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Technical Cooperation Project for the State of Qatar – Phase 2 - Final evaluation

eval_number:

3529

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/3529

lessons_learned:

themes:

theme:

Programme implementation

category:

Organizational issues

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comments:

ILO Doha Project Office; Government of Qatar.

challenges:

National institutions perceived that the international media and public opinion did not adequately consider and acknowledge the level of efforts, the accelerated pace of reforms, and the progresses of the country in changing the labour sector. Several evaluation informants mentioned a difficult balance to be found between maintaining pressure on the GOQ through flagging labour sector issues and shortcomings and encouraging change by acknowledging progress and the positive momentum of reforms.

success:

Collaboration of the project with the FIFA and with national football associations was found productive and contributing to the decent work agenda, with room for prolonged partnership. Developing a media strategy during the World Cup in close coordination with DCOMS and ROAS communication department ensures the dissemination of accurate and credible information and knowledge that has helped mitigate potential reputational risks for the ILO and increasing knowledge and awareness about progress on labour rights in Qatar.

context:

Some project activities were parked by the MOL due to competing priorities. In absence of tripartite or inclusive governance structure for the project, decision making was not participatory. Several informants shared their concerns about a risk for the labour reforms to slow down after the World Cup, calling for renewed visible engagement from the GOQ. The presence of a communication strategy and discussion developed between the project office in Qatar and the regional and HQ level on COMS ensured that a unified point of view is presented to all media outlets which helped ensure the credibility of the ILO work and diffuse any potential reputational risks for the Organisation.

description:

The hosting of the World Cup had several effects on the project, sometimes pulling effects in different directions. On the one side it raised expectations for accelerated reforms and project outcomes, increasing the visibility on the labour sector and gaps in Qatar. On the other side it created competing priorities and additional work challenging the absorption capacity of the project team and national partners. The ILO engaged in a coordinated corporate communication process, aligning data and messages and assembling communication specialists at the global, regional and national levels throughout the event. The ILO Doha Office for example received and handled more than 130 media requests around the period of the World Cup, committing significant amount of time to raising awareness and sharing independent nuanced information with a perception of inertia and moderate benefits. Some of the communication tools were produced quite late in the process. There was limited proactive and periodic press or media briefings but more reactive presentations and meetings. However, coordinated efforts helped to mitigate potential reputational risks for the ILO and increasing knowledge and awareness about progress on labour rights in Qatar.

administrative_issues:

-

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/lessons/1094853

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location:

country:

Qatar

region:

Arab States

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eval_title:

Technical Cooperation Project for the State of Qatar – Phase 2 - Final evaluation