Employment Generation and Skills Development in Fragile Situation: Policies and Challenges in Afghanistan By Leah RE Pilongo and Chona R. Echavez
Employment Generation and Skills Development in Fragile Situation: Policies and Challenges in Afghanistan SOURCE: http://www.areu.org.af/ Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit Hs.144, 3rd street on the left from Charahi Haji Yacoub toward Charahi Shaheed First block on the right Shahr-i-Naw, Kabul, Afghanistan
Employment Generation and Skills Development in Fragile Situation: Policies and Challenges in Afghanistan Map of Afghanistan Map of Afghanistan SOURCE: https://gcps.desire2learn.com
Employment Generation and Skills Development in Fragile Situation: Policies and Challenges in Afghanistan Map of Afghanistan Map of Afghanistan SOURCE: https://gcps.desire2learn.com
Employment Generation and Skills Development in Fragile Situation: Policies and challenges for Afghanistan OBJECTIVES to map the employment and skills development policies in Afghanistan, specifically on women, youth and differently-abled to review how women, youth and differently- abled fare when it comes to basic development indicators and that of their participation in the labour force to identify challenges and potential solutions for employment generation through desk research and qualitative approach using key informant interviews (KIIs) among various stakeholders
BACKGROUND continued Afghanistan context: Years of war, insecurity and instability have left the country with minimum infrastructure and serious economic, social and political challenges
BACKGROUND continued Afghanistan context: 172nd rank out of 187 countries in the HDI Ranked 108 out of 194 countries in GDP Those who are not-gainfully employed is 25% of the labour force Country's proportion of own-account and contributing family workers in total employment is 80.5
BACKGROUND continued Afghanistan context: Jobs (90%) were categorized as vulnerable employment because of the instability and insufficiency of the income The labour force participation is 67% (of 16 and above) and shows a huge disparity between men (86%) and women (47%)
BACKGROUND continued Afghanistan context: High levels of insecurity remain a major concern in Afghanistan where active insurgency may be expected to escalate as the initial post-2014 landscape complete handover of all security responsibilities to the Afghan Government may have an impact on jobs and employment
II. METHODOLOGY: Desk reviews include existing literature and reports were conducted on policies and programs on employment in Afghanistan qualitative field research o key informant interviews (KIIs) that utilized semi-structured interview guides to generate responses among youth, employers, workers, unemployed, community members, and representatives of the government in Kandahar and Nangarhar
A. What have been crafted for Afghanistan s Employment and Job Creation: A review of policies 1. As original member of ILO since 1934 tripartite agreement was collaborated among the Afghan government, employers and workers for the promotion and advancement of decent work in the country Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MoLSAMD) has formally launched the Decent Work Country Programme along with the stakeholders and partners guided with the development and strategic plans of the country
Along with the cross-cutting themes of social dialogue and gender equality are the three priorities: promoting productive employment through labor market indicators and skills development; promotion and application of international labour standards with a focus on ILO core conventions; strong representative employers and workers organisations, including sectoral employers and workers organisations, contributing to national policy formulation processes and better industrial relations at all levels.
2. The Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) (2008-2013), The Afghan Constitutional clauses the primary role of the Social Protection Sector Strategy within the ANDS is to lay down the priority polices for: (a) social protection, (b) pension reform and (c) disaster preparedness in order to (i) support economic growth; (ii) enhance security; (iii) ensure poverty reduction, and (iv) improve social inclusion and equality
3. The UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) (2010-2013), and the National Action Plan for Women (NAPWA) (2008-2018) provided strategic guidelines and targets aimed for the revival of socioeconomic employment generation for the youth, women and ex-combatants who are considered as the vulnerable groups of the society.
3. The ratification of the government of Afghanistan of the nineteen ILO Conventions that included of five core conventions. Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100); Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105); Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111); Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138); Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182); Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144); Night Work (Women) Convention, 1919 (No. 4); White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13);
Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921 (No. 14); Night Work (Women) Convention (Revised), 1934 (No. 41); Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) and the ILO Discrimination (Employ Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935 (No. 45); Protection of Wages Convention, 1949 (No. 95); Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1957 (No. 106); Dock Work Convention, 1973 (No. 137); Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139); Paid Educational Leave Convention, 1974 (No. 140); Rural Workers' Organisations Convention, 1975 (No. 141); Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142); and e Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983
The government also approved the New Labour Code that stipulated and secured equal rights and supported the rights of workers. The Labour Code also provided for equal pay for equal work on workers in the said country. And there should be no discrimination in recruitment, salaries and allowances, occupation, profession, right to education and social protection.
Development of women s human capital is in principle 5 of the Afghanistan Compact (AC) and was put in the front as one of the 3 goals of gender equity in the Interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy (I- ANDS). Mandated under Article 22, the national Constitution that pushed the policy of non-discrimination and equality in rights and duties between women and men.
Development of the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA) Both the Afghanistan Compact and I-ANDS reaffirmed the commitment of implementing the nondiscrimination and women and men equality in rights and duties as the Constitutional guarantees
To achieve those strategic objectives, the following programmes are identified: Technical and Vocational Education and Training Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Strategy for Job Creation Policies for Youth The (Afghanistan National Youth Policy) ANYP was designed and developed in line with the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), the National Priority Programmes (NPPs) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
B. How Do Afghan Women, Youth, and Differently-Abled Persons Fare When It Comes To Employment 1. Women Gender inequality and insecurity apparently persist in Afghanistan Women s work being unaccounted/mostly engaged in unpaid or low paying labor in insecure and vulnerable jobs, and informal and unregulated economy
B. How Do Afghan Women, Youth, and Differently-Abled Persons Fare When It Comes To Employment 1. Women (cont.) Very few girls in Afghanistan attend technical and vocational schools. In 2005, a total of 3,559 students attended technical schools but only 1.4% were girls and during the same year, the total number of students who attended vocational schools were 5,833 and only 16.2% were females
In 2011, ILO reported that female (15 years old and above) LFPR was 16% compared to 77% of men In 2009, the CSO generated a report that more than half (57%) of the workforce in manufacturing and 3 percent of workers in mining and quarrying are women
Women in Afghanistan from the rural area can be isolated and disenfranchised, besides having low bargaining positions in the households, but it was assumed that the products made by the women would be marketed perhaps by the men, In rural areas, where most (70%) of the population resides, 90% of women are illiterate (compared to 63% of men)
b) Youth Employment The country s youth development index is 0.27 which occupied 162nd spot of 170 countries. By the end of 2014, Afghanistan underwent the transition as the majority of international forces withdraw. At this period, it was reported the approximation of nearly 2 out of three people are below 25 years of age.
b) Youth 63% of the population is below the age of 25 and 46% is below age 15. A report generated by the National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (NRVA) 2011 2012, a corresponding youth unemployment rates of 8.1 percent for young men and 18.8 percent for young women, which are significantly higher than the national unemployment rate of 7%.
c) Differently-Abled Persons MoLSAMD continuing national survey in 2003 resulted that among the 13,000 disabled people surveyed all throughout the country, 86% were physically impaired or had multiple disabilities. The compounding negative social attitudes and stereotypes and viewed differently-abled people to be perennial dependent. The state of poverty and unemployment are key factors that perpetuated this exclusion
The MoLSAMD and International Rescue Committee (IRC) conducted a survey and found that very high unemployment among differently-abled people, with an estimate of 84%. The lack of legislation to the protection of the differently-abled people with their rights has contributed to institutional discrimination.
C. Policies and Realities: A view from the ground desk review and primary data gathered through qualitative research was conducted at the centre of two provinces, Kandahar and Nangarhar. The aim was to check the pulse of a few people coming from various groups/sectors on their views of jobs and employment opportunities in the two provinces.
Study Sites 1. Kandahar Profile one of the five provinces located in the South of Afghanistan. Two-third of the province s population is rural and irrigated land farming relies to a large extent on deep-well pumping the renaissance of Kandahar economy became vibrant with ISAF and Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)
Study Sites 2. Nangarhar Profile is located on the eastern side of Afghanistan bordering Kunar and Laghman provinces to the North, Kabul, Logar and Paktya in the West, and an international border with Pakistan in the East and South. Agriculture is a major source of revenue for 48% of households in Nangarhar province
Study Sites 2. Nangarhar Profile cont. More than one quarter (27%) of households in urban areas and two-fifths (40%) of households in rural areas earn through non-farm related labour The installation of US Army and US Navy in 2004, 2006 and 2007 happened respectively at different districts of the province
1. Programs being crafted to develop skills Numerous capacity building and enhancement initiatives of the communities were provided by the international organisations, Afghan government and non-government organisations. The international organizations like European Union, Swedish committee and other organizations have established programs National Solidarity Programs (NSP)
1. Programs being crafted to develop skills however, the mentioned programs have problems as those were provided in the community. Issues persist on lack of jobs and employment opportunities, insecurities, program sustainability and corruption were seen by the informants.
1.1 Youth Informants disclosed that the governmental agencies, private organizations and workers in the Kandahar and Nangarhar provinces had programmes for the youth that were crafted to develop their capacities by the Afghan government and international organisations. Trainings were provided for the youth group to enhance their capacities.
1.1 Youth Unfortunately, there are no permanent programs and activities to enhance or develop the capacity of youth. As informants claimed, the programs for youth have always been seasonal short or project based The developmental aims and objectives of programs and projects were derailed with the personal vested interest of the politicians which became part and parcel of the package.
1.2 Differently-Abled Persons various plans for governmental programs designed for disabled people as beneficiaries, but the implementation of those developmental programs is very limited and while others have not yet materialised. The issues and concerns of this marginalised group are not addressed, particularly on capacity enhancement for possible job opportunities. An informant shared that a possible gathering among differently abled people was planned by the government and NGOs, such was not realized by the government before.
1.2 Differently-Abled Persons Some informants mentioned that programs to develop capacities were initiated for the differently-abled persons, but it lacked the sustainability component that the impact cannot be felt at present. It surfaced in the interview the problem on the implementation of policies for the inclusion of disabled people in the workforce without any form of discrimination. The informant added the lack of governmental program for this vulnerable group.
1.3 Women Several programs and initiatives were crafted and implemented by USAID and UNAMA and other international organisations, On the Afghan government side, MOWA also has certain educational and vocational training programs for women. However, Afghans claimed they are protective of their women - part of their cultural practices and their way of protecting their women from insecurities, or for both reasons, hence, mobility to go out to work is a problem.
1.3 Women An informant in Nangarhar shared his views on the importance of developing capacities of women in communities and their equal rights and opportunities for education and employment. This may face resistance with the practice of certain code of conduct where men felt threatened when they are seen as not having fulfilled their responsibility as providers if women go out and work
2. Drawdown of foreign troops has economic implications Majority among the informants replied the positive results in their livelihood brought by the presence of the foreign troops in Afghanistan. That offered livelihood and employment among them. With the withdrawal of foreign troops in Afghanistan, job opportunities in the study sites were dismally affected. With the drawdown of foreign troops so with the investments and aids/funding from other countries.
Here is a sample of one of the accounts on the challenges encountered in Nangharhar and Kandahar. Construction companies have been mostly affected with the withdrawal of the international security forces; even many companies closed their business and offices... - (M, WA, Kandahar)
IV. Conclusion 1. Attempt to align policies crafted with ILO tripartite specifications but there is lack of specific policies that will meet the need of vulnerable groups. 2. Lack of gender sensitive policies to address the inequality between men and women. o Women s representation in labour is disorganized and fractured 3. The gap between policy and practice o Lack of knowledge about policies on the ground level o Problem of sustainability of programmes and projects
IV. Recommendation 1. Craft gender-sensitive policies to address the inequality between men and women. Review all policies and strategies of ministries to ensure NAPWA and ANDS are being implemented
IV. Recommendation 2. Tapping mass media and social networking to inform people about policies and programmes (specially among women, youth and differently-abled) 3. Addressing the gap between policy and practice: o Lack of knowledge about policies on the ground level o Problem of sustainability of programmes and projects o Crafting of policies with the participation of the people from the ground for policies to be responsive of their needs
IV. Recommendation 4. Develop long term programs that can build upon each short term projects (for women, youth and differentlyabled) - Training interventions incorporate institutional arrangements (start up capital, productive assets and markets) - Programmes designed based on social and institutional analysis of complex, contextualized and nuanced facets of social and gender relations
IV. Recommendation 4. Develop long term programs that can build upon each short term projects (for women, youth and differentlyabled) 5. Conduct a baseline study on the civic consciousness index among the people in the provinces to find out which levels do they belong for programmatic measures to be crafted.
V. Literature Cited 1. CSO, Afghanistan Statistical Yearbook (Kabul: Central Statistics Organization, 2006). 2. Central Statistics Organisation. Integrated Business Enterprise Survey, 2009. (Kabul: Central Statistic 3. Organisation, 2009). Retrieved from http://goo.gl/k9c0wk, (accessed last November 2, 2015). 4. Ganesh et al Women s Economic Empowerment in Afghanistan, 2002-12, Situational Analysis. There have also been some adverse repercussions of cultural insensitivity in the programming of projects.
V. Literature Cited 5. ILO, Decent Work Agenda. Retrieved from http://goo.gl/vcjzvb, (accessed last November 2, 2015). 6. Mission and objectives - ilo.org, Retrieved from http://goo.gl/edmgja, (accessed November 2, 2015). 7. Mujib Mashal. Small and Medium Enterprises Development and Regional Trade in Afghanistan. (Working Paper Series No. 24, Institute of Public Policy and Administration. Bishkek: University of Central Asia, 2014) 8. Researching livelihoods and services affected by conflict 90% real - The rise and fall of rentier economy: Stories of Kandahar Afghanistan, 2015. Retrieved from http://goo.gl/yelenu, (accessed last November 2, 2015).
V. Literature Cited 6. UNAMA and UNHCHR, Afghanistan Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict 2011, 2012 and 2013. 7. United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Afghanistan Annual Report 2012: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (Kabul: UNAMA, 2013), 18. 8. United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Afghanistan Annual Report 2011: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (Kabul: UNAMA, 2012), 10. 9. Small and Medium Enterprises Development and Regional Trade in Afghanistan. January 2014. Mujib Mashal.
V. Literature Cited 10. Self-reliance Strategic Vision for the transformation decade from (ILO). 11. The Asia Foundation, Afghanistan in 2014 A Survey of the Afghan People (Kabul: The Asia Foundation, 2014. 12. TISA 2003c, Comprehensive National Disability Policy. UNDP, Afghanistan National Human Development Report 2014. Retrieved from http://goo.gl/5ifeb9, (accessed last November 2, 2015).. 13. UNDP, Afghanistan National Human Development Report 2014. Retrieved from http://goo.gl/5ifeb9, (accessed last November 2, 2015).