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Training and employment support programme in East Timor (TESP) - Final evaluation

eval_number:

1962

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/1962

lessons_learned:

themes:

theme:

Planning and programme design

category:

Organizational issues

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comments:

ILO Programme Managers

challenges:

Humanitarian imperatives, instability and political considerations tend to relegate policy-oriented initiatives to secondary priorities for national governments in post-conflict and transition settings.

success:

N/A

context:

The experience of TESP in Timor Leste is one of many examples of ambitious policy-oriented programmes that underestimate the timeframe needed for such work in post-conflict and transition contexts. Policy decisions typically require a long process of negotiation among a large cross-section of national stakeholders vying for influence and resources. Such an effort is likely to experience even greater challenges in post-conflict contexts with major humanitarian and infrastructure challenges, as the greatest priority is often (and understandably so) given to the latter. Moreover, the immediate political capital that can be gained from ‘emergency infrastructure’ projects far outweighs what can be gained from long-term policy development and institution building efforts such as the TESP project. In Timor Leste, this very challenge was experienced from within the counterpart organisation’s (SEPFOPE) own top leadership. As such, the takeaway for ILO should be that a longer timeframe should be accorded to such policy initiatives in post-conflict environments, with a focus on the medium-term rather than a two-year project

description:

In a project formulation phase within a post-conflict context, the timeframe needed for the adoption of policy and regulatory frameworks is likely to be more in tune with medium-term frameworks (around 5 years). This relates to Outcome 1 of the project: “Improved regulatory framework for the coordination and management of TVET (technical vocational education training) established”, which was planned to be delivered within 2 years in Timor Leste.

administrative_issues:

N/A

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/lessons/183773

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location:

country:

East Timor

region:

Asia and the Pacific

---

eval_title:

Training and employment support programme in East Timor (TESP) - Final evaluation