Practical guidance for designing employment-focused interventions

OVERVIEW

What is it?

This document is the second of two volumes that constitute the publication Promoting Employment and Decent Work in Development Cooperation (Reference Document n. 30). Volume 1 - Concepts and foundations aims at enhancing Commission staff's ability to diagnose a country's employment challenges, engage in technical dialogue with counterparts, and promote employment and decent work as part of the EU’s international development efforts. Volume 2 - Practical guidance for designing employment-focused interventions offers guidance for supporting analysis, policy dialogue, and the design of different types of interventions. It is organised in concise, stand-alone guidance notes that provide quick access to good practices on a variety of topics. While complementary, the volumes can be used independently of each other.

What can it be used for?

The manual aims at enhancing Commission staff’s ability to diagnose  country’s employment challenges, engage in technical dialogue with counterparts, and design targeted initiatives to promote employment and decent work. Vol. 2 provides practical guidance on the instruments and policy responses from which to choose.

When can it be used?

At any stage of the Intervention Cycle Management, as the guide provides guidance related to programming, policy dialogue, intervention design, monitoring, evaluation etc.

Who can use it?

EU staff and other development practitioners, including consultants dealing with EU projects.

What are its strengths?

It is organised in concise, stand-alone guidance notes that provide quick access to good practices on a variety of topics. Indeed, the publication is not intended to be read from beginning to end: readers can refer to the different volumes, parts and notes based on their particular need and level of experience.

What are its limitations?

While recognising the broad range of policy areas relevant to promoting employment outcomes, the practical guidance focuses on labour market policies and interventions. This does not imply prioritisation of labour market policies over other policy areas; instead, it reflects a pragmatic focus and the fact that similar practical guides already exist for other policy areas

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Key elements

The Practical Guidance presents 21 Guidance notes organized around 5 main topics, as per the illustration below.

Each guidance note provides:

• A summary of objectives and key messages
• General information on the specific notes’ subject
• Link to related web pages and programmes
• “Good” practice table
• Examples from the field
• List of references.

As an example, The Guidance note nr 7, “Skills”   propose the following Good practice principles for skills development programmes:

Requirements

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Tips and tricks:

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RESOURCES

Where to find it

The European Commission, 2021. Tools and Methods Series, Reference Document N° 30, Promoting employment and decent work in development cooperation. Volume 2, Practical guidance for designing employment-focused interventions

Complementary guides, methodologies and tools

The European Commission, 2021. Tools and Methods Series, Reference Document N° 30, Promoting employment and decent work in development cooperation. Volume 1, Concepts and foundations

Sector Indicator Guidance Note on Employment and VET - Employment and VET