Overview:

The programme sought to align employment strategies of the private and public sector in support of the youth labor market, while ensuring that unemployed youth, with or without diplomas, had better access and skills necessary for decent jobs and job creation.

The JP sought to better understand employment and entrepreneurship sectors, including green jobs and the informal sector. The main results  include appropriation in governance and local planning (Regional Action plans for Employment (PARE) and implementation of mechanisms in the governance of migration (public/private partnerships, exploration of new countries of destinations, etc.).

It was also able to encourage young people, in particular young women in rural areas, craftswomen and young prisoners to create groups or cooperatives for crafts, agriculture and livestock (outcome 2).

The JP was also able to promote entrepreneurship, for example, through the creation of an on-line platform for dialogue  through the Web and via the social media  which had more than 4000 members in May 2013. It also supported innovative projects in an entrepreneurial culture utilizing partnerships as a lever of scale (Souk at-Tanmia) (outcome 3).

Additional Resources Mobilized: US$1.3 million (2 million DNT) seed grants for jobs creation in counter part funding raised from ADB, USAID, UKAID, Total, Danemark AM and Tunisiana.

Outcome 1:

By 2013, public and private partners introduce new employment mechanisms better suited to the specific needs of young unemployed graduates and non-graduates in the targeted regions (Tunis, El Kef, Gafsa).

Outcome Achievements:

• Establishment of mechanisms for migration governance (such as public/private partnerships and exploring new countries of destination).
• The JP supported capacity building of regional structures (institutions, civil society, private sector) through training in the design and implementation of regional plans, as well as in management and coordination, such as local technical committees framework. This support enabled the committees to develop three regional action plans for employment (PARE) and to mobilize other partners to initiate priority actions identified.
• Officials of public institutions benefited from training to support entrepreneurs, job seekers or candidates for migration.
• Several studies on green sector, informal technical training, handicraft (carpet).

Outcome 2:

By 2013, a portion of unemployed youth, with or without diplomas, have better access to remunerated decent jobs (regions of Tunis, El Kef and Gatsa).

Outcome Achievements:

• The JP provided support to youth groups that face greater difficulties in achieving employment, especially young women in rural areas, artisans (cooperatives, associations, training and coaching) and young prisoners.

Outcome 3:

By 2013, a portion of young unemployed graduates and non graduates in the targeted regions create their own projects.

Outcome Achievements:

• Support to innovative projects and entrepreneurial culture (Souk at-tanmia)
• Support and training for new SMEs (small and medium enterprises): ex-prisoners in Kef (106) and Gafsa (20) a group of young women in Sidi Mtir (20) Kef and unemployed youth in the areas of Gafsa (47) and Kef (16).
• The design and creation of a platform for dialogue on the web and via social media with more than 4,000 members to date (DEP).

Best Practices:

• "Regional Actions Plans for Youth Employment" (PARE) The JP supported the development of regional action plans for youth employment (PARE) in the three governorates (El Kef, Gafsa and Ariana (Grand Tunis)). Each PARE proposes strategic actions to improve the employment situation of young people in the governorate, and proposals for public-private cooperation. They are intended to provide reference material for all actions to be taken for the promotion of employment in the region. To achieve the result of a plan strategically relevant, credible and recognized, the initiative has supported capacity building of regional structures through training in the design and planning of regional plans, as well as in management in a collaborative such as local technical committees framework. This support, which began in July 2011, (six months after the revolution), in a context in transition was realized by the development of regional action plans for employment in each governorate, the development of local governance little or not existing before the revolution and the start of the implementation of the priority actions identified. The Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment has also planned to extend this experience throughout the national territory.
• During the first half the Programme focused on providing institutional support to improve labor migration. During the second half the JP completed four particularly interesting activities: 1) Reintegration of returnees: Both the revolution in Libya and the economic downturn in southern European countries led to an increase in returning youth. The JP supported those motivated to create their own micro or small business through technical support (information, guidance , support , advice) as well as direct support for the acquisition of equipment- level cost of capital expenditure (eg a machine, a sign). In total, thirty young returnees were supported in the targeted regions of Kef and Gafsa. 2) Public-private partnership (PPP). Signing of a tripartite agreement between the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment (MFPE), the International Agency for Human Resources Services and Recruitment Adecco and IOM so that the MFPE can benefit from strong international network of recruitment of Adecco in potential destination countries. This initiative was developed as the pilot. 3) Temporary migration to Belgium. This initiative targeted the "niche market" in the field of nursing clinics and homes for the elderly in Belgium by providing pre-departure training in the Flemish language. 4) Temporary labor migration to Canada organized in collaboration with public institutional partners, a Tunisian (ANETI) and the Canadian cooperation. ANETI, with the support of the Joint Programme, ensured identification and preparation of suitable applicants, while the Canadian Cooperation linked the demand of businesses and organizations with the Tunisian offer in the various trades.
• Training activities aimed at supporting the rehabilitation of young offenders and self-employed young women in rural areas, as well as unemployed graduates and non-graduates regions of Kef and Gafsa through the creation of modules to help them create their own projects and SMEs in different activities proposed.

Lessons learned:

• Strong M&E systems are crucial to JP efficient reporting.
• Constant and effective coordination is essential to achieve JP results and mitigate implementation delays. 

More details can be found in the documents below.