Overview:

The JP sought to strengthen local level institutions and the decrease poverty through income and employment generation.

Under outcome 1 the JP contributed to the consolidation of existing Government capacities to promote employment generation and entrepreneurship by supporting an articulated implementation of public policies, with a focus on vulnerable youth. This in turn helped to promote women’s access to more relevant roles within the production structure.  It also helped to reach the most vulnerable groups including indigenous populations and youth with disabilities through the strengthening organizations and by promoting local level articulation.  In this regard and under Outcome 2, the JP supported access to financial education and microcredit for groups normally excluded, as well as the provision of seed money. Both youth and government officials received training to solidify this activity.  As a result of the programme activities 2,000 youth had access to financial products and 2,536 received some type of financial education.  A public institution for the management of remittances was also established.

Under outcome 3 the JP sought to enhance services provided to domestic workers while strengthening the institutions that support them. This was done through increasing understanding of their rights together with increased public awareness in regard to their vulnerability. As a result of the JP’s activities the ILO Convention 189 was ratified, putting Paraguay at the forefront in the region, and over 18,000 domestic workers have access to health insurance.

Outcome 1:

Capacities built within the State to promote youth employment.

Outcome Achievements:

• Public policies on vulnerable youth employment have been incorporated into the government’s social development programmes.
• Capacity building of employment agencies’ personnel.
• 10,025 beneficiaries received training, including 4,972 youths who received training in finance and 138 in entrepreneurship.
• Strengthening of the Office for attention to Paraguayan citizens abroad (DACPE) and training of 845 of its staff.
• Awareness raising within the public sector, civil society, and diplomatic services, amongst others, of the challenges surrounding migration and the threats of trafficking with a focus on migration to Argentina.

Outcome 2:

Public financing institutions increased their support to traditionally excluded groups.

Outcome Achievements:

• A small grants programme was supported to improve youth’s access to public financing with a focus on women. 2,000 youth and women had access to financial products and 2,536 received some type of financial education.
• A public institution was established to manage remittances.
• Created two financial products, one for young entrepreneurs and another to support women entrepreneurs. This was supported with training of officials and the creation of materials for dissemination.

Outcome 3:

Public and private service for remunerated domestic improved.

Outcome Achievements:

• Creation and support to the Network for Support to paid domestic workers.
• An intervention manual was created along with advocacy and training material.
• Pilot programme to give domestic workers access to formal education as well as training on technology and communication.
• Strengthening of the Office for social advancement of women workers and three support centers.
• IOM Convention 189 ratified (among first countries in the region to ratify it after intense lobby).
• 1,290 civil servants were trained on human rights protection as well as justice and social services access for domestic workers.
• 18,076 domestic workers now have access to health insurance.

Best Practices:

• The JP created a procedures manual to agree on coordination, management, roles and mechanisms  for the implementation of the JP. This was particularly important given the lack of continuity on the side of the national counterparts.
• The JP promoted substantive involvement, empowerment and ownership of the national counterparts both within Government and civil society.
• Concrete actions were taken to ensure inclusion of JP components in operative plans and budgets of government counterparts (14 actions identified).
• Policy and legislative level results (Youth Employment policy and ratification of ILO Convention 189).
• Synergies with economic governance JP were achieved.

Lessons Learned:

• Constant advocacy with local authorities mitigates the risks of priority changes due, for instance, to national elections.
• The JP should have had a communications strategy from the beginning designed jointly with national partners.
• Coordination within UN agencies is crucial to ensure JP’s effective implementation and the achievement of its results. 

More details can be found in the documents below.