Table II Projects and Programs

Vocational Education and Training

The impact of the conflicts on the economies in SEE has been severe, adding to decline in industrial production and products and to dramatic increase in unemployment. The skill level of the workforce is a significant determinant of investment and, in turn, of economic success. Furthermore, education and training contributes to strengthening economic performance, employment and the social fabric. Measures necessary to achieve a buoyant economy must include significant investment in the competence of people, especially to support private sector-, infrastructure- and regional development. It was decided that, within the framework of the Stability Pact, a working group led by the European Training Foundation be set up. The main objective of the group is to support the economic reconstruction process in SEE through the design and delivery of tailor-made Human Resource Development (HRD) reform initiatives. The priorities in the short term are SME development and infrastructure management. The regional dimension to Human Resource Development is emphasised through focusing on projects in institutional capacity building, networking and policy actions.

List of Priority Projects:

In addition thereto, information on all the other projects, which have been included in the ETF-Action plan for Quick Start Measures 2000, is available at the European Training Foundation. The projects are in conformity with the results of the Stability Pact meeting in Skopje in February 2000, and have been endorsed by the Co-ordination Group for HRD under Economic Reconstruction for immediate funding.

For further details please contact the Co-ordination agency, European Training Foundation in Torino (www.etf.eu.int; tel: 0039 011 630 2222; fax: 0039 011 630 2200). Enquiries should be sent to the attention of:

Peter Greenwood
Stability Pact HRD Co-ordination Group
European Training Foundation
Villa Gualino
Viale Settimio Severo, 65
I – 10133 Torino

List of priority projects

II.D.1  Training of Social Protection Stakeholders

The impoverishment of the population and inadequacy of the social protection systems are among the most serious problems that Southeast European countries have been facing during the last decade. The situation in the region was further aggravated as a result of the recent Kosovo crisis. Social dialogue is an important mechanism for the design and implementation of sustainable development strategies and programmes. It needs partners that have the capacity to deal professionally with pressing social issues, which includes specific knowledge at policy level, as well as skills for work with vulnerable groups and building successful partnerships. They should also have the flexibility to adjust to contemporary circumstances and exploit new opportunities.

In this sense, building human capacities to deal successfully with various aspects of social development in a changing environment is an urgent priority for the region.

The proposal is consistent with the Stability Pact principle of focusing on the regional dimension of institutional development. It concentrates on capacity building through vocational training, networking and policy reform, which are of critical importance for the Stability Pact. In the "Sofia Declaration" approved by the high-level tripartite Conference of ILO Constituents in South Eastern Europe on Employment, Labor and Social Policy (21-22 October 1999), the countries recognized the importance of these problems. The "Sofia Declaration" specifically promoted further regional cooperation in the economic and social fields in order to foster the establishment of efficient social protection systems.

The project aims at capacity building of social protection stakeholders in Bulgaria to deliver high quality services in accordance with the EU norms and requirements. In the context of the ongoing social protection reform, this has become a priority for the Bulgarian Government. In line with regional cooperation development trends, the project will also offer training and retraining for people working in the social protection area from four selected Southeast European countries in accordance with their needs and priorities. This will be done through a network of training centers using new modular training methodology and telecommunication technologies – an "Intelligent Institute". The project is expected to demonstrate improved quality, facilitated access and decreased costs of education and training. The project envisages to deliver the following outputs:

• an assessment for the training needs of the Bulgarian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy;

• establishment of a Project Management Unit;

• development of a strategy and training plan for the staff of the Ministry;

• establishment of a database for monitoring and implementation of the strategy;

• creation of an "Intelligent Institute" which includes:

• design of tailor-made modular training packages and related software ;

• training of 40 trainers;

• creation of a network of telecommunication centers, equipped with high-tech facilities in Bulgaria and abroad;

• pilot-testing of the new training methodology through a number of workshops

The government of Bulgaria, ILO and the UNDP have agreed to establish the "Intelligent Institute" as an educational facility/environment that will include resources for effective training, technical equipment and telecommunication technologies for distant learning.

The parties have also agreed to establish the "Intelligent Institute" through an initial reorganization of the Bulgarian Training Center " Manastirski Livadi". This Center is located about 10 km away from the capital Sofia and was build to operate as a training complex. It has a main training facility/building with 10 classrooms for group training, two fully equipped language laboratories, a conference hall with up to 100 seats and a hall for simultaneous interpretation. The Center allows simultaneous accommodation and training for up to 500 people. The three residence blocks are located nearby the main building and the space will be reorganized to fit the requirements for individual training.

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
Mr. Dimitar Matev
Head of International Programs Department
2, Triaditza str.
BG - 1000 Sofia

UNDP Office in Bulgaria
Ms. Anna Atanassova
Programme Officer
IPACT Building
Tzarigradsko Shausse, 7 km
BG - 1784 Sofia

ILO/CEET
Budapest H-1066
14, Mozsár str.
Hungary

List of priority projects

II.D.2  Trainer Program for business-related admi. bodies - Rapprochement with EU-Structures

The main purpose of the programme is to support the economic development and economic cooperation. By qualifying further multipliers on business and EU - related topics the public administration schools will be enabled to cover the demand on advanced training for the executive staff of business - related administrative bodies.

The programme concentrates on the target group of representatives of business - related administrative bodies, who will be qualified by multipliers in the necessity and requirements of EU - structures, to support and promote economic development and economic cooperation

The objectives of the proposal are in line with the overall commitments of the Stability Pact.

Target groups:

• Multipliers and trainers from public administration schools / academies

• Middle- and top - level staff of business-related administrative bodies

• Output:

• Until 2002 Training institutions for public administration will be able to carry out

• cost-covering training activities on their own.

In following main topics:

• Rapprochement with the EU – structures

• Rules, guidelines and general conditions of bilateral economic cooperation

Activities:

• Recruitment and selection of candidates

• Workshops and seminars to transfer knowledge of economic and EU - related topics

• Trainer qualification workshops to build up methodological and didactical trainer qualifications

Under preparation by the German Foreign Office. Start-up is forseen in march.

Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft (CDG), Cologne
Mandatory Auswartiges Amt
Weyerstr. 79-83
D-50676 Cologne
Tel : 49 221 2098, 2225
Fax : 49 221 2483

List of priority projects

Sustained growth of enterprises is essential to employment creation. ILO efforts in the area of job creation aim at the promotion of sustainable small enterprises and the upgrading of micro-enterprises in the informal sector, which generate most new jobs world-wide. ILO activities in this area include the the SIYB programme as one of its major tools. This technical cooperation programme was launched by the ILO to help member States implement the provisions of the Recommendation on job creation in small and medium-sized enterprises, adopted by the International Labour Conference in 1998.

"We recognise that in the process of reconstruction and development, one of the major goals is to promote the notion of decent work for men and women. … Our countries must raise skill levels in order to raise living standards in open, competitive markets….create employment through re-start enterprises, training and private sector development … There is no other way to maintain and improve competitiveness. We, the participants of the Sofia Conference pledge to cooperate in implementing the reforms in employment and social fields …; … Our experience and ILO’s advice should be seen as useful in building up the institutions in order to reach the objectives of the Stability Pact." (Declaration of the high level tripartite Conference of ILO Constituents in South Eastern Europe on Employment, Labour and Social Policy, 21-22 October 1999, Sofia, Bulgaria).

The immediate beneficiaries are the trainers, master trainers and the National Programme Facilitators, that will receive training and technical assistance supported by an intensive follow-up programme (as they train their clients). 21 trainers will be trained in every country

The ultimate beneficiaries of the project are the potential and existing entrepreneurs, with a focus on the (1) peri-urban or rural areas and (2) communities previously dominated by state-owned companies. High rates of unemployment and/or growing unemployment often exist in these areas and demand for firm programmes to target these groups and to create a dynamic environment for considering self-employment as a career option. Communities will be targeted that have a potential for growth within their local MSE business sector. Where appropriate, special attention is given to address the gender issues and the problems of minority groups. Women and ethnic minorities are usually the first to suffer from the consequences of economic restructuring and socio-economic disasters, that hit most countries under the Stability Pact. More than 1.500 entrepreneurs and business starters will be trained every year in every country.

Fact finding mission in the SP countries done and feasibility study and project document finished

ILO: EUROPE/Mr. Pritzer +41 22 799 7256; EMPLOYMENT/Mr. Haftendorn tel.+41 22 799 6473

List of priority projects

The development of the FYROM enterprises is in a critical phase. The economy has suffered from several successive crises since the independence in 1991.

The current situation in the enterprises is very limited financial and human resources to allocate to development activities nearly all resources are allocated the simple survival of the enterprises.

The national economic infrastructure is suffering from lack of investments during the last 10 years. The technologies have not been updated, staff has not been trained and new areas have not been introduced.

Investments in Human resources will be absolute necessary to secure sustainability in the potential investments in infrastructure.

The objectives of this proposal are in line with the overall commitments of the Stability Pact: deepening and strengthening of civil society, confidence building and reconciliation, to establish market economy structures and to establish and strengthen competitive and internationally integrated private sectors in the region.

The project is also in line with the outcome of the meeting of the Stability Pact Working Table on Economics Reconstruction held in Bari in October and in Rome in December 1999 which stressed the importance of investing in people and their skills. In addition, Working Table 1 at its meeting in Geneva October 1999 has clearly recognised the importance of Education.

Established Centre for human resource development in SME business and infrastructural support to the economy

National steering committee established

Training needs analysis completed and National training resources identified and assessed

Curricula developed and trainers trained, pilot training delivered and evaluated

Strategy for further development. Regional dissemination planned

Target Groups: Managers and staff of SME’s, utility companies and professional education in FYROM and in the region

Activities: Establishment of a national steering committee, comprising representatives from: Chamber of Commerce, Trade Unions Association. Ministry of Education. Ministry of Development. Ministry of Labour – National Labour Market Services. Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Finance

Conducting training needs analyses in small business and in utility companies

Registering the training resources at universities, schools and private service companies

Developing a plan for pilot activities

Developing of Curricula for training courses in collaboration with the Pedagogical Institute

Training of trainers in delivery of training courses to business and utility companies

Delivery of around 100 training courses by local trainers

As assessment report including proposal for further actions drafted and evaluated

Regional dissemination seminars carried out.

SME’s

Management of Sales and Marketing. Financial Management. Production Management. Management of human resources. International trade management External and internal logistics. Quality control and quality awareness. Development and administration of IT systems. Business communication. Environmental descriptions. Business and labour market legislation and regulations.

Utility companies

Project management. Budgeting and financial control. Personnel management. Verification and documentation

Specific areas related training courses introducing new trends in: Waste processing. Energy supply. Water supply Road maintenance. Transport Postal system. Central and district heating. Telecommunication TV and Radio.

2 month. All training activities will be evaluated and a comprehensive report drafted. New action plan will be drafted and agreed with the steering committee.

Progress to date

A national steering committee has been established. Initial identification and prioritisation of projects carried out.

Key stake-holders network established.

Lead agency for the project is the Ministry of Development. The national Chamber of Commerce will act as co-ordinator for the project. Contacts concerning the projects:

Ms Biljana Denkovska, Chamber of Commerce, Dimitrije Cupovski 13, Skopje, FYROM
Phone: +389 91 117-169; fax: +389 91 116-902

List of priority projects

In South Eastern Europe the existing level of international co-operation amongst SMEs is almost negligible. Many SMEs suffer from lack of information, lack of skills to use new technologies and to manage their businesses, Lack of access to credit facilities, inability to anticipate changes in their dynamic environment. In addition, many SMEs do not have the resources or the skills necessary to manage properly their human resources. Enterprises rely essentially on the soft infrastructure comprised of banks, training providers (including business schools), Chambers of Commerce, business associations, consultant services.

The Human Resource Development Consultative Group of the Stability Pact Working Table II was mandated to develop a regional (transnational) SME support programme focusing on the following key areas: (1) institutional capacity building, (2) network development and (3) policy reform.

The EBRD has the leading role for co-ordinating the delivery of concrete project proposals in the field of private sector development. A major effort will be needed to:

Accompany the initiatives identified by the EBRD with measures increasing the knowledge and skills of SME managers.

Support those institutions that provide services to enterprises (Chambers of commerce, training providers, advisors, business associations, etc.).

This fiche generally refers to the first phase (until March 2001) of a series of more extended actions which are designed to ensure an integrated, regional approach to supporting the development of SMEs, which are the main source of job creation in South Eastern Europe.

This SME support programme will build upon the previous donor support for the SME sector and will have the added value of being an integrated, transnational programme for the whole region.

The first important step will be to assess the actual situation in each country regarding SME development, through an in-depth analysis of needs and by convening national networks of key decision-makers from business support organisations. These actions will lead to the achievement of the following objectives:

Institution-Building - preparatory surveys conducted throughout the region; mapping carried out of existing SME sector; survey of management training needs of existing SME sector; review of current SME good practice in the region; identification of business support mechanisms which will enable small businesses to emerge and grow;

Policy Reform - survey conducted of existing international support to this sector; mapping of existing credit facilities carried out;

Design of Transnational Integrated SME Support Programme for South-Eastern Europe (for implementation 2001-2004) – based the findings of a) and b) above.

The main output is to develop entrepreneurial skills and activities through international co-operation in the region.

The meetings of the Working Table on Economic Reconstruction of the Stability Pact (Working Table II), held at the end of the last year, have stressed the importance of projects which invest in people. At a Table II meeting in 10-11 February 2000, the HRD Consultative Group decided to undertake further consultations on these proposals with representatives of the countries concerned and the leading international agencies involved – the EC, the ETF, EIB, the EBRD, the WB, the ILO, bilateral donors, etc.

The European Training Foundation is available to act as lead agency in collaboration with major international funding institutions. The ETF will liaise closely with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the implementation of this project.