Risk management at the ILO
The ILO employs a systematic, proactive and continuous process of risk management. Its primary purpose is to enhance the Organization’s preparedness to uncertainties which may affect delivering on its objectives. It also aims at equipping ILO officials with necessary tools and techniques to support risk-informed decision-taking throughout the Organization.
The ILO operates in an environment characterized by internal and external factors that may affect the achievement of its objectives. These uncertainties, and their potential impact on the Organization’s ability to meet its goals, are referred to as “risk.”
The ILO is committed to integrating risk management into its existing practices and processes, ensuring that it becomes an integral part of the organizational culture. Risk management is not treated as a standalone activity but rather as a flexible approach that can be tailored in terms of formality and scope, depending on the specific purpose of the risk analysis, the availability and reliability of information, and the resources at hand.
All ILO offices at country and regional levels and departments at headquarters undertake regular analysis and review of their risk exposure. Each office maintains a risk register, which is used to record and monitor identified risks and the corresponding risk response actions. This supports strategic programming, operational decision making and internal office management. A centralized risk management platform contributes to the provision of timely and relevant information to senior management on key risks and their mitigation.
The Strategic Risk Register (see below), which captures organization-wide risks, is owned by the Senior Management Team and serves as a central instrument for monitoring and addressing strategic risks across the ILO.