Evaluation of the Maghreb Regional Training Programme - Indevelop

6 Conclusion
The project purpose was ‘to increase the institutional capacity of the three agencies
participating in the regional competence development programme to provide assistance
to selected target groups, i.e. young, highly educated persons as well as members
of vulnerable groups in the labour market (working poor, women, handicapped,
long-term unemployed)’.
In general, it can be argued that the project has contributed to reinforcing the institutional
capacity of the PES in the specific areas that were agreed. Although the
overall objective may have been achieved, not all specific objectives were realised.
The first three outcomes have been achieved to a large extent. Some of the indicators
identified, however, are not met. For example, in Algeria only one forecasting report
was produced (three reports was the indicator) and it appears that no data are available
to verify whether the number of disabled persons that received employment
through ANETI can be attributed to AF’s contribution. The objective included selected
targeted groups such as young, highly educated persons as well as members of
vulnerable groups (women, disabled and long term unemployed). In Tunisia, the focus
on disabled people has been well developed and shows promising results.
The focus on women appears more challenging and they are not a specific target
group in the components. Gender equity has received marginal attention and is appears
less relevant to the PES. Cultural barriers and perceptions about women’s roles
and status continue in Tunisia and across the Maghreb and are more pertinent in rural
areas. Long term unemployment programmes exist in Tunisia and the recent recruitment
of PES advisors were long term unemployed. AF’s support could have indirectly
been beneficial to long-term unemployed, youth or women, for example,
through the support to systems and matching job seekers and employers but these
vulnerable groups cannot be distinguished in retrospect. In Morocco and Algeria,
those groups have not been specifically targeted except for youth in Morocco. Registration
as a jobseeker at a PES in Morocco is not linked to any unemployment benefit
and this voluntary system cannot cater for these target groups. Programmes targeted
at vulnerable groups as identified in the programme have not been considered a priority
in both Morocco and Algeria and AF’s impact in this area is weak.
It must be noted, however, that AF has worked in a dynamic environment in
which significant political, economic and social changes have taken place in the
Maghreb and that the overall objective was defined in a medium to long term perspective.
Monitoring in the PESs is weak and therefore reliable data are not easily
available. It is without doubt, however, that AFs contribution to the overall objective
is significant.
The two remaining outcomes have not been achieved. It was assumed that the
three PESs would have increased cooperation at national level among different employment
stakeholders and that they would be able to develop instruments for the
promotion of self-employment. These outcomes did not receive any budget in the AF
programme and to assume that the PES would indeed be able to make progress was
overambitious as well as unrealistic given that the three countries were not able to
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