ILO Course: Employment-intensive investment for sustainable development

BACKGROUND

Sustainable development is generally described as the "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Bruntland report, 1987). It is a process that requires appropriate and coordinated policies, spanning over the social, economic and environmental spheres; a process that should integrate among its main objectives the creation of decent and productive jobs and an equal allocation of the available resources.
In developing countries and transition economies, this process has been lagging behind due to endogenous problems (bad governance, weak financial capacity, lack of infrastructure, etc…), often made worse by global phenomena such as migration, climate changes, or the recent financial and economic crisis.
Within this framework, the training course being offered will consider the role and the potential of public investment policies and programmes, with particular attention given to the infrastructure and construction sectors in which a large share of public resources are invested.

The international experience shows that employment-intensive investments (EII) in works and services of public and community interest can be competitive and sustainable in low-wage and labour-surplus economies. Under a complementary perspective of social security, the EII programmes can also constitute efficient responses to crises and situations of extreme poverty.

The course will focus on the characteristics of these different programmes and relevant design and implementation modalities. Good practices in force in some countries will be illustrated.

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE

The ultimate aim of the course is to contribute towards the adoption and effective implementation of national policies and investment programmes favouring the optimum use of the employment intensive techniques in order to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development.

More specifically, upon completing their training, participants will know better the features and operational aspects of the employment-intensive investment approaches supported by the ILO and other agencies, and will be able to give relevant contributions to the elaboration of appropriate development policies in their own countries.

Venue
International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-ILO), Turin - ITALY

Dates
14 - 18 June 2010

Deadline for Subscription
7 May 2010

Language
English

Target Audience
- High level policy-makers and senior government officials responsible for macro-economy or sectoral policies, as well as for national investment plans, employment promotion or poverty reduction strategies.
- National associations of workers and employers (representatives from the BTP and construction sector).
- Staff of institutions and development programmes.
- Research / training institutions in the development field.
- The participation of qualified women and men is encouraged.
- A good command of the English language is essential for an effective participation.

PROGRAMME
Day 1: Employment-Intensive Investment (EII)
• EII approaches and methods: relevant concepts
• The use of EII methods in the construction sector
• The different dimensions of the EII approaches: economic, social and environmental
• The gender dimension of EII

Day 2: Application frameworks of EII methods
• EII as a response to the crisis – Targeted employment programmes.
• EII in a local development pattern (decentralisation and the optimal use of local resources)
• A macroeconomic frame: impact evaluation of investments on employment (of methods and results)

Day 3: Private sector role and decent work
• Public markets and decent work
• SME implications and public-private partnerships
• EII: training-related aspects
• Labour policies and practices: improving working conditions

Day 4: Institutionalisation of EII approach
• Employment policies and EII
• EII programmes within poverty reduction strategies and national development plans
• Mainstreaming EII: options and operational mechanisms

Day 5: Conclusions and recommendations
• Employment Intensive Investments: orientations for future work (group discussion)
• Final wrap-up

METHODOLOGY

The course will combine individual presentations by experts, panel discussions, and group work on selected topics.

The Turin Centre’s staff will facilitate the course with the assistance of specialists from ILO HQs and field units. A highly participatory approach will be adopted for ensuring an active intervention of all participants and a constructive exchange of ideas and information.

In conformity with the Turin Centre procedures, an evaluation of the course will be carried out at the end of the event to determine the perceived relevance of course contents to participants’ needs and the effectiveness of the methodology and materi-als employed in achieving the course's training objectives.

COST AND FINANCING

The course is fee-paying.. The total cost of Euros 2,000 includes:

(a) Tuition fees (EUR 1,040), covering programme development and management, the use of classrooms and teaching equipment, office supplies, training materials, and secretarial and administrative support costs;

(b) Participant subsistence (EUR 960), including bed & breakfast, two meals, personal laundry, insurance, minor medical care, socio-cultural activities and a course dinner.
Please note that the prices shown do not include the cost of travel between the participant’s home and the course venue.

The organisers are in a position to offer a limited number of fellowships to selected candidates.

For additional information please contact:

Activity Manager
Valter NEBULONI (Mr)
v.nebuloni[at]itcilo.org
Tel.: +39 011 693 6432

Course Assistant
Sophie OUINE (Ms)
s.ouine[at]itcilo.org
Tel.: +39 011 693 6522
Fax: +39 011 693 6749