Activation Policies for the Poor in OIC Member States
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National policy objectives and delivery
Best practice
A policy focus on, and investment in, activation measures have been recognised as a requirement by
several OIC Member States. In high income Member States that are more likely to have developed
social safety net programmes, such as Saudi Arabia, activation counteracts the disincentive to work
often caused by the provision of social assistance. Activation also supports the financial
sustainability of social safety net programmes. In lower income Member States, activation supports
employment growth and, intrinsically linked to that, economic growth. To ensure efficient use of
resources and knowledge sharing, it is best practice for the design and delivery of activation
measures to be overseen and coordinated by a lead organisation.
Cross cutting recommendations
A clear, integrated activation strategy with clear and measurable objectives is valuable in the context
of poverty alleviation.
The study has aimed to show clear examples of activation measures improving the employability of
the poor and the effect of this on poverty alleviation. Based on these findings, it is recommended that
Member States consider focusing on activation as part of their national policy objectives. Where
activation is integrated into development and growth strategies, clear and measurable targets would
be needed to ensure progress can be monitored against objectives. Achieving targets and
implementing activation strategies would require dedicated investment from Member States. This is
more likely to be problematic for low income Member States. However, investment and commitment
from Member States could also encourage other organisations to support Member States to address
capacity gaps.
Ministries and agencies across government should be encouraged to contribute to an activation
strategy under clear leadership and governance arrangements.
Different government ministries and agencies within Member States are responsible for activation
measures, such as job creation within their particular remits. The involvement of different ministries
and agencies is important to ensure support across government for an activation strategy and to
encourage contributions to programmes. However, to oversee cooperation and an effective use of
resources, a lead ministry could be assigned responsibility for overseeing the activation strategy.
Individual programme design and performance
Best practice
A country’s public employment service (PES) is often best placed to lead the delivery of activation
because of the relationship it can broker between jobseekers and employers, and due to having
training and job creation tools at its disposal. In Cameroon, for example, the PES provides jobseekers
with job search support and engages with employers. Employment advisors work with both
jobseekers and employers so that they can quickly match their customers to the job vacancies they
identify. The PES also refers jobseekers to funded skills training courses and supports
entrepreneurs.
The engagement with employers by the PES should also be carried out in the design and delivery of
activation programmes. In Uganda, employers were involved with the designing of the strategy
paper Skilling Uganda. This meant that important insight was given into the skills required by
employers, allowing for skills mismatch and the quality of vocational skills training to be addressed.
It also highlighted the need to raise the status of vocational skills training.
Although Member States do aim to address poverty through activation, the poor can be difficult to
identify and therefore target. In this instance, other characteristics which are related to the
likelihood of an individual being poor or vulnerable can be used to identify target groups for
activation programmes. In Saudi Arabia, for example, some activation measures are targeted