Alliance 8.7 is a global partnership fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration to support governments in achieving target 8.7 of Agenda 2030. It promotes 1) accelerated action to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour; 2) research, data collection and knowledge sharing on prevalence and “what works”; and 3) driving innovation and leveraging resources. The Alliance works globally through four thematic Action Groups, a Communication Group and supports the national efforts of an initial group of 15 pathfinder countries that have committed to accelerate action, organize national multi-stakeholder consultations and set up respective time-bound action plans with measurable targets.

Alliance 8.7 builds on multi-stakeholder commitment and collaborative responsibility for resource mobilization efforts. As described above, implementation is principally based on coordinated national activities in pathfinder countries and global support through Action Groups. While Pathfinder countries are ultimately responsible for implementing the national action plans they develop in coordination with other Alliance 8.7 Partners and stakeholders, . four thematic Action Groups support these efforts in different areas of implementation: 1) Humanitarian Settings and Conflict; 2) Supply Chains; 3) Migration and 4) Rule of Law and Governance. Since the launch of the partnership in September 2016, the Global Coordinating Group has adopted Terms of Reference for the Alliance and a Pathfinder Country Guidance note. The Secretariat of the Alliance is responsible for building and maintaining the coordination efforts within the partnership and for supporting Pathfinder Countries in their efforts The Secretariat has also developed a guidance tool on how to organize, prepare and conduct a Pathfinder Country Strategic Planning Workshop including lessons learned from the first few workshops. The Secretariat is currently working on an extended guidance tool covering also the next steps to be taken after the first national Alliance 8.7 workshop has taken place. The Communications Group has developed a communications toolkit for partners to help raise awareness and an online engagement platform to allow for direct contacts with other partners, exchange of experience and good practice, coordination of initiatives and learning from implementation.

One of the main objectives of Alliance 8.7 is to strengthen the knowledge base and the capacity of governments and other stakeholders to accelerate and coordinate action and implement policies and programmes that are conducive to the eradication of forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour. Capacity building takes place through webinars, dissemination of good practice tools, fostering of an online community of practice, resource mobilization and advocating for higher national budget allocations to achieve target 8.7. The Alliance also works with National Statistical Institutes and Research Centres to strengthen their capacity of data collection, analysis and dissemination. Alliance 8.7 has started to analyse the role and potential of technology to prevent forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour and to hold perpetrators of human rights violations accountable. The Alliance is looking into blockchain technology, satellite technology (area mapping), data and communication technology and the use of technology for financial flow analysis, in order to facilitate the identification of victims and perpetrators of human rights violations related to target 8.7. The UN University, as a key knowledge partner, has started a “Code 8.7” initiative to explore the potential and bring different partners together for a first exchange on opportunities. More information can be found on https://delta87.org

The Alliance works through a Global Coordinating Group, a Secretariat, Action Groups and Pathfinder Countries. The Global Coordinating Group (GCG) is composed of representatives of all stakeholder groups, with a strong role for governments. It has a rotating Chair (Australia Nov.2017- July 2019, France since July 2019) and a Deputy Chair (Argentina since Nov.2017). The GCG meets three times a year to set goals, assess progress and provide guidance for membership and implementation. The current Secretariat of Alliance 8.7 is the International Labour Organisation based in Geneva. The Secretariat prepares and coordinates the GCG meetings and other Alliance 8.7 events with the Chair, supports the Action Groups, backstops national pathfinder workshops, develops guidance tools, continuously updates the Alliance 8.7 website and informs all partners through an online mailing platform on news and upcoming events. The thematic Action Groups are (co-)chaired by UN entities. They 1) coordinate initiatives and programmes, 2) identify and close knowledge gaps, 3) support implementation in pathfinder countries and 4) mobilize or leverage resources. The Pathfinder countries organize national consultation and strategy workshops to define priorities, set up time-bound action plans with measurable results and identify/allocate budgetary resources for their implementation, The work of the Alliance is supported by a Communication Group that is responsible for the content of the website and the overall internal and external communication and engagement strategy. The website provides options for engagement in Action Groups, informs about recent and upcoming events, hosts a periodical newsletter and features information on pathfinder countries. The Alliance is also building an online community of practitioners (under construction on “Slack” platform). On this platform, partners are able to share and comment on documents, communicate with peers and access a directory of other partners. Concurrently, the UN University has developed a “Delta 8.7 Knowledge Platform for Alliance 8.7” that helps decision-makers understand and use data responsibly to inform policies that contribute to achieving Target 8.7. It brings together and explains the most useful data, evidence, research and news, and analyses cutting-edge data. The Alliance Secretariat is currently working on the theory of change, comprising a logical framework that will allow to monitor progress and identify implementation gaps globally (process and results indicators). On the national level, pathfinder countries are expected to develop similar measurement frameworks for the national action plans, in coordination with all partners and national statistical institutions.

Alliance 8.7 has currently 15 “pathfinder countries” and works with over 200 Partner Organisations, amongst them governmental institutions, business networks, workers’ and employers’ organizations, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, other UN entities (IOM, UNICEF, OHCHR, UNHCR, UNODC, UNWomen, FAO), other international organizations (OECD, OSCE, ICMPD), the UN University and other research institutions. Please see full list here: https://www.alliance87.org/partners/