Evaluation of the Maghreb Regional Training Programme - Indevelop

e
3 E V A L U A T I O N C R I T E R I A A N D Q U E S T I O N S
seminars (intermediation through distance services, labour market data collection and
analysis and support to vulnerable groups) relevant as they are at the core of PES activities
in all three countries. ANAPEC, however, acknowledges that the approach of
the topics is different in each country and that the exchange of ideas and the learning
element is relevant to all three agencies. As part of the AF project ANEM, for example,
organised a regional seminar on long term unemployed, disabled people and
young jobseekers in March 2010 (with the participation of Pôle emploi and the ILO).
Although ANEM is appreciative of this initiative, ithas been more interested, involved
and active in the two other components.
The exchanges are useful but do not necessarily represent a common interest
among the three PES.
3.3 EFFECTIVENESS
Effectiveness assesses the extent to which the project achieved its objectives, including
outcomes that were not budgeted for. In addition, it addresses whether and
to what extent regional cooperation has been institutionalized.
Some interlocutors appreciate that AF takes a non-domineering role and provides
its support through short missions, including workshops and training sessions. They
also appreciate AF’s flexibility and in particular when the unexpected events took
place in Tunisia and the timeframe for activities and locations for meetings had to be
changed. Others argue that they would benefit from longer exposure to AF’s support,
e.g. in forecasting, in order to have more hands-on supervision and direct contact to
discuss and learn. Given that the support was provided on an intermittent basis, AF
could not monitor progress closely and only from a distance. In general, contact was
not regular enough to fully understand how the PESs advanced.
3.3.1 Support to systems
In all three countries support to systems has been provided based on the outcome
“systems for labour market intermediation through web-based employment services
further developed, tested and approved”. The PES have continued to work on their
web-based employment services which has increased accessibility to information for
both job seekers and employers as interviewees confirmed. They claim that some key
results include firstly that the role of the PES as a facilitator to assist job seekers and
employers has improved. The web provides an independent and transparent medium
for both parties to meet. The PES has become a more neutral intermediary promoting
services in a transparent manner to both sets of clients. This increases the credibility
of the PES and creates a level of trust. It also creates a level of individual freedom for
users to work on their employment opportunities independently. Secondly, the information
can be accessed at any time from any location. Those who do not have individual
access can visit PES service centres where assistance can be provided. Given
that a high number of users are young they can be better targeted through the internet
and the web since they all have IT skills and a high number of users possess a mobile
phone and visit internet cafés. Thirdly, in most cases users are provided with a unique
number which permits PES to collects data that are useful to target specific groups.
For example, in Tunisia, those who would like to attend workshops to improve their
interview skills or follow a course on how to set up their own business can be easily
identified. The same data can also prevent fraud since it will be difficult to collect
15