Improving business conditions in complex markets

Increasing access to public transport in Abidjan

Côte d’Ivoire​

Sector

Public Transportation

Partner
Minstries, Team Sweden , Scania
Status

Active

By the end of 2024 a Bioenergy Code was adopted by Côte d’Ivoire’s Government and Parliament.  It is the first bioenergy policy in Africa that only allows biofuels created from waste, in order to protect from deforestation. The Bioenergy Code includes financial incentives and price structuring measures to make biofuels competitive compared to fossil fuels.It has a clear focus on creating local jobs and rural development.  

The introduction of the Bioenergy Code is expected to promote investments in local sustainable biofuels that will support the shift of Abidjan’s Scania bus fleet to sustainably biofueled buses and lower green-house gas emissions.

By mobilizing, training and aligning staff across ministries and supporting a collaborative research and drafting process, NIR and IVL facilitated the creation of a national Bioenergy Code

The road to developing the code

To support Abidjan’s investment plans, NIR partnered with the Directorate for Hydrocarbons at the Ministry of Energy in 2021 to develop a robust policy framework that can enable investments in sustainable biofuels in Côte d’Ivoire. A range of stakeholders across the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Animals and Fisheries, the National Agency for Support to Rural Development, the Customs Agency, the Public Transport Authority of Abidjan, and the public Ivorian Refining Company (Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage) were engaged by NIR and the expert consultant IVL the Swedish Environmental Institute, to co-create a policy framework. The goal was to ensure an inclusive policy framework for local biofuel production that can serve as vehicle fuel, improve waste management, prevent deforestation and environmental risks, and support rural development and job creation.  

Konan Jacques Assahore, Minister for Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition and SIA Program Director Annie Ross in Abidjan October 2024

The city of Abidjan and NIR’s member Scania are partnering to transform Abidjan’s public transport system. The city’s bus fleet is now being upgraded, sustainable biofuels are introduced to lower emissions, and a new BRT corridor is to be constructed to improve access to efficient and safe public transport for the city’s citizens.   

Team Sweden in action in Abidjan, October 2024. NIR works in close partnership with the Swedish Embassy, Sida, Swedfund International, Business Sweden, EKN, SEK and our member company Scania to enable a sustainable transport system in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. 

Latest Highlights

Team Sweden

Team Sweden is a network of government authorities, agencies and Swedish companies that support major infrastructure projects globally, with the aim to contribute to the development of sustainable projects. 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This executive summary presents the findings from the study “Workplace Cooperation: Finding Practical Solutions in the Colombian Context,” conducted by the Fundación Ideas para la Paz (FIP). The study evaluates the added value of the Swedish Workplace Programme (SWP) dialogue and cooperation model within the Colombian labor market.

Throughout 2022, FIP dedicated efforts to thoroughly understand the SWP model, including its concept, foundations, implementation process, and contributions to the labor market. In 2023, FIP documented the experiences of three companies—SKF Latin Trade, Securitas, and Epiroc—that implemented the SWP model in practice. The study also included face-to-face workshops to gather feedback from various stakeholders including civil society, businesses, government, academia, and international cooperation. The findings suggest that the SWP model has the potential to strengthen labor relations, contribute to decent work, and resolve workplace conflicts in Colombia.

The case studies highlight the importance of collaboration between employers and workers to promote decent work and sustainable development in Colombia. They demonstrate that social dialogue facilitates worker participation in labor decision-making, enhances their representativeness, and promotes cooperation between employers and employees, thus improving labor relations and contributing to the well-being of both employees and companies.

The SWP model is particularly noted for improving workplace relationships and commitment to jointly finding solutions to challenges faced by workers and the company. It empowers workers, enhances leadership, and helps integrate business policies into daily practices, reducing the initial disconnect between management objectives and the day-to-day realities of workers. The study also highlights the model’s capacity to manage conflicts constructively, transforming the perception of conflict as an opportunity for improvement. Structured dialogues deepen understanding of the underlying causes of conflicts, fostering empathy and facilitating effective resolution. This promotes a culture of collaboration and a democratic approach to decision-making, building trust.

Additionally, the model is recognized for enabling workers to make decisions, identify challenges, and propose solutions that impact their well-being, and bridging gender gaps in the workplace. Its inclusive approach adapts to the unique needs and characteristics of each company, promoting a stronger and more diverse organizational culture. It also drives good work performance and productivity by involving workers in problem identification and resolution, as well as in implementing improvements and efficiently identifying ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) risks for companies.

The document identifies the SWP model’s added value in empowering direct interaction among labor stakeholders in Colombia, overcoming historical or cultural reservations, and contributing to the development of stronger labor relations and improved workplace environments in the country.

Challenges and opportunities of the model are also discussed. The study points out the importance of addressing value chain risks, particularly in a global context where corporate clients demand decent work processes and due diligence. It emphasizes the need to integrate SMEs into this process and use anchor companies as drivers of social dialogue throughout the value chain. The role of the state in social dialogue and the importance of highlighting the benefits of the model for adoption across various business sectors are discussed.

The opportunities of the model include raising awareness of human rights in the workplace in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGP), to strengthen due diligence, manage risks, promote long-term sustainability, and improve organizational culture. The document also underscores the importance of involving workers in change processes, leveraging their insights for continuous improvement of processes, and fostering innovation opportunities. Lastly, it suggests replicating the model in value chains to address work environment risks and gender biases, involving suppliers and contractors, and integrating the model into corporate policies to strengthen existing programs and transform organizational culture towards resource efficiency and effective participation of employers and workers.