Communities, cities and governments around the world increasingly turn to Local Economic Development (LED) strategies in response to the challenges of globalization and the drive for decentralization.

LED means more than just economic growth. It is promoting participation and local dialogue, connecting people and their resources for better employment and a higher quality of life for both men and women.

The ILO's goal of Decent Work for All is reflected in LED strategies through its focus on growth, poverty reduction and social inclusion. The organisation's social partners increasingly adopt LED in Decent Work Country Programmes, which are developed and agreed upon by Governments, Workers' and Employers' Organizations. LED strategies are also deployed in countries affected by the global jobs crisis, increasing the coherence and effectiveness between national policy packages and local realities.