Activation Policies for the Poor in OIC Member States
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countries across income groupings focus on providing training to younger workers to address youth
unemployment. A growing number of countries across the OIC are also focusing on providing
training that meets the needs of private sector employers.
Job search support services differ significantly across countries in different income groupings. Low
and lower-middle income countries are constrained in terms of the services they can offer due to
lack of funding. In low income countries in particular there is a lack of reliable data and jobseekers
have limited access to services. Jobseekers, therefore, often rely on informal networks to find
employment. Upper-middle income countries tend to have a PES structured similarly to those found
in developed countries, although a lack of equipment does also limit the quality of services. High
income countries are able to invest significant resources into their PES and offer more tailored
support to jobseekers based on their needs.
Table 4: Trends in Terms of Use of Activation Tools.
Job creation Training Job search support
Low income These measures may focus on
addressing immediate or
chronic need, e.g. through
public works programmes
such as Employment
Guarantee Schemes.
Low literacy rates mean
countries are expanding access
to education. Countries with
higher education levels focus
on vocational skills training for
workers.
A lack of data, particularly at a
local level, and poor access to
services can typify job search
support. Jobseekers often use
informal networks to find
employment.
Lower-
middle
Countries may combine short-
term measures with longer
term promotion of the private
sector.
Training is largely targeted at
young people due to high
youth unemployment. In many
cases this skills mismatch is a
factor.
Support tends to be present
through the PES although lack
of funding can limit access.
Lack of conditionality for
jobseekers and employers to
register also limits impact.
Upper-
middle
There is a longer term focus on
job creation through economic
diversification and the
promotion of skilled
industries.
Countries are likely to focus on
developing a skilled workforce
in order to meet needs
associated with growing high
skill industries.
A structured PES is likely to
collect job vacancy
information, provide
counselling and hold job fairs.
Access can be improved using
partner organisations.
High
income
Job creation is targeted at
promoting the private sector
to workers.
Training centres on providing
the skills required by private
sector employers in order to
increase the attractiveness of
the national workforce
compared to foreign workers.
There is extensive investment
in services, including a focus
on different types of
jobseekers and their needs, e.g.
people with disabilities.
Note: This classification is made by the authors of the study
The table above summarises the trends in terms of how the three activation tools are used in each
income grouping.
Impact assessments on the success of activation programmes and policies as tools for poverty
alleviation are limited. However, it is clear that the objective and delivery of policies and
programmes affect the impact of activation on poverty alleviation. Short-term programmes are
unlikely to have significant impact in terms of promoting employment and economic growth in the
long-term. On the other hand, longer term and more extensive programmes, such as the significant
investment in Saudi Arabia’s Taqat job search support programme mean that the programmes have
greater capacity to support individuals. Low and lower-middle income countries do have long-term
strategies in place which incorporate activation measures as a tool for poverty alleviation. The
challenge they face is in implementing these strategies, however, due to funding being much more
limited than in high income countries.