delegation.

      Dr. Vladimir Gasskov and Dr.Igor Chrernyshev, GJASD International

 Dr Margarita Rohr, University of Valencia, Spain: Green economy:

  A conceptual overview

Presentation by Ms. Monica Catillo, ILO

  • International Conference: Potential of Green Economy and Rural Tourism:  A promise for sustainable regional development 
  • Kick-Off Zoom Meeting on the implementation of Output 3 “Strengthening TVET and Labour Market Information System, Data Collection and Analysis” of the SfP/PHI Project in the Philippines 

Mr Rafael Diez De Medina opens Session 3. Employment: ​a Key Aspect of the Social Dimension of Sustainable Tourism.

Monday - Friday:  10 am till 5:30 pm

Mr. Alastair Totty

Ms Catherine Sajet, ILO Research Department:  
Greening with jobs
Ms Valentina Stoevska, ILO Department of Statistics: Statistical  definition of employment in the environmental sector and  green jobs: Theory and practice  

Conference participants

Mr Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President of GJASD International, with Ms Elena Vatcarau and Ms Natalia Kleinknecht, Head (left) and Adviser (right) of the Delegation from the Republic of Moldova 
Training session on “Yerevan: an impact hub"
  • On 14 May 2018, the ILO launched its flagship report, World Employment Social Outlook 2018: Greening with jobs (WESO). It estimates how many jobs will be created globally, regionally and by sector, if sustainable policies are adopted. The report also covers job losses and includes policy recommendations aimed at further boosting job creation ​ ​(www.ilo.org/weso-greening).
    ​
    ​Mr Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President, and Mr Igor Vokatch, General Secretary, GJASD International, participated in the presentation of the report to the ILO staff members, which took place in the ILO Library.
  • IBRD Project in Ukraine​

Presentation by Dr Igor Chernyshev

Mr Vokatch and Dr Henrÿ at the end of the joint presentation of the “Manual on Cooperatives” for secondary schools

Training Workshop in Region 8

​The on-line Training Workshop in Region 8 was held on 22-23 July and attended by some 130 participants. It was opened by Mr Isidro S. Lapeña, TESDA Director-General; H.E Ambassador Daniel Pruce, British Ambassador to the Philippines; and Mr Cezar Dragutan, Chief Technical Adviser, ILO Skills for Prosperity Programme, Philippines, who welcomed the workshop participants on behalf of the ILO Country Office-Manila.

Thereafter, Dr Valdimir Gasskov informed the participants about the key workshop activities and made his first methodological presentation followed by the presentation on the measurement of qualifications and skills mismatched of persons in employment delivered by Dr Chernyshev. Next, Ms Rosalina S. Constantino, Executive Director of TESDA Planning Office, talked about the approach of national and regional TESDA system to demand-driven planning of TVET.

In total, there were 14 presentations.


On-Line Regional Training Workshops on Analysis of Market Demand for Skilled Workforce and on Demand-driven Planning of TVET: Republic of the Philippines

In line with then Project Implementation Plan, the Experts’ Team of GJASD International, together with the ILO Project Team located in Manila, conducted the above two-day on-line training workshops in the Visayas Regions 6, 7 and 8.

 Workshops’ objectives 

The Workshops aimed to:

  • share the international experience of analysis of the labour force occupational structure; supply of skilled labour; and the role of TVET in supply side of the labour markets;
  • present and discuss the labour market in formation and TVET data available in the respective Regions of the Philippines;
  • describe and discuss a pilot methodology developed by the GJASD International’s Team of Experts and data sets to be collected on demand and supply of skilled workforce during the Project implementation and their application to the TVET delivery planning.


Workshops’ knowledge content

Major features of the knowledge shared at the Workshops and planned to be used in the Regional Pilot Projects:

  • International experience of the labour force occupational analysis.
  • Analysis of demand for skilled workforce with the emphasis on the available data on the occupational structure of the employed persons as well as labour turnover at the national and regional levels.
  • Assessment of the current role of the Regional TVET systems in supplying skilled graduates.
  • Analysis of other streams of supply such as jobseekers, etc.
  • Application of the National Classification of Occupations (NOC) and the NQF requirements in comparing demand and supply of skilled labour.
  • Analysis of risks of shortage and surplus of skilled labour in the regional labour markets.
  • Short-term forecasting of the expansion demand for skilled labour.
  • Variables and criteria applied for advising the Regional TVET delivery planning.


To support the Workshops’ training sessions, a comprehensive set of learning resources were prepared using the national and regional labour market information (LMI) and TVET data available in the Philippines. Findings of the labour market studies of the occupational structure of skilled labour conducted in Australia, selected EU countries and the OECD member States were also used for illustration of methods applied and results obtained. 

The workshops participants were also informed about a method of data collection for an in-depth LMI analysis of the occupational structure of skilled labour to be piloted by the GJASD International’s team of experts in Regions 6, 7 and 8.

Workshops’ structure

The workshops were organised around the following major events:

  • Six presentations by international experts of GJASD International on the experience of labour market analysis and methods of measuring of qualifications and skills mismatches of persons in employment.
  • Several overviews by the national regional experts on the (i) regional LMI and data availability on the occupational structure of employed workforce and vacancies in the regions; (ii) vacancies placed by employers on the job matching sites (demand side); (iii) TVET delivery in the regions (supply side); (iv) persons registered at the Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) and other groups of job-seekers (supply side).
  • Training exercises aiming to discuss the proposed methodology and align it with the needs of the regions.
  • Discussion on piloting of the methodology proposed by the international experts in the three Regions.


 Workshops’ participants

 The workshops were attended by policy makers and administrators from the regional authorities, TVET institutional administrators and experts, labour statisticians and regional stakeholders, including representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations. Taking into consideration the on-line format of the workshops, subject specialists from other Regions of the Philippines were also given the opportunity to attend the Workshops. 

In particular, the top managers and senior officials from the following institutions and organisations participated in the Workshops:

  • Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
  • Regional Office of the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE).
  • Regional PESOs.
  • Regional Office of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
  • Regional Office Philippines Statistical Authority (PSA).
  • Representatives of the private sector and NGOs.


Each on-line Regional Workshop lasted two full working day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Manila time.

Training Workshop in Region 7

The on-line Training Workshop in Region 7 was held on 29-30 June and attended by some 120 participants. It was opened by Ms Rosanna Urdaneta, TESDA Deputy Director General; Mr Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office-Manila; H.E Ambassador Daniel Pruce, British Ambassador to the Philippines.


Skills for Prosperity Project in the Philippines

On 25 March 2021, GJASD International and the ILO signed a two-year Implementation Agreement to cooperate in the implementation of the Skills for Prosperity Project in the Philippines (ILO SfP-PHI Project). The Project is funded by the UK Global Prosperity Fund and implemented by the ILO.

ILO SfP Philippines aims to enhance national capacity to increase inclusive, mutually beneficial economic development resulting from greater, more equitable employability and productivity by enabling policies and practices that ensure cost-effectiveness, access, and sustained quality of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The Project has four areas of achievement:

Enhanced equity. The Project shall facilitate broadening of access to skills development and TVET systems for marginalized groups – prioritizing youth and women – by incorporating gender and social inclusion as a key element in all activities, and by providing technical advice for the adoption of necessary changes in national, regional and provincial policies, strategies, regulations and institutional arrangements. Additionally, it also develops and applies training approaches that specifically meet the needs of marginalized groups to open up the TVET system to more people in the country.

Improved quality of skills and TVET systems. It aims to assist in the process of developing upgraded competency standards and of their application to development of TVET programmes curricula, and competency assessment and certification to meet the increasing requirements of the economy for a higher skilled workforce. Additionally, it aims to enhance TVET competency assessment and certification through wider use of digital technologies.

Enhanced industry relevance of skills and TVET systems. The Project seeks to contribute to labour market information system strengthening, particularly in data collection and analysis of job market demand for skilled workforce. Moreover, it also promotes adoption of lifelong learning principles and recognition of workers who gained professional qualifications through various skills development mechanisms. It also promotes a learner-centred approach in TVET.

Improved cost-effectiveness of skills development and TVET systems financing. It will review the country’s practices on industry engagement and stakeholder participation in TVET financing, and assists in development and piloting a joint public-private financing mechanism, aiming for greater private sector participation in TVET financing. Ultimately, this initiative will bring about affordability and greater effectiveness of the TVET system.

Using an implementation approach that highlights gender and social inclusion, the Project focuses on three economic sectors recognized for its potential for employment creation particularly for marginalized groups. These are: agricultural sector with focus on food production; construction sector with focus on skills for green building practices; and, information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector with focus on skills for the digital economy.

The Project also has an area-based project focus with activities to test models at the community level to be implemented in Visayas where development challenges still linger despite the area having registered brisk economic growth comparable to other fast-growing regions in the Philippines.

Ultimately, the outputs of the Team of experts of GJASD International will be geared towards strengthening of TVET and labour market information system, data collection and analysis.

  • Expertise France​​

Mr Hugo Oberson, Team Leader for Central Asia and the Caucasus, and Mr Vokatch, General Secretary, of GJASD International  participated in the event called “Meetings for the development of rural tourism in Aremnia” organised by the Miassine Foundation in partnership with GJASD International in Armenia from 20 to 25 October 2018.

The above event was held outside the formal agenda of the XVII Summit of La Francophonie (Yerevan, 11-12 October, 2018) under the auspices of the Swiss Embassy in Armenia. Mr Emmanuel Julien, Deputy Director of the ILO Enterprise Department, participated in the “Meetings for the development of rural tourism” on behalf of the ILO. Ms Astrig Marandjian-Lapeyre, President and Founder of the Miassine Foundation, took part on behalf of her organisation.

Mr Bertrand Favre, Deputy Mayor of the Commune of Grand-Saconnex (canton of Geneva), was part of the Swiss delegation.

On-Line National Workshop on LMI Requirements for Demand-driven Planning of TVET

On 10 November 2021, the Experts’ Team of GJASD International, in cooperation with the ILO Project Team located in Manila, conducted a day-long on-line National Workshop on LMI Requirements for Demand-driven Planning of TVET.

The participants will be briefly presented with the main results of the Regional Training Workshops held earlier this year in Regions 6, 7 and 8and concentrate their attention on the following issue:

  • Labour market information (LMI) available in the Philippines and its impact on the demand-driven delivery of TVET and tertiary education; and

  • Necessary improvement of the available data collection tools suggested by the GJASD International’s experts to enhance the LMI to strengthen its efficiency to support the labour market demand based TVET and tertiary planning in the Philippines.


The Workshop was attended by 92 participants from TESDA, CHED, PSA, ILO, DOLE, PESO, NEDA, DILG, regional agencies and social partner organizations as well as policy makers and government administrators.

In Yerevan: Messrs Igor Vokatch and Hugo Oberson
(first and second from left)
Panel participants of Session 3 with Mr Rafael Diez De Medina,​Moderator, ILO Chief Statistician, Director of Department of Statistics.​

The Agenda included the following events: 
​

  • Visit to the tourist attraction pole in the Sevan Lake region and meetings with the local actors and contributing to the participatory diagnosis.
  • Visit to the agro-tourism sites in the village at Kalavan Mountain. Meetings with farmers and discussions with the inhabitants of the village about perspectives of organizing green tourism itineraries in the region. Projection and discussion of the movie "Tomorrow Geneva".
  • Stay in the village located in the Martouni Mountain: visiting the tourist sites and farms; meetings and discussions with the villagers and the village officials.


The Miassine Foundation and GJASD International, in partnership with the International Labour Office and the Swiss NGO "Tourism for Help", worked together and organised the 2nd Conference on Social and Solidarity Economy: Local Development and Rural Tourism in Armenia, which was held on 25 October 2018.  The Conference that brought together 140 people began with the official opening ceremony with the participation of the Senior UNDP Officials, representatives of the Government of Armenia, including Vice-Minister Deputy Minister of Territorial Development, and Mr Stefano Lazzaretto, Swiss Ambassador to Armenia. GJASD International representatives participated in two panel discussions and Mr Vokatch made presentation on the co-operative issues related to rural tourism and green jobs.

The Conference was the first attempt to bring together all the protagonists of rural development together and to initiate dialogue among them.

Through the opportunity of meetings and trainings of 5 days, this event provided a unique platform for networking, capacity building and access to new market opportunities for Armenians through an exchange of good practices and experiences with Swiss economic actors. Particular emphasis was placed on raising awareness about environmental protection and the promotion of renewable energies, waste sorting and the use of local materials for construction.

  • ILO “Skills for Prosperity – Philippines (SfP-PHI) Project”: Output 3 “Strengthening TVET and Labour Market Information System, Data Collection and Analysis”

Activities until 2021:

Visit to the tourist attraction pole in the Sevan Lake region

Next, Ms Katherine Brimon, Senior Project Officer, ILO Country Office-Manila, presented the Workshop’s agenda and Ms Marta Espano, ILO Country Office-Manila read the biodata of the Project experts of GJASD International.

Thereafter, Dr Vladmir Gasskov, Expert of GJASD International, made his first methodology presentation: “Overview of the international practice of occupational analysis”; followed by the presentation “ILO statistical guidelines for measurement of qualifications and skills mismatches of persons in employment” delivered by Dr Igor Chernyshev, Expert of GJASD International. 

Yab Tun Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad, Prime Minister of   Malaysia and Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin, Chief Statistician  of Malaysia (from left to right)

Training Workshop in Region 6

​
The on-line Training Workshop in Region 6 was held on 27-28 July and attended by over 80 participants. It was opened by Mr Isidro S. Lapeña, TESDA Director-General; H.E Ambassador Daniel Pruce, British Ambassador to the Philippines; and Mr Cezar Dragutan, Chief Technical Adviser, ILO Skills for Prosperity Programme, Philippines, who welcomed the Workshop participants on behalf of the ILO Country Office-Manila.

Likewise in the case of the Training Workshops organised for Regions 8 and 7, the first three presentations were made by Dr Valdimir Gasskov, Dr Igor Chernyshev and Ms Rosalina S. Constantino, Executive Director of TESDA Planning Office. Thereafter, 15 more presentations were delivered on the first and second workshop day, some of which are listed below.

“Approach of regional DOLE office to support demand-driven planning of education and training” by Ms. Maria Lucy U. Muralla, Regional Labour and Employment Officer, DOLE Region No. 6; “Analysis of Demand for Skilled Labour” by Dr Valdimir Gasskov.

The overview of the regional TVET delivery system and data on supply of graduates was presented by Ms. Esther B. Babalo, TESDA Provincial Director, Aklan Province; followed by three presentation providing insights into the capacity of regional TVET providers to react to the labour market signals unfolded by:

  • Mr. Ariel Reckonette B. Villanueva, Officer-in-Charge, Leon Ganzon Polytechnic College.
  • Ms. Pamela I. Yecla-Daquita, MSM President, RGO International Training Institute.
  • Dr. Carlitos N. Orola, Vice President for TechVoc and Enterprise Development Program VMA Global College and Training Centers, Inc.

Examples of activities

  • 62nd ISI World Statistics Congress 2019 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 18-23 August 2019)

After the first edition last year in Geneva, the second edition of the International Climate Show was held at the Palais de Beaulieu Lausanne. The Show opened on Wednesday, 13 February, in the presence of Mr. Mike Horn, guest of honour and the adventurer of the extreme. Among his most famous adventures are a trip around the world by the equator, crossing Antarctica on foot (the longest part (5,500 km), has never been travelled alone and without resupply), descent of the Amazon in hydrospeed ... At the age of 51, the Swiss-South African explorer continues to combine the exploits.

"Each of us can make a difference for the planet," said Horn at a conference in front of more than 300 people.

  • Expertise France​​​

GJASD International
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Tel: +41(0)78-615-86-87

​Email: info@gjasd.org

  • CSTD Side Event - Get up, Stand up, Start-up for Green Goals - Special session with Bertrand Piccard.​

  • National Validation Workshop on the draft “Accelerating the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals through Decent Work: SDGs monitoring and country profile for Mongolia” (Ulaanbaatar, 5 December 2017) 

    The National Statistics Office of Mongolia (NSO), with the ILO support, organised a National Workshop for representatives of the Mongolian Government, social partners, and other relevant institutions to discuss, review and comment on the draft “Accelerating the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals through Decent Work: SDGs monitoring and country profile for Mongolia” for its finalisation. Mr Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President, GJASD International, participated in the Workshop and presented the draft profile that he wrote as the ILO consultant (www.ilo.org/beijing).

Mr I. Chernyshev is a member of the Working Group of Experts on Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism and its Sub-Group on tourism employment. He was invited to the 2nd Working Group Meeting (Madrid, 24-25 October 2018) and contributed to the meeting by writing one of the three a papers from the Sub-group entitled: “Measuring the sustainability of tourism: Issues in measuring the employment aspects of sustainable tourism” (see GJASD International at: statistics.unwto.org/event/wge_mst_2ndmeeting).

As a follow-up to the WG Meeting, Mr Chernyshev continued working with Mr. Manpreet Singh, Senior Statistician at ILO Department of Statistics, on the discussion paper “Key Findings and Recommendations” presented by Mr Singh at the  19th meeting of the Committee on Statistics held in Madrid (Spain) on 26-27 February 2019

(cf.cdn.unwto.org/sites/all/files/pdf/19th_statcom_item_5.2_doc.pdf).

On the occasion of the 22nd United Nations Commission on Science, Technology and Development (CSTD), a special session was co-organised with Mr Bertrand Piccard, President and Founder of the Solar Impulse Foundation, in Geneva on 14 May 2019.

Being a member of the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions by Solar Impulse Foundation, GJASD International took part in this special session. Mr Igor Chernyshev, Vice–President, and Mr Hugo Oberson, Team Leader for Central Asia and the Caucasus, represented the Association.

Ms Isabelle Duran, Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD, opened the even and gave the floor to Mr Bertrand Piccard who shared with the participants an emotional and straightforward message about the role of start-ups in addressing today’s most pressing development challenges (available at:  www.facebook.com/UNCTAD/videos)

  • Expertise France​​​

​Mr Bertrand Piccard, President of the Solar Impulse Foundation and Mr Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President of GJASD International

Mr Khalid Hassan, Director ILO Country Office – Manila

Hydrospeed
Mr Igor Vokatch, General Secretary of
 GJASD International, opens the Workshop
Dr Hagen Henrÿ, partner of the GJASD International in the area of  sustainable cooperatives development
  • Second International Climate Show (Lausanne, Switzerland, 13-14 February 2019)​​

​Round table on green cooperatives initiative

Mr. Orlan Roy, Mediа Ecology specialist, GJASD International 

  • ILO “Skills for Prosperity – Philippines (SfP-PHI) Project”: Output 3 “Strengthening TVET and Labour Market Information System, Data Collection and Analysis”

In December 2017, GJASD International was subcontracted by the Statinformconsulting Ltd. (Ukraine) to participate in the implementation of the project “Development of approaches and implementation of control mechanisms related to social support”. The Project was launched in September 2017. 

Prof. Tetiana Melnyk with her students  ​
Dr. I. Chernyshev addresses the Conference
Mr Igor Vokatch 
  • ILO “Skills for Prosperity – Philippines (SfP-PHI) Project”: Output 3 “Strengthening TVET and Labour Market Information System, Data Collection and Analysis”

Ms. Rosalina Constantino, TESDA Planning Office Executive Director

  • International Labour Organization 

Ms Katherine Brimon, Senior Project Officer, ILO Country Office, Manila

GJASD International continues its collaboration with Expertise France and signed the fourth service contract in April 2021 for the provision of individual expertise as part of the international cooperation project “Statistics through Eastern Partnership” (STEP). 

STEP is the first regional statistics programme in the Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine). The programme is financed by the European Union, managed by Eurostat and implemented by a consortium led by Expertise France. STEP started on 1 January 2019 and will last for a period of 34 months until October 2021. The overall objective is to make more and better statistics in order to improve decision making in both the public and private sector in the partner countries. 

Among the issues addressed by STEP is communication and the improvement of the visibility of statistics. The partners have agreed to initiate a training course called Communication for Statistics (C4S) that aims at developing national training courses on communication for statistics. The course will start in June 2021 and will be delivered in two phases: (i) a regional phase focusing on the acquisition of basic knowledge on communication techniques, adult training and statistics; and (ii) a national phase, dedicated to the delivery of initial national training courses.

 The labour statistics expert of GJASD International will support the implementation of the first regional phase by contributing to the training of national teams of trainers from each of the six partner countries in order to enable them to implement a training course in their home country. More specifically, the expert will participate in remote training sessions to support the learning processes on the statistical issues and to facilitate the webinars focusing on labour market and employment statistical questions.

 More specifically, the expert will contribute to the training sessions to be held on W1, W3, W4 as well as weeks 6-8 (see Chart 1).

Chart 1. STEP C4S Training of Trainer E-Learning Work Programme

Model Curricula for Ladderised Education Programmes

Spouts is the first ceramic water filter factory in Uganda, providing clean and safe drinking water for millions in need.​​

According to the contract signed, DAP should produce the following deliverables: Deliverable 1. Documented data on the annual supply of TVET and tertiary graduates in the region. Deliverable 2: Documented data on the number of active jobseekers registered with PESOs and private employment services, by “preferred occupation of employment”.

Ms Katherine Brimon (Senior Project Officer in charge of Output 3, ILO Country Office for the Philippines), Mr Cezar Dragutan (Project CTA) as well as the experts of GJASD International actively participated in the deliberations and responded to numerous questions asked by the meeting participants.

Mr Bertrand Piccard addresses the participants

Green Jobs and Sustainable Development International Centre

On 1 November 2018, at the invitation of Professor Тetiana Melnyk, Head of the Chair of International Economics at the Kiev National University of Trade and Economics,  Dr Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President of GJASD International, delivered the open lecture on the Sustainable Development as a Concept Encompassing Environment, Society and Economy for Master Programme students. The renowned Ukrainian scholar, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Dr Volodymyr Sidenko, opened the lecture (www.knteu.kiev.ua/gallery/view).

By Ms. Grace. A. Baldoza, Division Chief, DOLE

GJASD International continued its collaboration with Expertise France and signed a new service contract in December 2020 for the provision of individual expertise as part of the international cooperation project “Statistics through Eastern Partnership” (STEP). In particular, individual expert consultancy will be provided during December 2020 – June 2021 for a technical assistance mission to the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan  /SSC) on the “Methodology of the pilot Labour Force Survey (LFS)”.

Besides developing the new LFS tools, the expert will conduct training for the SSC staff on the calculation and analysis of the key LFS indicators.

Lastly, the STE will guide and support the development of a survey tabulation plan that would contain all required dummy tables to be used in the pilot LFS analytical report and the dissemination of survey results targeting different categories of users including policy makers.

In February – November 2019, the expert of GJASD International participated in the implementation of the Agreement No. 40246196/0 concluded between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and IRIAS: contribution to the ILO-executed G20TS Project.

The areas of technical services provided involved development of capacity of policy makers, staff of relevant ministries and technical agencies and the social partners in the countries-beneficiaries of the ILO Project - Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan. The ultimate objective of assistance provided was to develop capacity in countries beneficiaries for collecting and processing statistical data supporting the analysis of supply and demand for skilled TVET graduates.

Mr Mykola Maimeskul, the former Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and the former Ambassador of Ukraine in Canada congratulates the co-authors.
Ms Astrig Marandjian-Lapeyre, President and Founder of the Miassine Foundation (Armenia)  

Sabella is a turbine nestled on the seabed to capture energy from ocean currents and tides.

  • Asian Development Bank​​​

  • Vice-President of GJASD International, being a member of the UNWTO Working Group of Experts on Measuring Sustainable Tourism, participated in the 18th UNWTO Committee on Statistics and Tourism Satellite Account, as the ILO Consultant. The Committee was held in Madrid, Spain on 27-28 February 2018. (See List of participants, p. 6, at:  http://cf.cdn.unwto.org).​
 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians  
  • GJASD International and Dr Nadia Plata, President and Organiser of the International Climate Show, cooperated in the preparation of the International Climate Show 2019. In particular, the Association negotiated with Mr Vic Van Vuuren, Director of the ILO Enterprise Department, his participation in the 2nd International Climate Show as an Honorary Co-Chair of the Workshop on “Green Finance”.

    The Workshop was held on 13 February 2019, where Mr Van Vuuren informed participants about the ILO Green Jobs Programme (www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-jobs), provided examples of successful financing of green enterprises and talked about green cooperatives. One part of his presentation was dedicated to the celebration of the ILO 100th anniversary (www.ilo.org/100/en/).
Dr Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President, GJASD International

Mr. I. Chernyshev, Vice-President GJASD International,

and Representative of the CISET

  • 19th UNWTO meeting of the UNWTO Committee on Statistics

In May 2020, GJASD International signed a service contract with the Expertise France (www.expertisefrance.fr/web/guest/accueil) for the provision of individual expertise as part of the international cooperation project “Statistics through Eastern Partnership Statistics” (STEP). In particular, it provided individual expert consultancy at the webinar on Monitoring labour markets amid lockdowns to contain the COVID-19 virus: Essential labour force survey content and treatment of special groups. The webinar, organised from Paris via Zoom, was held on 28 May 2020 with the participation of 27 specialists from the partnership countries.

STEP is an EU-funded regional cooperation programme in statistics with a budget of 4.7 million euros (eu-step.eu). The programme is managed by Eurostat and implemented by a consortium led by Expertise France. It is being implemented in the six Eastern Partnership countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and the Ukraine.

STEP aims at strengthening the statistical evidence base through more and better quality official statistics. The ultimate goal is to support evidence-based policymaking.

The programme management team came up with the initiative to organise within a very short notice the above-mentioned special webinar for staff members working on labour market statistics from the six partner countries. GJASD International contracted an expert who prepared and delivered presentations at the webinar and provided guidance on the elaboration of national roadmaps to enhance technical capacity of national labour statisticians to continue collecting data for monitoring labour markets in the context of government lockdowns and the COVID-19 virus related restriction. This was the first webinar organised by the STEP programme.

At the Invitation from the Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law (Associate Member of GJASD International) Mr Igor Vokatch, General Secretary, and Dr Hagen Henrÿ, Assistant Professor at the Ruralia Institute of the University of Helsinki, visited Belgorod (Russian Federation) from 20 to 21 October 2019. Dr Henrÿ is a partner of the GJASD International in the area of sustainable cooperatives development. This was the third visit of GJASD International representatives to the university.

The objective of the visit was to discuss the future joint activities; review progress made on the preparation of a joint Text Book for University students; and deliver lectures on the latest developments in the area of cooperative statistics and green jobs, including the Guidelines concerning statistics of cooperatives endorsed by the 20th ICLS (10-19 October 2018).  In addition, the Programme of the visit covered the following activities:

Lecture for students of the University of Belgorod on (i) ILO’s 100th Anniversary and (ii) Green economy, green jobs and green cooperatives.
Participation in the Round Table with students and professors.
Discussion with the university professors the proposal to include in the University Curriculum a short course of lectures on the Guidelines concerning statistics of cooperatives endorsed by the 20th ICLS.

The above proposal was accepted with thanks and Mr Chernyshev together with Mr Chamorel and Mr Vokatch would be working on the content of and training materials for a short course of lectures on the Guidelines concerning statistics of cooperatives.

Presentation by Dr Valdmir Gasskov

Ecotech Ceram provides sustainable heat storage solutions for secure, clean and efficient energy.

  • Expertise France​​

Mr. Isidro S. Lapeña

Presentation by Mr. Jürgen Schwettmann

Workshop participants

Session 3. Mr. I. Chernyshev, Vice-President,
​explains the approach proposed
to measure sustainable tourism.

The representatives of GJASD International made three presentations:

  • “Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism: Local Perspective of Employment and Green Jobs” by Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President.
  • “What is Mediа Ecology in a Crisis Environment? Introduction to global data and its impact on today’s society” by Mr. Orlan Roy, Mediа Ecology specialist
  • “Green Economics and Cooperatives” by Igor Vokach, General Secretary.


  

Mr. Igor Voakatch with university students
Mr Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President of GJASD International
Dr Hagen Henrÿ
Mr Cezar Dragutan, Project CTA
  • Recent research publications

    Dr. Esuna Dugarova, Team Leader, GJASD International, wrote the following two papers where she discusses gender equality dimension and its role in achieving the SDGs in general and in Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia in particular.

    Gender Equality as an Accelerator for Achieving the SDGs

    Evidence collected in this paper shows that gender equality is critical to achieving a wide range of objectives pertaining to sustainable development, from promoting economic growth and labour productivity, to reducing poverty and enhancing human capital through health and education, attaining food security, addressing climate change impacts. Based on this evidence, the paper argues that accelerating the pace of advancing gender equality in all spheres of society leads to a more rapid increase in progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda (available at: www.undp.org/content/undp/womens-empowerment/gender-equality).

    Gender, work, and childcare in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia

    This study seeks to understand the nature of gender relations within a post‐Soviet welfare model in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia. On the basis of the analysis of key labour market indicators, parental leave, and childcare policies, it finds that the welfare models in the three countries are hybrid, and neither authoritarianism in Kazakhstan and Russia nor democracy in Mongolia lead to substantive gender equality outcomes (available at: onlinelibrary.wiley.com).

SfP/PHI Project in the Philippines

The day-long national event was opened by Mr. Isidro S. Lapeña, TESDA Director-General; Mr Khalid Hassan, Director of ILO Country Office Manila; and Mr. Alastair Totty, Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Manila; Mr Isidro Antonio Asper, Senior Vice-President for Political and External Affairs Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Labor Sector Representative, TESDA Board; and Mr Jose Roland Moya, Director-General, Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP)

  • On the occasion of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, the Government of the Philippines and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) have organised the 6th International Conference on Tourism Statistics with the objective of addressing the issue of the Measurement of Sustainable Tourism. The Conference gathered together 973 policy leaders, statisticians, academicians and private sector from 88 countries. The Vice-President of GJASD International  was the Key Speaker at Session 3. Employment: a Key Aspect of the Social Dimension of Sustainable Tourism, where he presented a Central Paper “Employment, Green Jobs and Sustainable Tourism" (custom.cvent.com) .

In December 2020, a senior international expert of GJASD International started implementing the ADB STVET project, Output 3 of SEEP “ILO ISCO-08 introduced and used for the Labour Market information database”. Some of the tasks be accomplished are as follows:

1) Promote the implementation (methodological support and training) of ISCO-08 in Tajikistan;

2) Transfer the methodology and system for the inclusion of specific and nationally formulated occupations in the NCO of the Republic of Tajikistan.  

3) Prepare the appropriate methodology and, tools using a variety of quantitative and qualitative approaches, to meet the objectives of the project’s output related to adaptation of ISCO-08.

​Please click here to read about our activities  in 2022​

The ISI World Statistics Congresses (ISI WSC) take place once every two years in different countries and are usually organized by or in partnership with the host country's National Office of Statistics. The WSCs and their associated events are the highpoint of activities of the ISI where all its Associations, Committees, members and participants involved in statistics worldwide come together to participate in the many different activities and highlights of the WSC for an entire week and associated activities immediately before or after this week. 

On the initiative of GJASD International, the organisers of the 62nd ISI World Statistics Congress 2019 accepted a Special Topic Session (STS-429) entitled Green economy and green jobs: tourism sustainability and the issue of measurement. The 62nd ISI WSC was held from 18-23 August 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (link to the video). It was attended by 2,500 delegates from over 140 countries and united statistical researchers, academia, industry practitioners, analysts and policymakers to share insights on development in statistical science and to advance application of statistics for discovery, innovation and decision-making. The moto of the ISI 2019 was “Come, Connect, Create”.

Prime Minister of Malaysia, Yab Tun Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad, Prof. Helen MacGillivray, President of ISI, Minister of Economic Affairs, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Governor of the Bank Negara Malaysia, Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus, and Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin, Chief Statistician of Malaysia, were present at the Opening Ceremony. GJASD International was represented by Mr Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President.   

Mrs. Pamela I. Yecla-Daquita, Presidente MSM, RGO International Training Institute

In total, there were 14 presentations during the two working days delivered by Senior Officials from the TESDA Regional Office No. 7; DOLE Regional Office No. 7; PESO Regional Office No. 7; CHED Regional Office.

The capacity of building training was strengthened by four breakout discussion sessions held on the first and second day of the Training Workshop with four groups of participants each.

The activities in which GJASD International is involved include:​​

  • GJASD International participated in the events celebrating the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. Activities celebrating the International Year were organised in collaboration with the Institutional Relations Unit of the UNWTO and the UNWTO Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. 
Eco-rural tourism
Gala Dinner: participants of the 62nd ISI World Statistics Congress                     ​

In total, there were 45 presentations. Ms. Monica Castillo, Senior Green Jobs Technical Specialist, ILO Enterprises Department, opened the first technical plenary session by her presentation “Towards a Just Transition in the Tourism Sector in Rural Areas: an ILO Perspective”, followed by a new understanding of the social and solidarity economy shared with the participants by Mr. Jürgen Schwettmann, Independent consultant for various multilateral and bilateral development cooperation agencies, Germany (a former Head of the ILO Cooperatives Unit). 

Opening hours

  • IBRD Project in Ukraine​​

Green Jobs and Sustainable Development International Centre advisory service

  • Capacity Building and Research Programme
    ​Kiev National University of Trade and Economics​

Mr Igor Chernyshev was the Organiser and Chair of the above STS (more information on the session can be found on ISI2019’s website: www.isi2019.org). The session was held on 21 August and organised around the following four interrelated presentations:

  • Green economy: A conceptual overview, presented by Dr Margarita Rohr, Assistant Professor, Chair of Economics, University of Valencia, Spain.
  • Greening with jobs, presented by Ms Catherine Saget, ILO Department of Research.
  • Statistical definition of employment in the environmental sector and green jobs: Theory and practice, presented by Ms Valentina Stoevska, ILO Department of Statistics.
  • Sustainable grassroots tourism through green jobs: Measurement issues, presented by Ms Florabela Carausu, GOPA Luxembourg S.A.R.L. (Statistics); report written jointly with GJASD International.


The main objective of that STS was to show interrelationships existing among green economy, green jobs and the sustainability of tourism through putting the grassroots or local perspective as a high profile focus of sustainable tourism discussion. More specifically, the areas of common interest are (a) whether a host community is heavily affected due to the negative impact of tourism activity on its habitat including fauna and flora; and (b) how to involve a host community in tourism related activities as a means to bring them out of poverty and stimulate participation in preserving their habitat and the nature.  

M. Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President of GJASD International    
  • The first International Climate Show was held in Geneva at Palexpo, from 6 to 8 April 2018. This show was dedicated to the most innovative technologies and industrial solutions in the field of climate protection and the reduction of carbon emissions. Among the elements on the agenda, exhibitors at the forefront of innovation in the different areas closely impacting the issue of global climate change, forums and conferences, workshops open to all, as well as an international competition for eco-innovations.

    ​Mr Igor Chernyshev, Vice-President of GJASD International took part in the inauguration ceremony of the first International Geneva Climate Show held on 6 April 2018 with the participation of Geneva State Councillor Mr Luc Barthassat and Mr Bertrand Piccard, President of the Solar Impulse Foundation. A plenary session followed the inauguration ceremony.

    ​For detailes information, please press here: The first International Geneva Climate Show 
Prof. Helen MacGillivray, President of ISI, addresses the participants  of the 62nd ISI WSC during the Opening Ceremony: “Statistics is a way and a culture of thinking” 

The special session debated the role of the private sector and, more specifically, the role of start-ups in addressing global development challenges. It also discussed how start-ups were contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals by designing innovative technological solutions to these challenges.

  • International Labour Organisation and IRIAS​
  • 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians​

  • Expertise France​​​

  • Following the celebration of the World Festival of Lemurs, GJASD International organised jointly with the founder of Cattamada an exhibition on "Madagascar red island, a unique biodiversity” (Madagascar l'lîle rouge, une biodiversité unique au monde) for children and their families. The exhibition took place from Wednesday, November 16 through December 9, 2016 at the Maison de quartier - Le Spot - à Genève (2 rue Perréard Francis, 1225 Chêne-Bourg). 

    Participation in thematic exhibitions to promote biodiversity conservation; development and maintenance of the national park systems, green and sustainable tourism, etc.

     Writing articles on a wide range of issues linked with the GJASD International’s  activities. 

    ​Joint projects with the Interstate Statistical Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS- STAT).

On the Invitation from the Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law (Associate Member of GJASD International) Mr Igor Vokatch, General Secretary, and Dr Hagen Henrÿ, Assistant Professor at the Ruralia Institute of the University of Helsinki, visited Belgorod (Russian Federation) from 11 to 13 October 2018. Dr Henrÿ is a partner of the GJASD International in the area of sustainable cooperatives development.

This was the second visit of the representatives of GJASD International Senior to the University.  The visit had the following major objectives: (i)  review the progress made on the preparation of a joint Text Book for University students; and (ii) deliver a series of lectures on the latest developments in the area of cooperative statistics and green jobs, including the “Guidelines concerning statistics of cooperatives” endorsed by the 20th ICLS (October 2018).  In addition, the Programme of the visit covered the following activities:
​

  • Lecture for students of the University of Belgorod on "The UN and cooperatives".
  • Lecture for students on "Green jobs and cooperatives".
  • Participation in the open discussion with students and professors on the cooperatives and ecological issues.
  • Participation on request of the Regional Belgorod Administration in the "cooperative professional orientation" session organised for the representatives of Belgorod secondary schools.
  • A joint presentation with Dr Henrÿ of the “Manual on Cooperatives” for secondary schools.
  • Interview on cooperative issues to the Regional TV.
  • Mr Yves Chamorel, President of GJASD International, and Mr Igor Vokatch, its General Secretary, and Dr. Hagen Henrÿ, Assistant Professor at the Ruralia Institute of the University of Helsinki, stayed in Belgorod, Russia on the invitation from the Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law to participate in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the University from 25 to 27 September 2017.

    They participated in roundtables, meetings and conferences with university students and professors. The topics covered were as numerous as varied, ranging from the global problems of the cooperative world, in particular cooperative statistics, to the green economy, a new subject which is currently one of the main focus of interest in Russia. As for Dr Hagen Henrÿ, who is, inter alia, Honorary Professor of the University of Belgorod, he has developed topics related to legislation and cooperative policies.

    ​The Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law and GJASD International have signed the document to endorse the University's Associate Membership at GJASD International. The perspectives of the joint work were discussed with Prof. Vitalii I. Teplov, Rector of the University. It is planned to continue working together in areas such as rural tourism and the green economy, including green jobs statistics.
  • 62nd ISI World Statistics Congress 2019 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 18-23 August 2019)

Special Topic Session (STS-429): Speakers and the Chair
  • ILO “Skills for Prosperity – Philippines (SfP-PHI) Project”: Output 3 “Strengthening TVET and Labour Market Information System, Data Collection and Analysis”

Participants of the Workshop. First row, third from left to right: Mr Kh.Amgalanbaatar, President, Confederation of Mongolian Trade Unions; Mr S. Chinzorig, Parliament Member, Chair of Parliamentary Sub-Committee on SDGs, Minister for Labour and Social Protection; Mr Tim De Meyer, Director, ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia; Ms A. Ariunzaya, Chairperson, NSO of Mongolia; Mr I. Chernyshev, Mr T. Habiyakare, ILO Senior Regional Adviser, Regional Office for and the Pacific, Mr Faraz Shibli, ILO International Consultant and Mr A. Amarbal, Director, Population and Social Statistics Department, NSO.  

In November 2016, GJASD International was subcontracted by the ICC Group (Slovakia) to participate in the implementation of a pilot project on driving low-income families out of poverty. The Project was launched in August 2016.

Dr. I. Chernyshev,  Vice President GJASD International and Prof. I. Mantsurov, 
Corresponding Member, National Academy of Science of Ukraine
From left to right: Mr Misha Belkindas, Co-founder and Managing Director of Open Data Watch, Dr Margarita Rohr, Ms Florabela Carausu, and Mr Vladimir Sokolin, Chairperson  of the CIS STAT, at the Gala Dinner
Mr Igor Chernyshev and Mr Gregory Prensilevich          

Virtual meeting with local partners in the Philippines

On 9 December 2021, the ILO Project Team located in Manila organised a virtual meeting with the consultative company “Development Agency of the Philippines” (DAP) – a local partner engaged by the SfP-PHI to address the Regional Labour Supply data collection and analysis, and the associated capacity-building aspects:

  • Collection and processing of regional data and production of reports.
  • Presentation of findings at the Pilot Completion Workshops to be held in th Regions 6, 7 and 8.


The virtual meeting aimed to officially introduce the DAP team to the local partners; specifically, the meeting aims to:

1. Discuss the project to the local partners; and

2. Level-off on the assistance needed from them.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of the Regional and Provincial TESDA, DOLE, CHED, PSA, and PESO from Regions 6, 7, and 8 (63 participants in total).

Mr. Atty. Engelbert C. Caronan, Jr., Mnsa, DAP President and CEO, made a welcoming statement.  Thereafter, Ms. Dorothea C. Boy Navarro, Director, DAP Sustainable Human Development Program, discussed in detail the Project objectives; major activities and assistance needed from DAP.