ILO/CYPRCA Collaboration on Youth Employment - Report of the Joint Technical Group
|
Work in progress, expect frequent changes. Help and feedback is welcome. See discussion page. |
|
Background
Following discussions between the Directors of ILO Zambia and CYPRCA, a decision to strengthen collaboration between the International Labour Organization and the Commonwealth Youth Programme was communicated. The youth employment teams of the two organisations were tasked to develop a framework to guide collaborative efforts. This report sums up the deliberations of the technical team and recommendations on areas of possible collaboration.
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized UN agency that operates within a tripartite setting bringing together governments, employers and workers of its member states in common action to promote decent work throughout the world. It is devoted to advancing opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue in handling work-related issues.
Vision on Decent Work
Decent work has been defined by the ILO and endorsed by the international community as being
productive work for women and men in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Decent work involves opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income;provides security in the workplace and social protection for workers and their families; offers better prospects for personal development and encourages social integration; gives people the freedom to express their concerns, to organize and to participate in decisions that affect their lives; and guarantees equal opportunities and equal treatment for all.
Work is central to people's well-being. In addition to providing income, work can pave the way for broader social and economic advancement, strengthening individuals, their families and communities. Such progress, however, hinges on work that is decent. Decent work sums up the aspirations of people in their working lives.
In promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, the ILO continues to pursue its founding mission that labour peace is essential to prosperity. Today, the ILO helps advance the creation of decent jobs and the kinds of economic and working conditions that give working people and business people a stake in lasting peace, prosperity and progress.
The ILO in Zambia
Over the past few years, the ILO’s approach at the country level has been progressing towards a more coordinated and streamlined programme that is grounded in national priorities as agreed with the constituents and rooted in the national development agenda. In so doing, the ILO endeavours to channel the Decent Work Agenda into country level actions through the formulation of Decent Work Country Programmes based on identified priorities. The Decent Work Agenda provides a vitally important rights-based lens for assessing and analyzing issues affecting the labour market.The Decent Work Agenda is also a balanced and integrated programmatic approach to pursuing the objectives of full and productive employment and decent work for all at the global, regional, national, sectoral and local levels.
In Zambia, three priorities were assessed and appraised within the framework of four pillars of ILO’s Decent Work Agenda which include:
- Rights at work
- Employment creation and enterprise development
- Social protection and
- Social dialogue
The major issues concerning decent work deficits were identified and prioritized through a participatory planning process involving all of the constituents in Zambia i.e Employers, Workers and Government. The priorities identified and now encapsulated in the Zambia Decent Work Country Programme include: job creation for women, young people and people with disabilities, prevention and mitigation of HIV and AIDS in the world of work, and the elimination of child labour, particularly in its worst forms.
The Zambia DWCP builds upon the recent and ongoing programmes, projects and activities in Zambia, including the National Employment and Labour Market Policy formulation.
The Commonwealth Youth Programme
The Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), part of the Commonwealth Secretariat, is an intergovernmental youth development agency working primarily to engage and empower young people (ages15-29) to enhance their meaningful contribution to development. This is done in partnership with young people, governments and other key youth stakeholders.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 countries that support each other and work together towards shared goals in democracy and development. CYP’s operations are managed from four regional centres based in: Zambia (for Africa), India (for Asia), Guyana (for Caribbean), and Solomon Islands (for Pacific). A Pan Commonwealth coordinating office is based in London.
Vision
CYP will be the leading source of intellectual capital for the development of policy and programmes that fully integrate young people as agents and architects of change for democracy and development.
Mission
The Commonwealth Youth Programme’s mission is grounded within a rights-based approach, guided by the realities facing young people in the Commonwealth, and anchored in the belief that young people are:
- A force for peace, democracy, equality and good governance
- A catalyst for global consensus building; and
- An essential resource for sustainable development and poverty eradication
CYP advocates the effective participation of young women and men in the development process and for social transformation. We value their full engagement at all levels of decision making.
The Work of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP)
The Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (PAYE) 2007-2015 is the framework and guiding strategy for Commonwealth action in youth empowerment and participation; as such it is a foundational document for the CYP and its ministerial network. However the PAYE also seeks to stimulate and guide action by other development partners: from intergovernmental agencies, NGOs, to organizations formed by young women and men themselves.
The work of the Commonwealth Youth Programme falls under three strategic programme areas, all of which are guided by the PAYE:
- Youth Enterprise and Sustainable Livelihoods
- Youth Work Education and Training
- Governance, Development and Youth Networks
- Youth Enterprise and Sustainable Livelihoods
Youth Enterprise and Sustainable Livelihoods (YESL)is one of the three strategic programme areas of CYP. Currently, the core programme focus area is on Youth Employment. The flagship initiative under YESL is the Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative (CYCI): an integrated package of micro-credit, enterprise training and business support targeted at young women and men (15-29) with the potential for self-employment. The CYCI is designed to encourage youth employment and alleviate poverty among young people of the commonwealth through the promotion of youth entrepreneurship. Another area of interest is Information and Communications Technology (ICT). In recent years several young people have received CYP training in ICT for business, as well as offering its facilities to enhance students’ academic and research work.
- Youth Work Education and Training
The Youth Work Education and Training (YWET) programme is another strategic programme area implemented by CYP since inception in 1974 for purposes of building capacity in the area of Youth Development practice. It aims to develop and promote the profession of youth work, guided by a code of practice and supported by regulatory mechanisms. It comprises of: The Diploma in Youth in Development Work; Short Courses in Youth in Development Work; and Youth Workers Associations.
- Governance, Development and Youth Networks
The Governance, Development and Youth Networks (GDYN) programme area's aim is to promote meaningful engagement of young men and women in governance and development processes at community, national and global levels. In collaboration with young people, Governments and other key stakeholders, the programme works:
- a) To strengthen the contribution of youth in peace building, democracy and development in Commonwealth Countries,and
- b) To create an enabling environment for youth empowerment
Youth Employment
The ILO and Youth Employment
Youth Employment and the Zambia Decent Work Country Programme
The Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) is meant to be a core mechanism for promoting safe, secure, healthy and sustainable employment for women and men in Zambia. The DWCP identified three key employment and labour issues as priorities, that is:
- More and better employment for youth, women and people with disabilities, supported by an enhanced labour market information (LMI) system;
- Responding to HIV and AIDS challenges in the world of work and;
- Eliminating child labour, particularly in its worst forms.
Pillar One of the Decent Work Country Programme promotes employment particularly for young people, school leavers, women and people with disabilities. The ILO Youth Employment Project (ILO-YE) is a direct response to this Pillar, it has a role in providing technical assistance and supporting the coordination of youth employment activities in the context of the DWCP. Support is provided in areas of policy support, entrepreneurship and job quality training, youth rights and well as Labour Market Information (LMI) support.
To achieve this ILO YE works closely with the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development (MSYCD) which is responsible for the development of youth. The Youth Development Department at MSYCD is responsible for youth development and the National Youth Development Council (NYDC) is a body under the Ministry that is the national coordinating body for youth groups and organizations in Zambia. Through a public Private Partnership initiative, the Ministry directly provides and manages Youth Resource Centres in every province which offer non-formal skills to out of school youth. The ILO YE also collaborates with a number of actors in youth development amongst them SNV, the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), UNICEF, Barclays Bank, several youth organizations and associations and the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP).
The ILO Youth Employment Project Objectives
- Develop a National Action Plan on Youth Employment and support Zambia’s membership of the Youth Employment Network (YEN)
- Facilitate entrepreneurship, job quality and youth rights for youth skills training centres in Zambia
- Support the development of an effective labour market information (LMI) system covering both the demand and supply sides and identifying sectors for youth employment opportunities
The ILO’s approach to youth employment considers increasing employment opportunities and improving working conditions for young people while at the same time enhancing their employability in order to open doors for more productive and better lives for young people and their families. Adolescents are particularly at risk as they are engaged in dangerous work in the informal economy and must be supported to transfer to decent jobs.
The multi-dimensional nature of youth employment calls for a multi-stakeholder approach in order for interventions to be meaningful and sustainable in the long run. A successful approach entails a combination of:
- Promotion of employment intensive growth and sectoral approaches
- Entrepreneurship support
- Skills training
- Employment services, including approaches to guidance and counseling
- School to work transition surveys (Tracer Studies) and other LMI instruments
- Inclusion of young people in social dialogue in order to enhance their voice
- The promotion of young workers’ rights
CYPRCA and Youth Employment
The main strategic programme area of the Commonwealth Youth Programme dedicated to addressing youth employment issues is the Youth Enterprises and Sustainable Livelihoods (YESL) programme.
Background
The Youth Enterprise Development (YED) component of the Commonwealth Youth Programme was transformed to YESL in 2006. This concept of sustainable livelihoods was endorsed by the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting in the Bahamas in May 2006. While the programme broadly looks at Youth Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Livelihoods, in the previous strategic plan period, YESL focused on the following sub-programmes; Youth Employment; Information and Communications Technology Initiatives, and Youth Health and Wellbeing.
For the current programme cycle (2008-2012), aspects of Youth Health and Wellbeing will be delivered under GDYN while the ICT programme has been subsumed into the youth entrepreneurship initiatives.
Introduction
The main focus of the YESL strategic programme area is on YOUTH EMPLOYMENT. The thrust of curbing youth unemployment is through the promotion of Youth Entrepreneurship. A greater emphasis is placed on participatory delivery, partnerships and integrated programming, and a greater (and more optimal) utilisation of internal resources. The programme will is delivered through the following themes:
- Capacity building and Training
- Advocacy and Promoting an Enabling Environment; and
- The Provision of Technical Assistance for Programme Support Services (PSS)
Initiatives under YESL contribute to meeting CYP Strategic Objective 3 “Governments endorse proven models for sustainable livelihoods with a focus on youth enterprise development”. Programming of YESL follows two main approaches: Advocacy to create an enabling environment for youth employment and capacity building. To ensure sustainability of interventions, YESL follows this through with the provision of an array of Programme Support Services (PSS) especially through the placement of Technical Advisors in collaboration with the Commonwealth Service Abroad Programme (CSAP). Through this, YESL’s interventions aim to promote a meaningful participation/engagement of young people; the conduct of stakeholder analysis; strategic alliance building with relevant national and international government and non government organisations in the region; inter-sectoral collaboration; and a contribution toward the implementation of the Commonwealth Youth Development Index (YDI) in the Region.
The Youth Enterprise and Sustainable Livelihoods (YESL) programme specifically focuses its initiatives to contribute towards meeting the PAYE point 1; Developing and implementing measures to promote the economic enfranchisement of young people. Contribution is also made towards meeting CYP Strategic Objectives (SO) 5 on Partnerships Development. This will be reflected in the realisation of relevant Strategic Outputs of the CYP Strategic Plan 2008-2012.
Indicators to help evaluate these will include the enactment of pro-youth employment policies and incentives by governments; the number of young people receiving entrepreneurship training as part of formal education; the number of young people receiving micro credits/business financing; the development of models for promotion of youth employment; the convening of regional fora for policy making on youth employment; provision of technical assistance and capacity building for research, formulation and implementation of best practices in youth employment creation; and, assisting participating countries with the development of the Youth Development Index (YDI), especially for youth employment trends, as a monitoring and evaluation tool for work done under the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (PAYE) 2007-2015.
The resultant interventions from the above as detailed in the CYPRCA operational plan to 2012 will broadly centres on:
- Needs Assessments and Stakeholder Analysis,
- Development of Partnerships and Linkages,
- Capacity Building, and the
- Development of an Enabling Environment for Youth Development.
Youth Employment Programme Strategic Focus
CYPRCA Focus with regard to Youth Employment (YE) up till 2012 will be on the establishment of a regional database on youth employment models, youth entrepreneurship, and youth employability; establishing linkages and the building of strategic and operational alliances with relevant stakeholders for networking and collaboration, lobbying and advocacy; capacity building on youth entrepreneurship and youth employment issues; and, the promotion of the creation of an enabling environment for youth enterprise development in member countries.
The ILO/CYPRCA Collaboration
Why Collaborate?
ILO and CYP's efforts to collaborate is based on the fact that the development strategies and operational partnerships will strengthen programme delivery in the youth development sector. Both ILO/CYP have a mandate to promote youth employment by equipping young people with entrepreneurship skills to better their livelihood. In Zambia both organisations work closely with the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Child Development (MYSCD) who are responsible for youth development in addition to their role of providing technical advice, policy formulation, supporting the coordination of youth employment activities/initiatives and ensuring an up to date National Action Plan on youth employment.
Some of the benefits of partnership and collaboration include;
- CYP will continue to encourage Commonwealth member countries to sign up to the Youth Employment Network (YEN). Members will be provided information about the YEN lead country process and the inherent benefits it accrues.
- Adaptation of GET Ahead training materials to become youth-friendly.
- The promotion of the use of the Know About Business (KAB) entrepreneurial package for youth
- CYP will assist in the development of capacity building and training programmes of partners and provide technical support where necessary.
- CYP will further support GET Ahead training programmes in Zambia as well as one other CYPRCA country (e.g. Malawi or Mozambique) for key youth employment officers and stakeholders
- Increased number of young people trained in GET Ahead for Youth in Enterprise by popularizing the manual in YEN/Commonwealth member countries.
Collaborative works done so far
While this document stems to outline the modalities for formal collaboration between ILO and CYPRCA, the two institutions have collaborated on several projects in the past. A brief of very recent collaborative works are listed below:
Youth Resource Centres
The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child development runs 16 Youth Resource Centres in Zambia which offer non-formal skills training and entrepreneurship skill to out of school youth. To make a real difference to lives of young people in Zambia organizations with different areas of expertise came on board to provide financial and technical support to help develop the Youth Resource Centres and work together in order to create a web of development opportunities that is effective and sustainable. On 11th July 2009, CYP Africa and ILO conducted an orientation Workshop for professional volunteers from Barclays, UNICEF, and Ministry of Sport Youth and Child Development.
Youth Employment Network
The Youth Employment Network, in collaboration with the Government of Zambia, the ILO, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, with support from the Department of Works and Pension of the U.K. organized an International Workshop on “Benchmarking Tools and Best Practices in Youth Employment”. The two days workshop was held in Lusaka, Zambia, on December 7 – 8, 2009 and was officially opened by the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development Mr. Kenneth Chipungu. The Workshop was mainly characterized by activities aiming to foster government’s engagement in the development and promotion of improved youth employment opportunities. ILO and CYP had an opportunity to share successes from the GET Ahead programme and the Commonwealth Youth Development Credit Initiative (CYCI) model designed to encourage youth employment and alleviate poverty among young people through youth entrepreneurship.
International/African Youth Day Celebrations
In marking the 2009 International Youth Day whose theme was ‘Sustainability: Our challenge, our future’. A high-level panel made up of representatives from CYP, ILO, the World Bank, the Economics Association, Zambia Youth Workers Association and Ministry of Sport Youth and Child Development convened on 25th August 2009 at CYP Africa Centre to deliberate on the urgent action required to reduce marginalisation of Young People in Society.
Further to this CYP and ILO worked together to commemorate the African Youth Day on 1st November 2009.
Get Ahead Training for Youth Enterprise
ILO and CYP have worked together in delivering the Get Ahead Training workshops in different parts of the country. On 14th to 18th December 2009 ILO/CYP co- facilitated a Pre-testing Workshop on the adapted GET Ahead for Youth in Enterprise Manual in order to validate the material.
National Youth Symposium
ILO and CYP in collaboration with supportive efforts of other organisations such a UNICEF, UNFPA, SNV and Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development participated at the launch of the 2nd National Youth Symposium held in September 2009. The Symposium organised by National Youth Development Council under the auspices of the Ministry of Sport Youth and Child Developments (MSYCD) brings together youth leaders and youth development practitioners from all provinces of Zambia to deliberate on pertinent youth development issues. CYP/ILO reaffirmed their commitment to working in partnership with MSYCD and other development partners to ensure that Zambia receives the necessary technical assistance needed to ensure appropriate levels of youth development.
Private – Public Partnership Launch
4th December 2009, CYPRCA and ILO participated in a signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ministry of Sport Youth and Child Development and Stakeholders in the Youth Resource Centers Partnership Programme. Other partners in attendance were Barclays, and UNICEF.
Work focus areas ILO/CYP 2010
ILO Youth Employment Focus
In order to realize the outlined objectives the ILO Youth Employment Project has laid out a number of activities indicated below:
- Develop a National Action Plan on Youth Employment and support Zambia’s membership of the Youth Employment Network (YEN)
- Consultative workshops for ILO constituents (government, employers’ organization and workers’ organizations) and other stakeholders working on youth employment
- Support the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development in its efforts to fulfill YEN Commitments and reporting on YEN benchmarks
- Provide support to the development of a national youth employment network that will enable youth employment actors in Zambia to carry out better coordinated interventions
- Facilitate entrepreneurship, job quality and youth rights for youth skills training centres in Zambia
- Training of trainers’ workshops in GET Ahead for Youth in Enterprise
- Training young people in GET Ahead for Youth in Enterprise
- Training of Trainers in Job Quality and Youth Rights
- Training young people in Job Quality and Youth Rights
- Support the development of an effective labour market information (LMI) system covering both the demand and supply sides and identifying sectors for youth employment opportunities
- Review the capacity of organizations responsible for national statistical information and other LMI institutions, including employment services with a view to strengthen their capacity
- Build capacity in relevant institutions through the provision of training on the analysis of statistical data on employment, particularly on youth
- Provide support and advice to the government and other institutions to monitor youth employment data
- Conduct studies and analysis on employment absorption of young people in the labour market
- Conduct studies to analyse the potential growth-oriented sectors
CYP Youth Employment Focus
To meet the CYPRCA operational targets for 2008-2012, YESL will for the 2009-2010 operational year conduct a regional needs assessment and stakeholder analysis on youth employment including collating and analysing good practices and relevant interventions; preparing a data bank on youth employment scenarios and analysing information on youth employment trends; crafting a market plan for scaling up the Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative (CYCI) as a workable model for youth enterprise development; promote collaboration between YE implementing agencies and Ministries responsible for youth in member countries, and, facilitate the establishment of strategic alliances with relevant bilateral organisations and regional networks and National NGOs.
The focus of the Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative (CYCI) will be on delivering modules 4 (training) and supported with module 1 (creating an enabling environment). CYCI coverage is expected to increase through a comprehensive advocacy and marketing campaign showcasing CYCI as a workable model for youth employment. YESL will further strive to implement expert recommendations made on developing a Youth Entrepreneurship Mentorship Programme (YEMP). A training programme targeting officials of Youth Ministries in member countries and other Youth Development Practitioners (YDPs) in National Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Policy (NYEP) development will be introduced and successfully piloted within the period.
Some specific interventions outlined for 2009-2010 programme year includes:
- Conduct Stakeholder analysis of youth employment in the region
- Situation assessment of member countries utilizing the Commonwealth Policy Environment Score (PES), Youth Ministry Assessment Tool (YMAT), and other diagnostic tool(s)
- Desk review of NAP on Youth Employment (YE) in the Region (in-house). Develop YE data base and advocate for the establishment of
- Advocate for the formation of National Working Committees (NWCs)/ PPPs on Youth Employment by stakeholders to promote youth employment in member countries.
- Design Marketing plan, advocacy programmes and materials to promote CYCI as a workable model in Zambia
- Showcase CYCI as a workable model at national and international platforms.
- Establish partnerships with International Labour Organization (ILO), Youth Employment Network (YEN), Prince Youth Business Int. (PYBI), Youth Employment Summit (YES), Commonwealth Service Abroad Programme (CSAP), etc. to promote youth employment.
- Orient and deploy Technical Advisors to provide Technical Assistance and Programme Support Services (PSS) to member countries.
- Disseminate CYCI Best Practice and Mentorship Tool-guide. Benchmark Africa guide with other guides.
- Capacity Building and Regional consultations on Youth Employment (Youth Employment Academy) with ILO/YEN/ICECD/a Training Institution.
- Development of training programme on National Youth Employment Policies and Programme (NYEPs). In preparation for delivery 2010/2011 programme Year.
- Support Adaptation of ILO's GET Ahead for Women in Enterprise Training Manuals to GET Ahead for Youth in Enterprise.
- Provide technical assessment
- Develop Pre-chapter for Trainers on “working with young people”
- Support development of CD ROM, Online platform
- Participate in and facilitate training programmes in youth entrepreneurship.
- Provide technical support
- Support member countries’ participation
- Advocate for Member countries to become YEN lead countries. At least one country to successfully become lead country in this programme year.
- Develop and implement Phase out strategies for ongoing CYCI country programmes
Recommendations
The team, in noting the several areas of convergence in the work-plans presented by the youth employment programmes of both the ILO and CYPRCA;
Underscoring the marked benefits that have accrued to both institutions during the projects and programme collaborated in as well as the returns on future collaboration between the International Labour Organization and the Commonwealth Youth Programme; and
In fulfillment of the desire of the two organisations to collaborate,
We recommend therefore that;
- In the indefinite period, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, and the Commonwealth Youth Programme Regional Centre for Africa (CYPRCA) should develop and strengthen collaboration in (but not limited to) Youth Employment (YE) in these countries and Africa at large.
- That, in the foreseeable future ILO and CYPRCA should strengthen broad YE collaboration on the lines of the General Areas of Proposed Collaboration as outlined in Annex A of this report.
- That, within 2010, ILO and CYPRCA should concentrate on deepening collaboration towards the delivery of the specific initiatives as contained in Annex B.
Annex A: General Areas of Proposed Collaboration
In general, the team observes that, ILO and CYPRCA can effectively collaborate in the following areas of work:
- Zambia National Youth Policy review (*framework development)
- Zambia National Plan of Action review with special focus on youth employment
- Develop a Joint youth employment review , M & E & impact assessment tools/framework with dates/areas of operation
- Enhance Zambia’s role in YEN (Move the mandate forward, look at the responsibilities/roles/harness benefits)
- Capacity building development for youth employment
- Youth Resource Centre’s
- Government agencies/Social Partners/Corporating Partners
- ICT for entrepreneurship development
- Adaptation of Get Ahead
- Promotion of Know About Business (KAB)
- Making Zambia the hub of GET Ahead for Youth in Enterprise
- Enhance knowledge sharing and bench marking
Annex B: Specific Areas of Collaboration January to June 2010
- Initiate Zambia National Youth Policy (NYP) review
- Support National Action Plan Development Process–
- Develop an (extract on youth employment )
- Annual Work Plan Development for the MSYCD
- Zambia Youth Employment Review
- Joint M & E Framework
- Support Evaluation of Youth Resource Center Partnerships
- Technical Support to MSYCD (Zambia as YEN lead Country)
- Support YE Reporting System
- Benefits and Responsibilities
- Youth Employment Status in Zambia
- Support Collation of credible data on YE in Zambia
- Support development of labour market Information systems
- YE Material Development
- Adaptation of GET Ahead materials
- Support for development of other YE materials
- Capacity building
- Train youth entrepreneurs in Enterprise Development using GET Ahead for Youth in Enterprise
- Develop capacity of Trainers to deliver GET Ahead trainings for youth
- Provide Business Development Services to Youth Entrepreneurs
- Enhance knowledge sharing and benchmarking meetings
- Develop programmes to showcase success of ILO/CYPRCA YE programmes to the International community
- Make Zambia the hub for GET Ahead for Youth in Enterprise
Annex C: Team Members
| Name | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Annie D. Popopo | CYP |
| Belinda Chanda | ILO |
| Japhet M. Banda | ILO |
| Milensu Kapaipi | ILO |
| Steve Nyondo | CYP |
| Victor P. K. Mensah | CYP |
