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Social dialogue for formalization and employability in the Southern Neighbourhood Region (SOLIFEM)

eval_number:

2351630

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/2351630

location:

country:

Lebanon

region:

Arab States

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country:

Egypt

region:

Africa

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country:

State of Palestine

region:

Arab States

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country:

Algeria

region:

Africa

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eval_title:

Social dialogue for formalization and employability in the Southern Neighbourhood Region (SOLIFEM)

recommendations:

date:

2026-06-03 00:00:00.0

themes:

theme:

Organizational issues

category:

Planning and programme design

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action_plan:

While the new intervention builds on strong synergies with the SOLIFEM project—particularly by contributing to the finalization of a macro-level outcome related to the development of a national roadmap on formalization—it places a greater emphasis on delivering tangible results at the meso and micro levels. In this regard, the project aims to support the identification and implementation of tailored formalization approaches for different categories of informal workers in the agricultural sector, taking into account the diversity of their profiles, as well as their specific constraints and needs. Furthermore, the intervention includes targeted support to the National Agency for Auto-Entrepreneurs through the implementation of a structured programme designed to strengthen and operationalize the auto-entrepreneur status in Algeria. This scheme is envisaged as a strategic pathway to formalization, facilitating the progressive integration of a large number of independent workers into the formal economy.

management_response:

Completed

progress:

Achieved

admin_units:

RO-Arab States/DWT-Beirut

title:

Recommendation 3. Enhance the achievability of future projects, by creating a Theory of Change with realistic Outcomes that can be achieved within the scope of one project. The Theory of Change of the SOLIFEM project was highly ambitious by expecting policy change (i.e. enabling policy environments to facilitate formalisation, and frameworks for RPL systems) already at the outcome level. In fact, “national strategies and roadmaps for formalisation developed, and their implementation initiated” is presented at output level. Policy change is dependent on numerous steps and forms of support, that go beyond the activities and time scope foreseen under one project. Given the complexity of policy and systems development/change, and the influence of political priorities and other external circumstances, these results are better expected at impact level. Similarly, some interviewees noted that the connection was unclear between the training (output) and the policy change (outcome in SOLIFEM). It seems that some steps were missing. The intermediate level should include discussions among stakeholders conducted, consensus on the causes of problems and their solutions developed, new legislation prepared for adoption, and new institutions developed or existing strengthened to increase capacity for policy implementation and monitoring. Future projects should therefore avoid expecting high-level political achievements at outcome level, as the lack of achievement of policy change would give the impression that the project was not effective. More realistic ToC formulations can include the following: - At output level, the project should note the very immediate effects of activities, such as “training implemented”, “beneficiaries trained”, “number of social partners participating in a meeting”, “reports disseminated” and other low-level, more factual achievements. The execution of the activities forms the foundation. - At the outcome level, the short and medium-term effects should be noted, which are expected as a consequence of achieving the outputs. In the case of SOLIFEM, those outcomes can be related to increased capacity to conduct public policy negotiations and increased awareness of the barriers and dangers of informality. Separate indicators should measure whether the training and workshops increased capacity and awareness. - At the longer-term outcome or impact level, the consequences of the outcomes should be noted. In the case of SOLIFEM, the expectation would be that the various outcomes on capacity and awareness would allow stakeholders to contribute to policy change.

project_symbols:

INT/20/02/EUR

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/recommendations/2351717

information_source:

Country Office

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