Employment Generation in Fragile Setting: Challenges and Opportunities

1. Employment Generation in Fragile Setting: Challenges and Opportunities Prepared for IGNITE! SPARK annual conference on Youth Entrepreneurship Development in Conflict Affected Environments, 20.11.2013 Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Policy issues + Experiencebased on ourtechnicalcooperation DONATO KINIGER-PASSIGLI, Fragile States and Disaster Response Group

2. Global (un)employment: Trends and perspectives • Global youth employment crisis is worsening • Global youth unemployment is estimated to be 73.4 million in 2013 • Projections for 2014 show a further increase to 12.7 % • Young people continue to suffer disproportionately from decent work deficits • Young working poor equals to 3 times global unemployment • Skills mismatch hampers the matching of jobseekers and job openings • There is a mismatch between the skills young people possess and the skills that demanded by employers

3. Employment as a pathwaytowardsstability, development and peace… The importance of (youth) employment programmes in fragile settings is gaining increased international awareness.

4. Unemployment = violence? (Youth) unemployment is a key stress factors that drivers people to participate in conflict and violence. • Motivations young people cited for joining militias: • to escape unemployment 39,5% • ideological reasons 13% World Bank 2011

5. Employment = peace? • Key assumptions… • Lackof income + loss of livelihoods = conflict • Employmentgeneration = peace + stability • … but be aware of simplistic solutions: • In fragile settings it is often the experience of employment, rather than unemployment, that is a main driver of conflict and violence • Need for early employment generation with a systematic approach towards sustained development and resilience

6. Generating Employment in conflict-affected and fragile settings Inclusive approachesbased on equity and security Communitylevelreintegration Comprehensivelabour marketassessment, value chainanalysis & training for the ‘right trade’ Coexisting programmes and policies

7. Generating Employment in conflict-affected and fragile settings Communitylevelreintegration • Rebuildingcommunities • Investments for local recovery and reconstruction • Development of local capacities • Creative solutions from local and global knowledge

8. Generating Employment in conflict-affected and fragile settings Inclusive approachesbased on equity and security • All programmes must be inclusive duringstablisation/transition • Target communities of reinsertion, not ex-combatantsonly • Createimmediate job opportunities, sustainablelivelihoods and institutionalcapacitysimultaneously

9. Generating Employment in conflict-affected and fragile settings • Programmes geared to needs of youth emerging from conflict • Attention to the supply side of labour but also to stimulus on demand • Private-public partnerships to engage youth/enhance entrepreneurship • Active role of social partners in conflict resolution Comprehensivelabour marketassessment, value chainanalysis & training for the ‘right trade’

10. Generating Employment in conflict-affected and fragile settings • Both, upstream and policy work and downstream stabilisation programmes are essential • Livelihood recovery in the shortest possible time should coexist with employment-oriented strategies and local economic recovery Coexisting programmes and policies

11. Generating Employment in conflict-affected and fragile settings One Programme on Three Concurrent Tracks Peace Negotiations Stabilization Transition Reintegration Hosting, Local Communities Target groups Nation Wide Peace Agreement Pre-assessments Inclusive approachesbased on equity and security Communitylevelreintegration Income Security Basic Social Needs Sustainable Employment Creation and Decent Work Pre-Peace Accord Planning Comprehensivelabour marketassessment, value chainanalysis & training for the ‘right trade’ Coexisting programmes and policies Peacebuilding Process Track A STABILIZING INCOME GENERATION & EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT Track B LOCAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY FOR EMPLOYMENT AND REINTEGRATION Track C SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT CREATION AND DECENT WORK

12. Case studies: • Over the past 15 years the ILO technically coordinated development projects in over 30 conflict-prone countries Recuperación Económica Local

13. Before implementing programmes…Think YOUTH! YOUTH • Promotingyouthemploymentis a challengingendeavour • Building the future of societies • Facilitatingpeace and stability OUNG PEN NDERSTANDING Key question for success: RUSTWORTHY ‘How do young people experience and perceiveemploymentopportunities?’ UMBLE

14. Case Study: Liberia 2009 • Target groups • Direct beneficiaries: ex-combatants • Indirect beneficiars: youth • Opportunities • Institutional support of Government and civil society • Skills training and employment • Empowermentthrough social cohesion • Decentwork promotion for youth (informaleconomy/agriculture, waste management, construction) • Challenges • 14 years of war hindered basic education • Children/youth were the bulk of (forcefully) recruited fighters • A ‘lostgeneration’ thatneverexperiencedpeace in theirlifetime

15. Case Studies: Sierra Leone and Burundi 2011 • Target groups • Direct beneficiaries: ex-combatants • Indirect beneficiars: youth • Challenges • Transition countries, fragile post-conflict recovery, crisis of traditional societies Low life expectancy (average age 17) • Massive number of unemployed youth (60%) • Youth vulnerable to recruitment for criminal activities/spoilers • Poor infrastructures, no institutional capacity • Plethora of uncoordinated employment programmes • Opportunities • Integrated approach to job creation based on short term and long-term employment and reintegration programme. • Maximise employment impact of existing programmes and investments. • 3 tracks/strategies: • 1) Livelihood stabilization • 2) Local economic recovery • 3) Long-term employment and inclusive economic growth

16. The Seven E’s for Operating in Fragile Settings E EDUCATION ENGAGEMENT EMPOWERMENT EQUITY EXPECTATIONS ENTREPRENEURSHIP EXPERIENCE