Selection of beneficiaries

TREE programmes are oriented towards securing wage or self-employment for individuals, with training as a necessary step towards that. Consequently, the criteria for selecting beneficiaries should be based on the end objective of the project. This may include factors related to the employment goal such as:
  • Motivation
  • Ability to invest time and potentially resources in training and starting a new business
  • Ability to take up wage employment in an industrial or commercial setting
  • Prior knowledge and experience.
At the same time, TREE programmes are normally designed to address the needs of disadvantaged communities, so selection factors may also include those designed to identify those most in need, including:
  • Poverty
  • Gender or gender identification
  • Disability
  • Other exclusionary or vulnerability factors (language, ethnicity, religion, displacement) and the importance of reducing tensions and conflicts within and between communities.
In all cases, care must be taken to ensure that the selection process is understood by all to be based on clear criteria and transparent processes. In general, application should be open to all, but those not selected for participation should have a clear understanding of why they were not selected and feel that the decision was arrived at in a fair way.

At a minimum, targets for the participation of women and persons with disabilities should be established as part of the selection criteria. The training design should anticipate the training needs that are likely to arise as a result: for example, setting aside an appropriate budget for adaptation of training venues and equipment to ensure accessibility. Outreach and awareness strategies directed at the interests and concerns of women, persons with disabilities and their families may be required to ensure potential beneficiaries apply to the programme and can be assessed fairly on their ability and potential.

In some cases, groups may apply to participate in a TREE programme, or this might be explicitly encouraged. The criteria for selecting groups would be the same as for individuals, with some additional points, including:
  • Structure of the group and its internal management (i.e. peer group or leader driven, internally democratic or not)
  • Size of the group (considering the practicalities of training a mix of groups and individuals)
  • Current activities of the group (social, economically active together, etc.)
Groups selected for participation in the TREE programme may be trained separately or integrated with regular individual-based training as the training plan determines. Note that where groups apply and are assessed for selection, any targets established for the participation of women, persons with disabilities and other equity groups would need to be addressed.

An example of an application/registration form is presented in Doc 4.6 Sample Training Registration Form