The International Labour Organization (ILO) and Mahidol University in Thailand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reaffirming their commitment to collaboration, knowledge-sharing and capacity-building in the pursuit of universal health and social protection in the region at the end of the workshop “Achieving Social Justice through Inclusive Social Health Protection”, held to mark World Day of Social Justice 2025.
By leveraging Mahidol University’s academic expertise and the ILO’s policy leadership, this partnership will play a pivotal role in addressing social protection gaps and promoting sustainable health financing solutions.
The MoU outlines key areas of collaboration, including the ongoing support to CONNECT, a regional network for Social Health Protection and the further development of the Master of Primary Health Care Management (MPHM) course with a special track on social health protection.
The MoU facilitates South-South and Triangular Cooperation, encouraging knowledge-sharing and mutual learning among countries in the region, through the CONNECT network. Mahidol University and the ILO support the platform, through joint research projects, training programmes and policy dialogues, hence providing a space for countries to exchange best practices and innovative strategies for enhancing social protection systems.
The ASEAN Institute for Health Development (AIHD) at Mahidol University will serve as a key hub for the implementation of the MoU’s objectives. AIHD’s extensive expertise in global health and its interdisciplinary approach will facilitate collaboration among universities, governments, and organizations at national, regional and global levels.
