Activation Programmes & Policies in OIC Member States by Chris Melvin

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The Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion, led by CEO Chris Melvin, conducted research on activation policies in OIC Member States. The study focused on job search support, skills training, and job creation to enhance employability. Methodology included assessing national policy objectives, program design, and infrastructure support in the labor market. Activation is crucial in OIC countries to combat poverty and improve social assistance systems.

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Activation Programmes & Policies in OIC Member States Chris Melvin Inclusion

About Inclusion The Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion is the United Kingdom s leading not-for-profit company dedicated to tackling disadvantage and promoting social inclusion in the labour market. Chris Melvin is the CEO of Inclusion s sister company, PublicCo. Chris is an experienced chief executive with a strong track record of building and delivering high performing public services across the welfare to work, skills and business support sectors. Chris founded PublicCo after a decade of leading Reed in Partnership, an international provider of activation programmes.

Our research for COMCEC In September 2014, COMCEC commissioned Inclusion to carry out a study of activation policies for the poor in OIC Member States. Three activation tools were considered as part of the study: 1) Job search support 2) Skills training 3) Job creation

Our research for COMCEC The study included: Scope: defining key concepts within the study Literature review: capturing the current picture of activation policies and programmes across the OIC in a global context Case studies: focusing research on 5 Member States and carrying out country visits Recommendations: developing evidence based recommendations to improve the employability of the poor in Member States This presentation will focus on our findings from the literature review and case studies.

Methodology The research studied features of activation programmes and policies according to a framework incorporating three key elements: National policy objectives and delivery: how the programme fits with national government policy and priorities Individual programme design and performance: how well the programme is operating Supporting infrastructure: how the programme is supported by the wider labour market context

Overview of activation in OIC Member States Why activation in the OIC? Many OIC Member States do not have developed social assistance systems, making employment a pre-requisite for many people to move out of poverty. In Member States that do have comprehensive social assistance systems, activation can counteract possible negative incentives, by encouraging jobseekers to find work. In this respect, activation also improves the affordability of social assistance.

Overview of activation in OIC Member States Some employment trends in OIC Member States: Jobless growth The need to provide quality jobs Youth unemployment Skills mismatch The need to promote employment in the private sector

Overview of activation in OIC Member States There are many forms of job search support, skills training, and job creation. The programmes and policies implemented are linked to a country s socio-economic context. For OIC Member States, their income grouping can be linked to the type of activation measures used. What measures tend to be used according to income grouping?

Income Job search support Skills training Job creation Low Lack of data and poor access to services can typify job search support. Jobseekers often use informal networks to find employment. Expand access to education to improve literacy rates. Countries with higher education levels focus on vocational skills training. Address immediate or chronic need, e.g. public works programmes. Lower-middle Presence of a Public Employment Service (PES), but lack of funding can limit access. Lack of conditionality also limits impact. Target training at young people due to youth unemployment (in many cases, skills mismatch is a factor). Combine short-term measures with longer term promotion of the private sector.

Income Job search support Skills training Job creation Upper-middle PES collects job Focus on developing a skilled workforce in order to meet needs associated with growing high skill industries. Longer term focus on job creation through economic diversification and the promotion of skilled industries. vacancy information, provides counselling and holds job fairs. Access can be improved using partner organisations. High Extensive investment in services and a focus on different types of jobseekers and their needs, e.g. people with disabilities. Focus on developing skills required by the private sector to increase the attractiveness of the national workforce. Job creation is targeted at promoting the private sector to workers.

Case studies 5 case studies were carried out to determine in detail the activation measures used in these Member States, with the aim of informing best practice. The case study countries are: Saudi Arabia high income Malaysia upper-middle income Iran upper-middle income Cameroon lower-middle income Uganda low income

Case study Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in employment programmes and supporting infrastructure. This investment aims to achieve a large increase in the national population participating in private sector employment and to help diversify the nation s economy away from oil. Key labour market characteristics include: High youth unemployment (approx. 41%) Low female participation rate (approx. 19%) High reliance on migrant labour in the private sector Skills mismatch Regional disparities

Case study Saudi Arabia Activation measures implemented in Saudi Arabia include: Job search support Skills training Job creation Wide range of programmes. Extensive use of online tools to overcome geographical barriers. Different programmes also target different customer groups, e.g. People with disabilities. Increasing investment being made e.g. The Colleges of Excellence programme to build 100 new colleges over 10 years. Job Schools are also being used to improve the employability of people far from the labour market. Focus is on increasing the number of Saudi workers in the private sector through schemes such as Nitaqat and Mazaya. Activation in Saudi Arabia is characterised by the use of private providers contracted to deliver programmes. Contracts include a payment by results element. There is also a heavy focus on innovation and the use of online services to enable access to services.

Case study Malaysia Malaysia s continued economic growth has provided significant employment opportunities and the country has developed a highly skilled workforce. Activation programmes are now being used as a tool to target the most disadvantaged and hardest to help communities. Key labour market characteristics include: Low unemployment rate (under 4% 1995-2009) Large reduction in poverty rates (from 49.3% in 1970 to 3.6% in 2007) Target to become high income country by 2020

Case study Malaysia Activation measures implemented in Malaysia include: Job search support Skills training Job creation Core service is delivered through an online job matching portal by JobsMalaysia. Additional services include jobs carnivals. An alternative, vocational education route is available for students: the National Dual Training System. Training to improve employability is also delivered by providers and NGOs. Little focus on job creation due to strong economic growth. Micro finance programmes are available to support would be entrepreneurs. Activation in Malaysia centres around government aims to diversify the skills base to ensure there is labour market opportunity for all skill levels.

Case study Iran Iran has implemented a number of activation measures with a particular focus on job creation and skills training. This is due to the growing young population, meaning jobs must keep pace with the growing population. Key labour market characteristics include: High unemployment for young people and women (46% unemployment rate for women aged 15-24) Low economic participation rate (37.9% of working age population) Key economic role played by government e.g. State ownership of large companies

Case study Iran Activation measures implemented in Iran include: Job search support Skills training Job creation PES delivers support through provincial branches to ensure a localised approach. The centres also deliver training and job creation initiatives. Large number of training opportunities available but these tend to be concentrated in urban areas. There is cooperation between government departments to coordinate skills training opportunities. The promotion of entrepreneurship and credit facilities are largely used as tools for job creation. Several projects are sector specific, e.g. Focused on agricultural sector. Activation in Iran is recognised as a valuable tool but measures such as cash transfer payments and food donation programmes are also prioritised as poverty alleviation tools.

Case study Cameroon Cameroon has made the use of activation a key tool in its poverty reduction strategy. Each ministry now plays a role in employment promotion and a large number of activation policies and projects have been implemented. These are supplemented by projects delivered by NGOs and international agencies. Key labour market characteristics include: Low unemployment, but high underemployment (70.6%) Large informal sector employs over 90% of workers Need to provide quality jobs (tackle working poverty) Rural/urban divide Preference among workers for public sector employment

Case study Cameroon Activation measures implemented in Cameroon include: Job search support Skills training Job creation PES delivers job search support through job centres and targets employers as well as jobseekers. Customer journeys are adapted to each customer s needs. Informal networks continue to be heavily utilised by jobseekers however. Focus by the government and NGOs to deliver skills training to agricultural workers to increase productivity. Government is encouraging entrepreneurship as are other aid agencies. Preference for labour intensive techniques in the development of infrastructure also leads to job creation. Activation in Cameroon can be characterised by scale in terms of the number of programmes implemented. This means that extensive coordination is required to ensure efficient use of resources.

Case study Uganda The need to prioritise activation has been recognised by the Ugandan government. Comprehensive activation strategies are in place, but actually implementing them is a challenge. Improved targeting is also required to ensure it is those most in need that benefit from activation measures. Key labour market characteristics include: Extremely young and growing population Large informal sector (employs 58% of non agricultural workers) 72% of working population engaged in agricultural and fishing activities Skills mismatch

Case study Uganda Activation measures implemented in Uganda include: Job search support Skills training Job creation Lack of funding means there is little job search support available and jobseekers and employers tend to use informal recruitment networks. Training aims to address skills mismatch and vocational training is being encouraged. However, the training available does not always deliver the skills employers need. Training is also used to encourage entrepreneurship. Several entrepreneurship schemes are in place. Projects particularly target young people because this group is most affected by unemployment. Activation in Uganda can be characterised by the development of comprehensive strategies whose implementation is constrained due to lack of resources.

Best practice Based on our research, best practice according to the three key elements of the framework was identified. National policy objectives and delivery: The value of a policy focus on activation measures is recognised. To ensure efficient use of resources and knowledge sharing, it is best practice for the design and delivery of activation measures to be overseen and coordinated by a lead organisation.

Best practice Individual programme design and performance: A PES is often best placed to lead the delivery of activation. The PES should engage with employers in designing and delivering activation programmes. Characteristics other than poverty, related to the likelihood of an individual being poor or vulnerable can be used to identity activation programmes target groups. The use of loans for beneficiaries, rather than grants, can improve projects sustainability. Programmes impact improves when programmes contain an element of continuous improvement.

Best practice Supporting infrastructure: An over arching monitoring of national activation strategies can improve the effectiveness of activation measures. External organisations can provide support for platforms to exchange information and best practice between practitioners and policy makers. A long term commitment to activation policies and ongoing evaluation improves the performance of programmes.