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Market systems development for Decent Work: the Lab – Phase II - Final evaluation

eval_number:

3210

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/3210

lessons_learned:

themes:

theme:

Small or micro - enterprises

category:

Enterprises

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comments:

Project staff and their beneficiaries

challenges:

Working through partners often involved the Lab trying to integrate parts of MSD into non-MSD projects. Whilst there is value on the component parts of MSD, one effect of this was that the Lab lacked a compelling ‘big win’ that demonstrates the effectiveness of the approach empirically. The fact that so many partnerships ended with analysis led some observers to comment that the Lab is advocating for an approach that they have not demonstrated works in practice. This lesson is further evidenced by the Lab’s review of MSAs,21 many of which did not lead to changed implementation strategies.

success:

One of Lab 2’s most successful partnerships was with the Road to Jobs project in Afghanistan. Road to Jobs was designed as an MSD project (within input from Lab 1) and Lab 2 has played a critical role in supporting it with analysis, implementation and measurement. This led to increased success and impact in the project, capacity growth on project staff, and enthusiasm for the approach. Applying the approach as a ‘whole’ had a positive effect. Lab staff also reported that applying the approach as a ‘whole’ in a demonstration project during Lab 1 proved effective for generating enthusiasm and interest in the approach.

context:

One of the obstacles to progress identified in the evaluation was that the Lab too often found themselves in the position of attempting to isolate components of the MSD approach and use them to support non-MSD projects or goals. This was for good reasons, but multiple interviewees commented that a lesson learned from Lab 2 was that the MSD approach is most effectively when it is applied as a ‘whole.’

description:

The market systems approach is most valuable when it is applied as a ‘whole’ rather than in parts.

administrative_issues:

N/A

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/lessons/231963

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location:

country:

Inter-Regional

region:

Inter-Regional

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eval_title:

Market systems development for Decent Work: the Lab – Phase II - Final evaluation