S T O C K T A K I N G S T U D Y & M A Y O R ' S P E R C E P T I O N S

Transcription

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY S T O C K T A K I N G S T U D Y & M A Y O R ' S P E R C E P T I O N S O F Y O U T H E M P L O Y M E N T A N D R E C R U I T M E N T I N F I V E M E N A C I T I E S D E C E M B E R

2 Table of Content STOCKTAKING STUDY... ABSTRACT... 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... 3 MAYOR'S PERCEPTIONS.... ABSTRACT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3 Stocktaking study Abstract This stocktaking study aims to survey the initiatives targeting youth training that enable them to join the labor market. It also tackles issues pertaining to youth employability and presents recommendations for future support to youth employability programs and improving opportunities for youth training and employment. The study was carried out in five cities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: Aleppo in Syria, Tripoli in Lebanon, Amman in Jordan, Aswan in Egypt, and Sana'a in Yemen. The study used a participatory rapid appraisal approach, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The team adopted tools such as semi-structured and in-depth interviews, as well as focus group discussions, with the different stakeholders. The team also consulted the available secondary resources on youth employment and programs targeting youth training and employability in the MENA region, with special focus on the five cities. From the study, it appears that there are several similarities between the five cities in terms of slow economic development, poor quality of educational programs, the gap between graduates skills and job market requirements, dropout rates, increasing unemployment rates associated with urban poverty, and low participation of women. The economic activities, however, are slightly different between the five cities; whereas the commercial and services sectors are more predominant in Tripoli and Amman, Aswan's economy relies more on tourism. Aleppo and Sana'a's economy rely on small industries, commerce, and to a lesser extent, agricultural production. There are several initiatives in each city that aim towards enhancing youth skills and employability. However, most of the projects and initiatives are limited in their scope, and the number of beneficiaries is low compared to the total number of youth and rates of unemployment in each city. There are no clear mechanisms of coordination between initiatives at the city level, and there lacks a general strategy and action plan for training and employment. In this regard, youth interviewed pointed that even though these initiatives provide a good opportunity for training, the main challenge remains in the provision of job opportunities, as the number of youth who joined the labor market as a result of these initiatives is relatively low. The study puts forward for consideration recommendations, practical initiatives and development projects specific to each city, as well as general recommendations related to: enhancing cooperation and collaboration between the different stakeholders; enhancing the quality of education and vocational training programs and creating synergy between these programs and the job market; supporting the role played by civil society organizations; promoting the role of the private sector to support training and employment activities in the different cities; enhancing the society s awareness, especially youth, on the value of work; supporting labor intensive projects; providing loans to youth; and implementing programs that develop youth s capacities in dealing with changes in the labor market, as well as their creative thinking to create job opportunities for themselves rather than waiting for an opportunity in the public sector. 2

4 Executive Summary This stocktaking study in five MENA cities aims to present recommendations for future support to youth employability programs and improving opportunities for youth training and employment. The study relies on data and information gathered from projects and initiatives targeting youth employment in the five cities of Aleppo, Tripoli, Amman, Aswan and Sana'a. Information covered the nature and purpose of the projects, number of beneficiaries, types of activities and capacity building interventions, measurable indicators, and lessons learned from these initiatives to be utilized in designing other new interventions. Through discussions and in-depth interviews with representatives of NGOs in the targeted cities, the study team was able to map the situation of educational programs, vocational training and available employment opportunities for youth. Specific recommendations for each city have been made to enable the Child Protection Initiative (CPI) develop new interventions to provide training and improve employment prospects for youth. Given the timeframe and resources available for the study, the team used a participatory rapid appraisal approach that utilized both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The team adopted tools such as semi-structured and in-depth interviews, as well as focus group discussions, for use with different stakeholders. The team also consulted the available secondary resources on youth employment and programs targeting youth training and employability in the MENA region, with special focus on the five cities. Despite the challenges and limitations that faced the study, it presents to CPI some concrete recommendations that may be utilized as a base for developing action plans and programs aimed at youth employment in the targeted cities. The study also presents different viewpoints about challenges facing youth employment and improving their socio-economic conditions. From the study, it appears that there are several similarities between the five cities in terms of historical value, slow economic development, poor quality of educational programs, the gap between graduates and job market requirements, dropout rates, increasing unemployment rates associated with urban poverty, and low participation of women. The economic activities, however, are slightly different between the five cities; whereas the commercial and services sectors are more predominant in Tripoli and Amman, Aswan's economy relies more on tourism. Aleppo relies on small industries, and on agricultural production, as is the case in Sana'a, but to a lesser extent. It has been observed that most of the initiatives and programs for youth training and employment, with the exception of Tripoli, are carried out by governmental organizations with the support of external donors. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have less of a role in these countries and are limited to the provision of support programs rather than sustainable employment programs. This weak role results from the lack of effective strategies designed to meet this purpose. With the exception of Amman, which has a vibrant private sector with strategies for social responsibilities, the private sector's role in initiating training and employment programs for youth is weak. 3

5 Focusing on each city, the study shows that in the case of Aleppo, existing interventions provide a good source for developing employment opportunities, despite the low number of beneficiary youth, as most of the programs work on a small scale. It has been observed that programs providing small grants and loans to initiate small and micro enterprises are few, and some of the programs, such as the small businesses incubator implemented by the Syrian Enterprise and Business Center (SEBC), have yet to begin. Youth interviewed in Aleppo confirmed the need for soft loans to enable them to launch their own projects. Also existing in Aleppo are innovative project ideas, such as the partnership between the local council and the Aleppo Chamber of Commerce, which resulted in the establishment of Aleppo Markets Company. This company combines both the merits of for-profit private organizations and the not-for-profit service providers aiming to improve the socio-economic conditions and livelihoods of vulnerable groups. This initiative also encourages workers in the informal sector to register and improve their working environments. Youth benefiting from this initiative pointed that the Company provided them with stores in the covered market and assisted them in getting licenses. The Company focused on the segment of youth with special needs and children of martyrs. One positive intervention that the study recommends is the expansion of and increase in number of beneficiaries is the Industrial Schooling Project, "talmaza sina'iya," run by the Aleppo Chamber of Industry. While the project aims at enhancing vocational training programs for the private sector, it has been observed that there is lack of interest from private sector enterprises to support the initiative. As such, it is important to support the initiative, improve vocational training curriculums, and provide continuous training in different vocational specializations, as well as new specializations, to enable private sector companies to recruit trained graduates from the program. Youth enrolled in this project views that the project provided them with adequate training, however, a large number of them is still searching for a suitable job. In Tripoli, the impact of the vibrant civil society is obvious by the presence of many organizations and foundations. However, the majority of these entities are dyed with political motivations. This, unfortunately, increases competition between them, and decreases the potential for collaboration, coordination, and unification of their efforts. It was also observed that there is duplication in the types of projects or interventions targeting youth training and education aimed at easing entry into the labor market. Most of the training and vocational training programs offered by these organizations focus on IT literacy and English language classes. The majority of programs targeting women focus on hairstyling, makeup and handicrafts, such as sewing and embroidery. The vocational training project initiated by the Tripoli Local Council is a new initiative focusing on the reconstruction sector. However, it has been difficult to predict the positive impact of the initiative as it is still in its beginnings and requires that the Local Council possesses trained and experienced human resources capable of implementing and monitoring such an initiative, as well expanding its activities and number of beneficiaries. Youth benefiting from such initiatives in Tripoli confirmed that the training was adequate, however, the projects did not assist them in finding sustainable job opportunities. In Amman, the majority of interventions focus on developing small and micro enterprises and loan programs. There are other programs focusing on vocational training and training for 4

6 employability. Private sector actors play an important role in supporting some of these initiatives through their social responsibility programs. This role, however, may be expanded and scaled up in terms of their effectiveness. The main challenge in Amman, however, is the high unemployment rates despite the huge economic development. This irritates youth, as they view the job opportunities available to them as very limited. Many of the youth interviewed complained from nepotism. The programs implemented in Aswan focus on technical and vocational training. Loans are provided mainly by large institutions such as the government-owned Social Fund for Development (SFD). The "Training and Enhancing Youth Skills in Vocations" initiative, particularly with regards to the reconstruction field, has been implemented by the Bureau for Youth Employment in Aswan Governorate. According to perceptions of businessmen in the city, the initiative covers a real need and has had numerous positive impacts. Youth in Aswan point that the training programs are good, but do not help them in finding a job. Some also requested the facilitation of the process of applying for loans from the SFD as well as other agencies financing small projects. In light of the electoral program of the President of the Republic, the different bureaus and administrations at the Municipality's level in Sana'a are involved in the areas of youth training and employment. These different entities attempt in various ways to provide employment opportunities for youth. Their impact varies according to their capacity and available resources. What lacks, however, is coordination for increased impact and decreased duplication between these different bodies. This study has also found that the private sector's role is significantly weak. The study recommends that this sector should play a more active role in implementing social responsibility activities. In general, youth in the five cities pointed that initiatives targeting youth training and employability provide them with good opportunities for training. The main challenge, however, is the provision of job opportunities, as the number of those who joined the labor market as a result of these initiatives is relatively low. The role of the private sector in the five cities is modest, with the exception of a number of interventions that saw the partnership of the private sector and both governmental and nongovernmental counterparts to implement projects, as is the case in Aleppo and Amman. Another example of these partnerships is the project to employ youth as security personnel in Aswan. This weak role of the private sector is the result of many factors, including: fear of taking risks and the discouraging environment for investments; bureaucracy and high private business registration costs; tax and judicial systems; and lack of incentives to employ youth in the private sector. Public sector employment continues to be more appealing than the private sector because of its financial and non-financial incentives. These include job security, insurance, and shorter working hours. There are also challenges related to the gap between the skills and qualifications of youth and the requirements of the job market. At present, none of the studied cities have managed to develop a strategy to bridge this gap. Despite these challenges and with certain variations, private sector companies and small and microenterprises maintain a solid position on the map of economic development in the five cities, with varying degrees. 5

7 The study reveals that in the five cities, there are targeted policies, laws and regulations related to employment and general economic development, developed in light of the national policies of each country. The application of these laws and policies varies from one city to another based on the political and economic conditions prevalent in each city, as well as the availability of both human and financial resources. In Aleppo, the general policy for example, focuses on market economy and depends on three interrelated aspects: economic, social and environmental. While the city also encourages the role of private businesses, more concrete efforts need to be made in this respect. The initiative of the Small Business Incubator is considered one of the promising projects when implemented on the level of the city of Aleppo. In Tripoli, government agencies and line ministries, especially the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is responsible, as stipulated by law, for taking the lead in providing vocational training. However, its role is weak. Most of the initiatives are being implemented by private humanitarian and development agencies that are often dyed with political motivations. In Aswan, the policies stipulate collaboration between the public and private sectors in providing training and employment opportunities. However, application of this is poor and needs to be enhanced. In Amman, the Jordanian Ministry of Labor strives to reform the vocational training sector and link it with the labor market requirements. Meanwhile, Amman is in a better position than the other cities in terms of its ability to cope with globalization and the required skills. However, the national employment policy faces difficulties, especially with the prevalence of the "culture of the inappropriate" with regards to certain careers in Jordanian society. The five cities under study are similar in what concerns their efforts to attract local and foreign investments, especially direct investment. This is more prevalent in Sana a, Amman and Aswan. Overall, all five cities have labor codes that aim to protect the rights of workers and pay special attention to women's labor rights. However, these codes are not being implemented efficiently. For instance, there exists some exploitation from business owners, especially small private business owners, who are not adhering to the procedures of security and safety, health insurance and insurance for workers against risks. There are no mechanisms of monitoring and control on these small insitituitons and private projects, by the responsible official authorities. Many interviewees referred to the importance of supporting the informal sector to obtain licenses, as well as gradually shift to the formal economic sector, as this sector plays a crucial role in providing job opportunities to a large number of youth. Aleppo has taken positive steps towards this aim by opening the "Aleppo Markets Company." Coordination between different stakeholders has also been mentioned as an important issue that should be materialized, especially in the cities of Tripoli, Sana'a and Aswan. Therefore, a holistic vision and increased coordination between different stakeholders are needed, especially among relevant ministries, such as the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education, as well as other authorities. 6

8 To support CPI, this study proposes a number of specific recommendations pertaining to each city that may be adopted to develop new initiatives aimed at the training and employment of youth. In addition, the study highlights a number of general recommendations relevant to all five cities. In Aleppo, the study recommends that the Municipality prepares a strategy and action plan for education, vocational training and employment in the city. These plans need to be developed in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders. In addition, there should be more coordination and a clearer picture about the role of each stakeholder and what each one may offer in terms of supporting initiatives for youth training and employment. The Urban Observatory at the Municipality may play a role in spearheading this coordination mechanism. It is essential to develop the handicrafts sector and open channels for marketing in external markets, as well as improve the standard of quality of goods produced in order to enhance exports. More support should be channeled to initiatives such as the small business incubators, such as the one run by SEBC. The SEBC may be developed to become a model like the "Industries Development Authority" in Egypt which provides quality assurance systems, and supports the development of specific industries such as textiles, furniture, food and others. This will enable local products to compete in external markets and contribute to increasing exports at the local economy level. Different stakeholders must also consider new approaches and mechanisms to link the local economy of Aleppo with the macro economy at the national, regional and international levels to achieve sustainable economic development and increase employment opportunities in the city. It is also important to promote tourism, especially in the old city, and pay particular attention to urban planning inside this area to reflect the history and cultural heritage of the city. Any developments in this field should match the historical and architectural context of the areas. Promoting tourism would also create many job opportunities for youth. As for the different initiatives, the Industrial Schooling Project run by the Aleppo Chamber of Industry is a leading project that may increase its achievements upon expansion and increase of its beneficiaries. The SHABAB project run by the Syria Trust for Development is also a good initiative that may be expanded to support the transfer of life and business skills to youth. In Tripoli, the study suggests that the Municipality also prepares a general and integrated plan for local economic development, and enhance coordination mechanisms between the different stakeholders. The study also focuses on the importance of supporting small and microenterprises to boost the local economy. This will need intensive training programs on project management, feasibility studies and new approaches to marketing and sales. This program must be carried out within a clear strategy and action plan at the city's level. Again, this is not an activity that can be carried out by one entity, but rather should be coordinated and collaborated by various organizations and foundations working in the city. The Municipality of Tripoli may play a pivotal role in the coordination and collaboration with different stakeholders, especially civil society organizations, chambers of commerce and 7

9 agriculture, and specialized ministries such as labor and social affairs, culture, tourism and others. The study recommends undertaking environmental projects that would employ a large number of unemployed youth with the aim of creating green areas, and raise the awareness of local community members about environmental issues, given that the city of Tripoli is suffering from environmental degradation and requires immediate interventions in this area. The Tripoli Municipality could exchange experience with the Aleppo Municipality, which recently launched the "Clean and Safe Aleppo" local campaign, spearheaded by the Mayor of Aleppo. Different stakeholders may also need to consider youth with special needs and develop programs that match their abilities and qualifications. As for the various training and employment initiatives undertaken in the city, the Municipality may play the role of the general coordinator or intermediary between the different organizations and foundations, and ensure that the general strategy and action plan are in place and are being implemented. From another perspective, CPI could support the initiative led by the Municipality to train and employ youth in the reconstruction sector. Further options include cooperation with various stakeholders to launch initiatives focusing on youth and women, while paying particular attention to large, direct investment projects that may create new job opportunities. In Amman, the study recommends that special projects be designed to promote women's employability as the city currently suffers from high female unemployment. It is also imperative to encourage youth and educate them about the value of manual labor or vocational work. Furthermore, youth in Amman require awareness raising on work ethics, commitment and having a sense of responsibility. One of the issues raised during interviews in Amman was the informal sector, and the importance of institutionalizing the sector and granting licenses to informal workers. Amman may benefit from the Aleppo experience in this area. However, the city should focus on community participation and its applications as one of the main lessons learned from the Aleppo experience in the Aleppo Markets Company. In Aswan, there should be integration between agricultural and industrial development projects. Priority should be given to infrastructural projects, especially in the agricultural sector, such as maintenance of irrigation and drainage systems, roads, etc. It is also imperative to focus on labor intensive exports, especially in products where Aswan has a comparative advantage. These include marble, granite and certain agricultural products. Local authorities in Aswan need also to focus on small and micro projects, especially those that provide services to the tourism and industrial sectors. There should be coordination with the private and government sector in this area, to contract youth projects and fund them to enable them to have access to the necessary services and inputs. The local administration should also ensure that local production is given the opportunity to be exported to external markets. The study also recommends that advanced vocational training schools, such as the schools of the Mubarak-Kol Initiative for vocational training, are established in the city. However, new 8

10 specializations should be introduced to correspond to the context of Aswan city, as well as the available natural and human resources available in the city. With regards to the informal sector, the local authorities must develop a plan to institutionalize and support this system by providing loan programs and special tax holidays. Aswan may also share experience with Aleppo in this respect. In Sana'a, the study recommends supporting the development of the agricultural and industrial sectors in the city and linking them to markets. The study also suggests improving the infrastructure of the agricultural sector and promoting agricultural extension while focusing on small farmers. Small loans need to be provided to energize small industries and micro enterprises. In addition, general infrastructure, especially the electrical and road networks, need improvement. Despite the fact that the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labor and the Civil Service Office are the two main governmental bodies responsible for youth employment and have the means to do preside over the issue, there is no link between the databases used in each entity. In addition, there is no coordination to provide job opportunities for youth in the different sectors. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to create linkages between the two bodies and initiate more collaboration between them and the private sector to increase employment opportunities in the city. The study also recommends supporting civil society organizations and creating a network for coordinating work between these different bodies, especially in the fields of training and employment. From these specific recommendations, the study recommends the following points, applicable in each of the five cities: - Investing in cooperation and collaboration between the different stakeholders working in training and employment; - Enhancing the quality of education and creating synergy between the education system and vocational training programs on one hand and the needs of the job market on the other, at both the city and national level; - Supporting local markets and linking them to external markets to increase marketing and sales of local products manufactured in the five cities. - Supporting labor intensive projects such as construction and road pavement, among others. - Providing soft loans to youth. - Building the capacities of institutions responsible for youth employment in the five cities to create networks amongst themselves in order to develop linkages with the labor market. - Developing programs that enable youth to cope with the changes in the labor market, and encourage creative thinking to create job opportunities for themselves rather than waiting for an opportunity in the public sector. - Supporting technical and vocational education and training institutions. - Improving databases in the field of training and employment. 9

11 Mayor s Perception Abstract This study presents the views of the cities mayors and government officials in five cities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, namely: Aleppo in Syria, Tripoli in Lebanon, Amman in Jordan, Aswan in Egypt, and Sana'a in Yemen, as well as puts forward some recommendations for future support to youth employability programs and improving opportunities for youth training and employment. The study used a participatory rapid appraisal approach, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The team adopted tools such as semi-structured and in-depth interviews, as well as focus group discussions, with the different stakeholders. From the study, it appears that there are several similarities between the five cities in terms of slow economic development, poor quality of educational programs, the gap between graduates skills and job market requirements, dropout rates, increasing unemployment rates associated with urban poverty, and low participation of women. There are several initiatives in each city that aim towards enhancing youth skills and employability. However, most of the projects and initiatives are limited in their scope, and the number of beneficiaries is low compared to the total number of youth and rates of unemployment in each city. There are no clear mechanisms of coordination between initiatives at the city level, and there lacks a general strategy and action plan for training and employment. From the in-depth interviews with the mayors and officials, it appeared that there is a general consensus on the importance of encouraging local and foreign direct investments in the five cities. There is also a general interest from the officials to develop educational systems and vocational training programs, and implement corresponding curriculums. This is in addition to establishing specialized centers to support local handicrafts and protect them from extinction, especially in the cities of Sana'a, Aleppo and Tripoli. There was also focus on the importance of encouraging small and micro-enterprises and supporting the utilization of the local labor force and local resources. Some officials also highlighted the issue of supporting the role of women and mainstreaming gender in the labor market and economic activities in their cities. City mayors and officials also referred to the importance of supporting the informal sector to obtain licenses, as well as gradually shift to the formal economic sector, as this sector plays a crucial role in providing job opportunities to a large number of youth. Aleppo has taken positive steps towards this aim by opening the "Aleppo Markets Company." Coordination between different stakeholders has also been mentioned as an important issue that should be materialized, especially in the cities of Tripoli, Sana'a and Aswan. Therefore, a holistic vision and increased coordination between different stakeholders are needed, especially among relevant ministries, such as the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education, as well as other authorities. The study puts forward for consideration recommendations specific to each city, as well as general recommendations related to: enhancing the quality of education and vocational 10

12 training programs and creating synergy between these programs and the job market; supporting the role played by civil society organizations; promoting the role of the private sector to support training and employment activities in the different cities; enhancing the society s awareness, especially youth, on the value of work; supporting labor intensive projects; providing loans to youth; and implementing programs that develop youth s capacities in dealing with changes in the labor market, as well as their creative thinking to create job opportunities for themselves rather than waiting for an opportunity in the public sector. 11

13 Executive Summary This study presents the views of the cities mayors and government officials in five cities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, namely: Aleppo in Syria, Tripoli in Lebanon, Amman in Jordan, Aswan in Egypt, and Sana'a in Yemen, as well as puts forward some recommendations for future support to youth employability programs and improving opportunities for youth training and employment. The study used a participatory rapid appraisal approach, utilizing qualitative methodologies. The team adopted tools such as semistructured and in-depth interviews, with the different stakeholders. From the study, it appears that there are several similarities between the five cities in terms of slow economic development, poor quality of educational programs, the gap between graduates skills and job market requirements, dropout rates, increasing unemployment rates associated with urban poverty, and low participation of women. There are several initiatives in each city that aim towards enhancing youth skills and employability. However, most of the projects and initiatives are limited in their scope, and the number of beneficiaries is low compared to the total number of youth and rates of unemployment in each city. There are no clear mechanisms of coordination between initiatives at the city level, and there lacks a general strategy and action plan for training and employment. From the in-depth interviews with the mayors and officials, it appeared that there is a general consensus on the importance of encouraging local and foreign direct investments in the five cities. There is also a general interest from the officials to develop educational systems and vocational training programs, and implement corresponding curriculums. This is in addition to establishing specialized centers to support local handicrafts and protect them from extinction, especially in the cities of Sana'a, Aleppo and Tripoli. There was also focus on the importance of encouraging small and micro-enterprises and supporting the utilization of the local labor force and local resources. Some officials also highlighted the issue of supporting the role of women and mainstreaming gender in the labor market and economic activities in their cities. City mayors and officials also referred to the importance of supporting the informal sector to obtain licenses, as well as gradually shift to the formal economic sector, as this sector plays a crucial role in providing job opportunities to a large number of youth. Aleppo has taken positive steps towards this aim by opening the "Aleppo Markets Company." Coordination between different stakeholders has also been mentioned as an important issue that should be materialized, especially in the cities of Tripoli, Sana'a and Aswan. Therefore, a holistic vision and increased coordination between different stakeholders are needed, especially among relevant ministries, such as the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education, as well as other authorities. Aleppo According to officials interviewed in Aleppo, education and training received by young people in schools, universities and institutes in most cases are not useful to get a job. Therefore, young people should receive long periods of practical training before qualifying to join the labor market, especially in the field of crafts and vocations. With 12

14 regards to vocational training, Aleppo s Mayor believes that training provided does not meet the need of the labor market. The city s Mayor also indicated that there are efforts to establish new schools to cancel the second shift in schools. The total investment allocated for this purpose amounts to 3 billion Syrian Pounds. However, attention should also be directed to human resources and skills upgrading to improve the educational standard to conform to the needs of the labor market. There are many economic and social needs that should be ensured in Aleppo, which the Municipal Council strives to satisfy. Attention is also directed towards cultural and social aspects. Meanwhile, the city of Aleppo is seeking to improve its social, economic and infrastructure aspects. In this regard, twinning agreements have been concluded with the city of Gaziantep in Turkey and Lyon in France. Furthermore, the Municipal Council of Aleppo has recently prepared a plan for the development of the city until Such plan contains several themes including: developing the local economy and linking it to the global and Arab markets; activating the role of local, regional and international NGOs, especially concerning the development of children, youth and women; and establishing local development funds. There are as well other projects proposed, including the creation of markets and shopping malls. One of these malls ensures the creation of job opportunities for workers, as pointed by the city s Mayor. Tripoli The Mayor of Tripoli has pointed out that the city is undergoing a major economic crisis and that urban poverty rates are on the rise. The officials in Tripoli also highlighted that there are many obstacles that hinder the educational process, such as the weak skills of the teaching staff, the lack of use of modern educational techniques, and the inappropriate distribution of schools in some regions, especially in El Tabbana area. A very alarming obstacle is raising students to a higher grade regardless of their scores, especially in public schools. The Mayor clarified that there are between thousand youth in the age group from 10 to 18 years dropping out of schools. The result of this drop out is an increase in the rate of violence and juvenile crime in the city. Therefore, the municipality and civil society institutions in the city seek to design and implement programs to raise the educational, cultural and economic levels of youth of both genders. Yet, these initiatives are still few compared to the high unemployment rates prevalent among young people. The city Mayor explained that Tripoli is currently "in a critical and crucial transition phase". The local council is exerting efforts to coordinate with civil society organizations, especially in supporting initiatives related to women and youth. However, there lacks real coordination between different agencies, especially in what concerns similar programs such as those associated with the employment and training of young people. With regards to the accelerated vocational training project, which the Municipality of Tripoli manages and implements, the Mayor proposed its expansion, and pointed to the need for an institute or a building for the project, so that it becomes independent, and has an opportunity for expansion. 13

15 Amman In Amman, the studies and the officials view the educational curricula not being in line with the labor market requirements, thus creating a gap between unskilled young people and market needs. In addition, professional consulting in Jordan lacks the necessary competence, creating a mismatch between students and the labor market. Therefore, the Ministry of Labor is currently partnering with local and international partners and private sector institutions to fill this gap through the development of a more effective and appropriate vocational training system. Cultural heritage, customs and traditions in the Jordanian community in general, and in Amman in particular, play a significant role in determining the type of work desired by young people. There are some occupations that the young find offensive and refuse to join, while these occupations are joined by expats, especially in certain service sectors. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Development has noticed that the vast majority of young people in Jordan are either unaware of the requirements of the labor force, or unwilling to face the responsibility that accompanies entry into the labor force. Several agencies in Amman work in the field of youth training and employment, based on their own respective vision, objectives and policies, which mostly focus on improving the training environment and creating job opportunities for young people of both gender. Officials in Amman pointed that the private sector can play a greater role in supporting initiatives related to vocational training and training for employment as part of their corporate social responsibility. Aswan Aswan Governorate and the Directorate of Social Solidarity in Aswan are considered the two largest agencies responsible for training and employing youth. In this regard, the Director of the Agency for Young Graduates indicated that his office has made significant achievements over the past two years ( ) in the sectors of agricultural, tourism and transformational training, as well as cooperation in the field of foreign cooperation and coordination with several agencies. Officials in Aswan view that investment opportunities in the city and the whole governorate are numerous, and include various fields such as agriculture, industry and tourism. The vision of the city of Aswan, as mentioned by the Deputy Director of the City Council, centers around the importance of encouraging investment. There are clear strategies for direct investment in the city and the governorate, especially in the sectors of industry, agriculture and tourism. However, the mechanism to push forward this investment is not strongly laid. Meanwhile, the City Council and the governorate seek to attract investments, especially those that employ a large number of young people. Furthermore, the City Council considers training as the golden door to the labor market, and that there has to be focus on transformational training. Yet, there are significant shortcomings in the capacities available in the technical education schools. In addition, the level of assimilation of technical school graduates is weak in most cases. Thus, it is necessary to establish advanced technical education and training schools, such as Mubarak Kohl school project. 14

16 Sana a The Director General of the Directorate of Labor and Social Affairs in Sana'a pointed that there is a need to review the outputs of the education system at the secondary, technical and university levels, as they are no longer commensurate with the needs of the labor market. In this context, it is necessary to conduct studies on the labor market needs for different disciplines so as to take appropriate decisions for the development of education in accordance with those requirements. In an attempt to overcome the shortcomings of the education system, special institutes and centers were established to train young people in disciplines different from their specialization. The centers focus primarily on language teaching and computer training. It is noteworthy that despite the fact that the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labor and the Office of the Civil Service are the main agencies responsible for creating jobs for young people, there is no link between their databases, and no coordination exists between them to exploit those databases to create more job opportunities in different employment sectors in Sana'a. Officials in Sana a view self-employment as one of the effective means for youth employment and their economic and social development, especially if they were not absorbed by the public or private sector. As indicated by officials in the city of Sana a, there is a high level of attention directed to youth development and provision of diverse employment opportunities within the capital Sana'a. They further pointed to the need to implement labor market policies, and monitor and evaluate such policies in order to facilitate the reconciliation process between the supply and demand for employment in various professions. The study puts forward some recommendations on the level of each city: In the city of Aleppo, the Mayor proposed establishing social service centers to provide social and cultural activities and entertainment especially for young people; securing the necessary funding for youth employment initiatives (in this regard, support could be directed to the industrial apprenticeship project or the development of the role of the Syrian Business Center in what concerns the business incubator project); assisting in the development of plans and programs for training and employment (especially vocational); and providing training for social workers. In Tripoli, the mayor proposed that the Child Protection Initiative (CPI) supports training and employment in the field of construction. It could also coordinate with various agencies to support other initiatives concerned with women and youth, or focus on large investment projects that can create numerous employment opportunities. The Mayor also emphasized the importance of working with women and young people as this leads to social stability in the city. In Amman, officials pointed to the importance of supporting industrial sectors, which combine high productivity and exports, through the provision of effective vocational training programs for young workers, who constitute the vast majority of the unemployed as well as cooperation with the private sector. It is also important to assist the informal/unregulated private sector in obtaining permits to move to the formal economy, as this sector plays a 15

17 significant role in providing employment opportunities. In what concerns the role to be played by the CPI regarding training and employment of young people in Amman, officials in the Municipality view that it can encourage direct investment in large projects, and support small and medium enterprises. It can also work in training and employment projects in certain sectors, or support existing projects such as training for employment project. As for Aswan, the City Council suggested that the CPI adopts one of the investment projects and manages it through the City Council in collaboration with other local partners. It can also support the project of training and employment of young people in crafts related to construction, which is implemented by the Governorate and the City Council. There is also a need to focus on transferability training and the establishment of advanced technical schools. In Sana a, officials pointed out that the CPI can support vocational training programs provided by the Office of Technical Education and Vocational Training in Sana'a through the Office s technical institutes, especially after its activities have been affected by the lack of financial resources from international bodies, particularly the World Bank. It can also focus on technical education and employment in the field of traditional handicrafts. The Director- General of the Technical Education and Vocational Training in the capital referred to the importance of encouraging the participation of small enterprises in the implementation of investment projects implemented by the private sector as well as the use of local labor and resources. He also stressed on the importance of strengthening the role of institutions for the integration of women in the labor market and economic life. 16