Projekte

Kurzbeschreibung:

Projektziel

This project’s overall objective is to make national and local labour markets in the Western Balkans and the Republic of Moldova more inclusive. The project seeks to ensure that labour market institutions at the national and local levels have improved capacities to design and implement, in partnership with the private sector and the civil society, inclusive policies and programme for those individuals at risk of social and labour market exclusion.

Erwartete Ergebnisse

This outcome is underpinned by four major outputs/results: (1) Public Employment Services (PES) and Centres for Social Welfare (CSWs) have institutionalized models of integrated and user-centred provision of services for marginalized groups, (2) A mutual learning programme (MLP) among public employment services (modelled on the EU’s MLP and focused on inclusiveness approaches) is delivered, (3) Local multi-stakeholder partnerships have capacities and resources to develop and implement inclusive employment initiatives; (4) An Inclusiveness Facility (IF) for public employment agencies to implement inclusiveness adjustments to their practices (services and programmes) is established.

Zielgruppe

The project’s target groups are vulnerable population categories that need access to special protection and services to avoid poverty and marginalization. Special emphasis is placed on inactive and unemployed youth and rural women, but country-specific circumstances will be taken into consideration to determine additional population categories at risk of exclusion. In its activities, the project involves and enhances the capacities of practitioners and decision-makers of the PES and CSWs, representatives of local/regional units of governance, private sector, financial institutions, trade unions, academia, national statistical agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as individuals facing multiple barriers in accessing the labour market. Since the project requires proactive and intensive engagement with intermediary institutions, the project team works with the beneficiary institutions, i.e. the PES and the CSWs, to determine and monitor the total number of direct beneficiaries in this project. It is assumed that on average between 2000 and 5000 individuals per country (7 target countries) will benefit every year from improved and more inclusive practices. An estimated number of 1000 direct beneficiaries is targeted by the project activities.

Maßnahmen

The project activities under each output include technical advisory services and capacity support to service providers (including PES, CSWs and CSOs), application of innovative and/or more inclusive practices, facilitation of policy-dialogue and peer-learning on inclusion, partnerships with international organizations and think tanks, including the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the World Bank (WB), DG Employment, the EU PES Network, etc.

Hintergrundinformation

The project is implemented within a challenging labour market context characterized by low employment rates (50% and 36% for men and women, respectively), high unemployment (18% and 19%), with a prevalence of long-term unemployment, and significant inactivity rates (39% and 59%). Where reliable estimates exist, the pervasiveness of informal employment raises concerns about inclusion and the quality of jobs. Clearly, existing policies are not able to cater to those who are most at risk of labour market exclusion and face compounded disadvantages. To tackle these structural problems, the 2030 Agenda for SDGs and the relevant ILO standards that countries have ratified serve as global commitments, while the EU accession agenda motivates the countries/territory to align socio-economic policies with EU guidelines and orientations. The project will contribute to SDGs 1 (no poverty), 4 (quality education), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 10 (reduced inequalities).