Global South-South Development Expo 2013
Sustainable Development and Decent Work Solution Forum
Within the Global South-South Development (GSSD) Expo that took place in Nairobi from 28 October to 1 November 2013, the ILO Solution Forum focused on projects concerning sustainable development and decent work in a variety of contexts worldwide.
>> See the panelists
The Global South-South Development (GSSD) Expo is a United Nations system-wide global high-profile event for South-South Cooperation. The GSSD Expo 2013 was the first to be held in the South. The overall objective of GSSD Expo 2013 was to provide a powerful platform for the sharing and exchange of scalable, replicable and innovative southern solutions that have significant development impact on the ground. Solutions were therefore not presented as universal models but as references for voluntary learning, with the common aim of scaling up their development impact.
Under the overarching theme of "Building Inclusive Green Economies: South-South Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication", the GSSD Expo 2013 was an occasion to showcase the collective response of the UN to relevant provisions of the Rio+20 Outcome and its capacity to facilitate South-South cooperation and exchanges of experience on green economy. UNEP co-hosted this session of the Expo with the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, and explicitly stated that decent work is a critical element in the promotion of a Green Economy.
The solutions were presented in forums on different themes. The ILO solutions proposed here, which were presented at the Sustainable Development and Decent Work Solution Forum on 30 October 2013, address various aspects of environmental conservation and green jobs through innovative South-South and triangular arrangements based on the concept of decent work. A report on the proceedings of the Forum is available.
The results framework for the Strategy were:
The joint UNEP/ILO/IOE/ITUC report of 2008 broadly defined a green job as any decent job that contributes to preserving or restoring the quality of the environment, whether in agriculture, industry, services or administration.
An important element in this definition of green jobs is the fact that the jobs have to be not only green but also decent, i.e. jobs that are productive, provide adequate incomes and social protection, respect the rights of workers, and give workers a say in decisions which will affect their lives. This definition incorporates the three dimensions of sustainable development - social, economic and environmental. Green jobs are decent work that significantly reduces the negative environmental impact of economic activity, ultimately leading to sustainable enterprises and economies.
The ILO Solution Forum will bring together governments, workers and employers, as well as practitioners from the South already engaged in horizontal cooperation in the field of decent work and sustainable development. It will also examine the experience of workers' and employers' organizations, which are increasingly promoting sustainable development in the world of work.
Environmental and social development must be treated as complementary pillars of sustainable development, but with closely interrelated dimensions. Such an integrated approach turns the drive towards environmental sustainability into a significant avenue for development, with more and better jobs and social inclusion, and poverty reduction. The opportunities for gains may in fact be greatest in developing countries and emerging economies, which that is why South-South and triangular cooperation exchanges are being promoted in this field.
Experiences in the field of social and solidarity economy and the promotion of green jobs and sustainable development will also be showcased. The convergence between the social and solidarity economy (SSE) as a thematic area and SSTC as a cooperation modality is a strategic opportunity for the ILO. The ILO’s Academy for Social and Solidarity Economy in Agadir 2013 promoted horizontal approaches for the promotion of sustainable jobs.
The discussion at the 2013 International Labour Conference on “Sustainable Development, Decent Work and Green Jobs” is particularly relevant to the Solution Forum.
Key areas of interest regarding the ILO-led solution forum -
Esplanada dos Ministérios - Bloco B – 7º andar – sala 756
CEP 70068-900 - Brasília - DF, Brazil
Tel: +55 61 2028-1090/1666/1742
Fax: +55 61 2028-1657
Email: larisa.gaivizzo@mma.gov.br
1. Description
In October 2011, Brazil launched officially the Bolsa Verde (green grant) programme to promote social inclusion and encourage the conservation of Brazilian's ecosystems. The programme is administered by Brazil's Ministry of Environment as part of the country's national poverty alleviation plan, Brasil Sem Miséria.
Under the Bolsa Verde programme, poor Brazilian families receive R$ 300 in grant funds every three months in exchange for the commitment to developing activities of environmental conservation, maintenance of vegetation covering, and sustainable use of natural resources. As at October 2012 the Bolsa Verde programme had benefited more than 30,000 families living in national forests, extractive reserves, traditional communities and new settlements.
By 2014 the Bolsa Verde programme aims to support 73,000 families in different regions of the country. This effort of up-scaling will be undertaken in a strategic manner.
A new project implemented with the ILO and financed by Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment aims to tackle the challenges related to the scaling up of the Bolsa Verde programme and the promotion of sustainable activities that may generate employment and income to the beneficiary families. The Ministry of Environment aims to learn about best practice examples from other countries, and to organize a knowledge sharing workshop to discuss challenges and opportunities for social and environmental protection floors.
2. Main partners
3. Horizontal dimension of cooperation
Cooperation with other countries will include a mapping of best practices as well as a knowledge sharing workshop.
4. Achievements and impact (from an SSTC perspective)
The project will be implemented from September 2013 to March 2014.
5. Sustainability
The mapping of best practices and the knowledge sharing workshop with other countries takes place at a very timely moment: the Ministry of Environment is currently examining the opportunities for up-scaling and improvements, and it is therefore guaranteed that the project outcomes will be directly incorporated into the Ministry’s work.
6. Innovation
A number of countries have experience of public works programmes for climate change adaptation. The combination of social protection floors with efforts to restore and safeguard forests and protected areas is relatively new. In Brazil this benefits population groups, in particular indigenous and tribal peoples living in rural areas, which are often left out of other social programmes. The pro-active approach by the Brazilian government to engage partners from other countries in a discussion about social and environmental protection floors is also innovative.
7. Replicability and up-scaling
Good practices and exchanges of experience will be documented and will allow Brazil and other countries to draw lessons and further improve already existing social and environmental protection floors. It may further help countries to set up new programmes.
8. Areas of contribution
9. Awareness of the initiative
The Bolsa Verde programme has become quite well known not only in Brazil, but also in other countries. The project offers a clear opportunity to raise awareness about this issue.
Nominee: Unión Obrera de la Construcción de la República Argentina
Virrey Cevallos 520 4° piso, 1097 Buenos Aires, Argentina;
Tel: 5491156958404 / 5441244920
Email: RCastro@uocra.org
1. Description
The project aims to train workers, technicians and professionals of the construction sector to implement good environmental practices on construction sites. It also aims at promoting both the rational use of energy and the technical training in photovoltaic solar energy.
The training allows acquiring knowledge to build photovoltaic solar bags (independent equipment able to provide electricity by converting solar energy for domestic use), which are then donated to schools which do not have electricity, in different rural areas. This system is capable in its most basic configuration, to provide basic lighting for at least 4 hours, with 5 days of autonomy (days without sun).
Activities in Argentina
2. Main partners:
UOCRA
OIT
Organismo Provincial para el Desarrollo Sostenible (OPDS)
3. Horizontal dimension of cooperation
(a) "Inter-regional trade union training on Decent Work, Sustainable Development and Green Jobs" - Turin, 2012
The initiative Good Environmental Practices in construction - "building renewable energy" has been presented during the training in Turin. This training had two main objectives:
(b) Training on the Multidisciplinary Team for Decent Work (MTDW) – CGTRA (Confederacion General del Trabajo) –
The MTDW was created in 2006 within the scope of the National ILO Decent Work for the primary purpose of placing decent work at the center of policies.
THE MTDW consists of union representatives, leaders, advisors and professionals from various organizations within the CGTRA, they contribute with their views and experience on the union agenda. With the aim of giving education and training, the MTDW has traveled several provinces training on various subjects.
In this context, the program with its various areas was presented in August 2011 on the occasion of the ILO Course to strengthen Mexican Trade Unions (UNETE, CTM and CROC) in Tlaxcala. The aim of this course is to enable the creation of Mexican MTDW, based on the experience of the various projects in Argentina. It was funded by the ILO.
(c) These actions are also presented and discussed in the context of Environment Workshops, particularly at the annual meeting of MERCOSUR on health and safety, in issues related to the environment and processing of materials that negatively impact health.
4. Sustainability
This initiative is sustainable as it has manuals for awareness of good environmental practices. Besides the aim of the "Conference on Good Environmental Practices” is to change people's habits to promote the rational use of natural resources, which further strengthens the sustainability of this initiative.
5. Replicability and scaling up
This initiative has the potential to be replicated, as it has manuals for awareness of good environmental practices. The impact at the national level of the initiative “Good Environmental Practices in construction - building renewable energy" has been recognized, it has also been recognized that it can be implemented in other countries, proof of this is that UOCRA has been invited to various international fora, in order to present the initiative.
6. Areas of contribution
Education and skills development: To influence the formation of desirable habits, through the formation of suitable persons to apply good environmental practices and preventive methods of work in risk situation. The project also develops skills that allow diagnose, prevent and resolve environmental risks in work environments.
Environment: The "Conference on Good Environmental Practices” imparts explanations on concepts such as "Good Environmental Practices and Renewable Energy" and "Sustainable Homes" to be implemented in the construction processes and in offices or private homes, and thus contribute to reducing the ecological footprint.
Promote the implementation of sustainable building practices, the use of alternative energy and the construction of bioclimatic housing.
7. Awareness of the initiative
The courses use training manuals prepared by UOCRA, these were developed with support from ILO/ACTRAV. The manuals of good environmental practices are intended to explain concepts and contribute to reducing the ecological footprint. That is, to create awareness among the population in order to achieve a rational use of energy.
Nominee: Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA), Costa Rica
Sede Central, La Uruca. Frente al Parque de Diversiones
5200-1000 San José, Costa Rica
Tel: (506) 2210-6504
Email: jbonillaherrera@ina.ac.cr (Javier Bonilla)
1. Description
In 2004 the technical vocational education and training institutions (TVET institutions) of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama) and the Dominican Republic created a regional network with the objective to jointly standardize and improve technical vocational training programmes in line with the latest labour market developments.
In the framework of the Spanish funded project FOIL (Formación, orientación e inserción laboral), the ILO is collaborating with the regional network of TVET institutions. The overall objective of FOIL is to strengthen the institutional capacity of public labour institutions and to facilitate the labour market insertion of marginalized groups in Central America.
In 2010 the network members decided jointly to focus on the creation of learning standards and methodologies for the promotion of green occupations perceiving a need in the labour market for workers with knowledge and skills related to environmental protection and new technologies and techniques.
2. Main partners
The seven technical vocational education and training (TVET) institutions which comprise this partnership are -
From the outset the network members decided that participation would take place on a purely voluntary basis. Regular meetings and exchanges take place at three different levels:
3. Horizontal dimension of cooperation
The elaboration of learning standards and curricula for green jobs is characterized by a process of consultation and collaboration that can take up to one year for each new standard and includes several meetings of experts.
In the first meeting of the technical experts, participants review the work plan, take stock of existing knowledge and define responsibilities. Each institution, depending on experience and knowledge, volunteers to elaborate a first draft standard. INA for example, having expertise in recycling, worked on a first draft for waste management. During the second meeting, all experts have the possibility to review, comment on and improve this draft standard which is then used to elaborate the respective training curriculum. The training curriculum, again, is reviewed by all members of the network during the third meeting. Once the standard and curriculum are finalized and supported by all members of the network, it is each institution’s responsibility to incorporate this new standard into the existing training portfolio. Taking the differences between member countries into consideration, the standard can be adapted to each country. However, 70% of the jointly agreed standard and curriculum must be maintained. Cooperation is based on jointly developed requirements for standards and curriculum development to ensure consistency and compliance in relation to the different standards and curricula.
This example of cooperation between network members shows how each partner plays an important and active role within this horizontal cooperation mechanism. Discussions and exchanges between technical experts contribute positively to the development of each institution.
The ILO’s role in this context is that of a facilitator to ensure that meetings are held regularly and that the technical experts have all the required information to work on one particular issue.
4. Achievements and impact (from an SSTC perspective)
Based on previous cooperation experience, the network members elaborated learning standards and curricula for eight green occupations, including organic agriculture, installation and reparation of photovoltaic systems, water management (drinking water and waste water), sustainable forestry, environmental risk management in selected sectors, watershed management, installation and maintenance of hybrid power systems and waste management . All eight standards were incorporated into the national training portfolios.
With support from the ILO project FOIL, a workshop on “Vocational training: towards a carbon neutral economy” was help in Costa Rica in November 2011. During this workshop, the regional priorities in terms of vocational training for green jobs were defined. Good practices in vocational training for green jobs were presented from various institutions from both within and outside the region, which provided a platform for capacity building and knowledge sharing.
More recently, the network decided to conduct national assessments on technical vocational training needs for green jobs, and is now applying an assessment methodology developed by the Brazilian National Service of Industrial Learning (SENAI). SENAI has provided training to all seven TVET institutions on its methodology. Countries are set to conduct sectoral surveys to identify skills shortages in green occupations, which will in turn develop new technical vocational training and standards.
INA, the Costa Rican TVET institution, has already gathered experience in applying the SENAI methodology and provided just a short while ago, in May 2013, the second training programme for technical staff of their counterpart institutions.
5. Sustainability
The eight curricular standards, incorporated into the respective countries’ vocational portfolios, are evidence of the sustainable nature of the initiative. The institutions have jointly elaborated and validated the technical standards, and this has led to a strong ownership among them. Moreover, the findings from the national assessments will enable the identification of country-specific training, standards and curricular needs. This will clearly contribute towards ensuring their long-term implementation.
6. Innovation
Regional cooperation between TVET institutions is nothing new. However, the interest among TVET institutions to play a pro-active role in the greening of national economies is innovative. The sectoral assessments and the development of training curricula for green occupations at regional level makes it possible to identify existing needs and needs that are expected to occur through the greening of national economies. In this context, the training institutions take up the important role of matching technical training with labour market needs.
7. Replicability and scaling up
As the project is based on a network of institutions, this model can easily be replicated in other regions and likewise scaled-up. Of key importance is the pro-active role of the TVET institutions, awareness of environmental concerns, and the interest in gaining more knowledge in this area.
8. Areas of contribution
9. Awareness of the initiative
The initiative is known among key partners in the region. In the last year, efforts were undertaken to share this experience on a wider scale. It has been included as a best practice example into the Green Jobs Programme training programme and an article on the main results was published in the last Green Jobs Programme progress report, Green jobs becoming a reality. Progress and Outlook 2013.
Nominee: Cobitech Kenya Limited (owner: Mr. Samson Gichia)
P O Box 21377, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 (0722) 453 701/ (0722) 807 272/ (020) 2106 777
Email cobitec@gmail.com)
1. Description
The Youth Entrepreneurship Facility (YEF) is a partnership between the Africa Commission, the Youth Employment Network (YEN) and the ILO. Implemented over the period 2010-2014 in Kenya, Uganda, and United Republic of Tanzania, the partnership is funded by the Government of Denmark.
Six components guide the activities of the partnership:
In 2010 the Youth Entrepreneurship Facility formed a partnership with the ILO’s Green Jobs Programme in response to the identification of green jobs and green entrepreneurship as one of the key priorities during the initial national and local stakeholder consultations.
2. Main partners
Regular knowledge exchanges take place in and between countries and has led to the replication of successful experiences. For example, and as further explained under point 4, Uganda replicated Kenya’s green business plan competition model.
YEF activities have also led to a direct exchange between partners of the participating countries and project-independent knowledge exchange has started to unfold. A green jobs awareness raising workshop was held in Kenya in September 2012. During this workshop, ILO programme staff drawn from East, Southern, Central and West Africa were introduced to the beneficiaries and visited some of the green business start-ups supported by the YEF. Workshop and field visits allowed ILO staff to then link national partners interested in learning more about green business options with respective contacts in Kenya. As a result green entrepreneurs from Kenya have been invited from partners in Uganda and Tanzania to presentations and training to share their experience and know-how. Some of the most successful green entrepreneurs have also been invited to international meetings to present and share experience. A case in point is the recent held summer academy in Turin (July 2013) where a young entrepreneur shared her business model and received several invitations to different countries in the South to explore collaboration.
4. Achievements and impact (from a SSTC perspective)
During the YEF’s first phase, 2010-2011, various activities promoted green entrepreneurship. Below are highlights of two activities which are particularly important due to their South-South cooperation characteristics.
In 2010, ILO-YEF entered into a sponsorship agreement with ENABLIS, a business network supporting youth companies and business creations, to support a business plan competition and introduce a category focusing on green business. The competition creates opportunities for people with a business idea or existing business who find it difficult to secure conventional commercial funding or to access start-up or expansion capital. The Green & Ecological Business category was established to identify businesses that contribute significantly to environmental sustainability and ecological best practice; businesses that have developed new sustainable technologies that can address Kenyan energy, water and pollution needs and products and services that are designed to save, conserve, or reduce consumption of finite natural resources.
During the mobilization phase of the competition, green business awareness raising programmes were rolled out and youth groups, entrepreneurs, and potential entrepreneurs could benefit from training on green business options. At the end of YEF’s first phase in 2011, 5,284 entrepreneurs were trained on business plan development, strategies to green existing businesses and opportunities to create new green businesses. Additionally, the top 100 finalists in each year received further support to enter the final competition. Out of the total of 721 business plan entries from the first two, 81 entries (11%) were in the Green & Ecological Business category. The green business plan competition and prizes proved to be a successful motivator to elicit greater interest in green businesses and kick-start green ideas.
Exchanges of experience between Kenya and Uganda have led to the replication of the green business plan competitions in Uganda. In May 2012, YEF contracted Enterprise Uganda to likewise prepare and conduct a Green Business Plan Training Workshop. Following a call for proposals, 66 candidates were selected to attend the business plan training workshop in September 2012. Out of these, 28 candidates with the most successful business plans developed during the training received further support such as business skills training and mentorship to finalize the initiated business plans and enter the annual competition.
Another major activity implemented by YEF to promote green entrepreneurship is the development of an education programme. Under a partnership with Junior Achievement (JA), a global non-for-profit youth organization, a 15-week long green enterprise course was developed and rolled out for secondary school students. During the course, students learn about theoretical concepts and practical tools on how to develop a green business plan and start and manage their business. The overall objective of the course is to make young people reflect on the input and production processes of businesses and their adverse impacts on the environment. Yearly competition between the student-run businesses helps increase motivation and ensure entertainment. In 2011, the green enterprise course was rolled out to 107 secondary schools, reaching 4,680 students, and to 12 universities across the country, reaching a total of 400 university students. This partnership with JA to promote green entrepreneurship is planned to be replicated and adapted to Uganda, based on the successful implementation in Kenya.
5. Sustainability
The various capacity building activities in promoting green entrepreneurship ensure the sustainability of this initiative. Training of trainers allows continuing training activities after the end of funding. The partnership approach focuses on creating capacity among national institutions that can then carry out activities without further support from the ILO.
6. Innovation
Guiding young people towards new business opportunities is an innovative approach, particularly in countries where youth unemployment rates are high. Green entrepreneurship has a beneficial impact on the social and economic situation of young people and on the protection of the environment. Moreover, it supports the shift of the national economy from unsustainable to more sustainable processes.
7. Replicability and scaling up
The green entrepreneurship training modules can be easily replicated in other countries. However, to achieve sustainability it is important to undertake these trainings in cooperation with national institutions.
8. Areas of contribution
Job creation - the initiative tackles youth unemployment by enabling potential youth entrepreneurs to develop business opportunities
Income-generation - the initiative provides income generation opportunities through entrepreneurship
Education and skills development - the initiative focuses on education and skill development, notably through the Junior Achievement partnership
Environment - the initiative promotes green entrepreneurship and green jobs, and hence helps reduce the negative environmental impact of business activities and promotes new green sectors.
9. Awareness of the initiative
The initiatives undertaken in the context of YEF have gained significant visibility thanks to successful experience sharing. A presentation on the experiences in Kenya was for example given during a side event of the Rio+20 conference. The experiences and lessons learned from this partnership were also shared in other events, organized or co-organized by the ILO
Nominee: Ms Eliana Nicolini, National Industrial Apprenticeship Service/Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje Industrial – SENAI
SBN - Quadra 01 - Bloco C - Ed. Roberto Simonsen - 5º andar, Brasilia - DF - CEP:70040-903, Brazil
Tel: +511-2089995 (55)(61) 3317- 9010/9001/9000
Email: eliana.nicolini@cni.org.br
1. Description
Peru is a country with a varied geography (coast, highlands, jungle) which has been facing environmental degradation (natural and man-made) and the depletion of natural resources (mining, deforestation, and frequent natural disasters, such earthquakes, floods, pollution, illegal factories and others.
The Government is committed to improving environmental protection and it controls the process through national programmes, education and prevention activities. The deterioration of the environment costs about 8,200 million soles (2,500 million U.S. dollars) annually - equivalent to 3.9% of the GDP.
The Ministry of Environment was established in 2008, since when it has provided a revised legal framework addressing in particular the following relevant issues:
SENATI is the Peruvian Vocational Training Institute with presence nationwide, training nearly 60,000 students in 63 technical careers in the past 3 years, in which the German dual system (learning by doing) has been applied. To respond to the needs of the Peruvian productive sector, a market study was carried out by SENATI. It has clearly identified the needs related to qualified human resources, laboratory services, applied environmental research, and environmental technology consultancy services in order to comply with environmental regulations in line with new Peruvian legislation and international market requirements, and to reduce the economic impact caused by inefficient and inadequate use of natural resources.
The National Service for Industrial Apprenticeship (SENAI) is a Brazilian non-profit organization that provides technical and vocational education and training in industrial areas of expertise while promoting applied research and technology transfer for the benefit of Brazilian industry. SENAI has played a key role in South-South cooperation. Together with the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations, SENAI is responsible for the implementation of 15 technical and vocational training centres in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The institution trains 2.5 million professionals a year, and manages a network of 809 mobile and fixed operational units, with 55 million students enrolled since its creation.
SENAI, in partnership with SENATI and the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ), entered into a cooperation agreement whose main outcome was the creation of the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA) based in Peru. The Centre trains professionals in areas related to clean production and environmental conservation. It also aims at providing technical capacity building in research and laboratory services in areas such as water and sanitation, clean air and clean development mechanisms, land and recuperation of degraded landscape, solid waste, clean production and energy efficiency. In addition, it offers continuing education courses on environmental community-based monitoring, environmental monitoring (technical level) and eco-efficiency.
SENATI is responsible for the implementation and management of the CTA with international technical support from SENAI, the Brazilian counterpart and GIZ, the German Counterpart. The Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation together with the Brazilian Agency for International Cooperation are in charge of the political coordination of this project and of GIZ’s participation.
The Centre has developed a marketing and communications strategy as well as a monitoring and evaluation framework to measure impact and outcomes. The estimated duration of the project is three years (December 2010 to June 2014) with a total budget of more than US$5.2 million (SENAI, 2013). Upon completion of the project, the centre will be managed solely by SENATI.
Project implementation – key strategies
The project implementation is organized in four components of Annual Work Plans:
2. Main partners:
The Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) and the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) have worked jointly to support bilateral and triangular cooperation projects in several areas. SENATI and SENAI share similar institutional models, with financial, administrative, and pedagogical autonomy as well as strategic areas of interest, such as the environment and energy.
SENATI supports the Peruvian productive sector by providing training in technical areas and specific services to enterprises. Accordingly, SENATI is seeking to strengthen its capacity to respond to enterprises' needs regarding compliance with national and international environmental requirements. SENATI has extensive experience in providing technical training through 80 professional and vocational training centres (Centros de Formación Profesional –CFP) across the country. In this context, SENATI requested technical support from the Brazilian Government in order to create the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA) to create quality human resources and services in specific areas such as water, sanitation, air quality, soil, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Peru´s request is based on close collaboration between SENAI and SENATI, and on the successful experience with SENAI in providing support to different enterprises to comply with environmental requirements. The SENAI Environmental Department in the city of Bahia was created in 2005 with a team of 63 multidisciplinary professionals including doctorates, masters and specialists in Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Geologist, Geography, Education and Business Administration with relevant experience in the industrial process and the education field. It has extensive experience in supporting industries to produce environmental safeguards, designing capacity-building methodologies and providing advisory and laboratory services. The SENAI Environmental Department provides environmental consultancy to 16 Brazilian States. In addition to the services provided to enterprises, the Department has close collaboration with environmental organizations in monitoring hydrographical basins and beaches in the State of Bahia, and undertakes emergency environmental interventions in rivers and other areas.
Germany has been active in providing technical cooperation and financial contributions in both Peru and Brazil. In addition, SENATI and SENAI’s pedagogical approaches have been inspired by the German “dual” system of vocational training, which is a combined programme of practical training in a company with theory taught at a school. In view of German experience in energy efficiency and environmental technologies applied to the clean development of productive services, the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) invited GIZ to engage in a triangular cooperation agreement establishing the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA) in 2011 in Peru. The project is led by SENATI and it is implemented by the three parties. SENAI transfers technology, trains the technical team, and shares its experience of the application of environmental technologies in Brazil. GIZ offers technical advice on cutting-edge technologies, environmental policy guidance, technical advisory services and budgetary contributions. ABC coordinates the triangular partnership with its Peruvian counterpart, the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI), and also supports budget execution.
3. Horizontal dimension of cooperation
The mechanism applied to develop the triangular cooperation project is the following:
Joint Coordination Committee
The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) is composed of management representatives from the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA)-SENATI, SENAI and GTZ) with the following functions and responsibilities:
The JCC will meet annually in order to approve annual operational plans and to monitor annual evaluations. It will be the responsibility of each counterpart to conduct regular missions to monitor the project based on needs identified.
Execution Technical Unit
The Execution Technical Unit is composed of technical representatives from the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA)-SENATI, SENAI and GTZ) with the following functions and responsibilities:
The following chart shows the inter-institutional relations from involved agents.
4. Achievements and impact (from a SSTC perspective)
The positive institutional relationship between SENATI, SENAI, and GIZ has played a key role in the implementation of the triangular cooperation agreement and establishment of the CTA. Each entity contributed fundamental experience. The CTA developed a marketing and communications strategy as well as a monitoring and evaluation framework to measure impact and outcomes.
The estimated beneficiaries of the project for the first 3,5 years are 265 young students from low-income households who will have an opportunity to receive technical instruction related to skills with high labour demand and a variety of action areas in the field of environmental and energy technologies. The programme provides young students with an Environmental Technician Diploma involving theory and practice, with an opportunity to start an internship as from their second year at any of the industries with which SENATI has mutual cooperation agreements.
In addition, training is also offered to enterprise staff in different productive sectors in order to strengthen technical competence among the management and improve the performance of the firm. SENATI will also offer specific training for people already in the industry, involving short training programmes. It is estimated that for the first 3.5 years of the project, 500 members of the staff of different enterprises will be attending this programme and about 2,000 professionals will attend conferences and workshops.
Through technical consultancy, environmentally applied research and laboratory testing, this project will help develop cleaner production and environmental practices for better environmental performance and productivity among enterprises. Services will be expanded to other public sectors to promote regulations and technical strategies that will eventually improve and expand environmental protection.
5. Sustainability
This initiative is grounded in a solid partnership in strategic areas of interest for all partners and with benefits for the industrial sector. Accordingly, the CTA could become a centre of excellence in the field of environment and a knowledge hub in the region. In addition, given the different partnerships already existing between SENAI and SENATI with other training institutions in the region, the experience can serve as inspiration for other countries.
The Environmental Technologies Programme is unique as a professional programme in Peru. It was created and implemented in the framework of the triangular partnership between SENAI, SENATI and GIZ, and led by SENATI, a solid and prestigious institution, which guarantees its sustainability. It is planned to replicate the programme across the country. Its aim is to generate skills for sustainable development in Peru in order to preserve and regulate environmental activities in production processes, mitigating the degradation of air, soil, water and environment. The Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA) will contribute and provide tools for better environmental management and sustainable development.
6. Innovation
Several features of this project make it innovative:
7. Replicability and up-scaling
This example of triangular cooperation for vocational training and skills development is grounded in a solid partnership between partners, a model which has also been observed with similar institutions in the region and in other regions. SENAI has also been involved in other South-South cooperation initiatives, and has been actively promoting the transfer of knowledge together with the ABC. In addition, given the different partnerships already existing between SENAI and SENATI with other training institutions in the region, the experience can serve as inspiration for other countries. The CTA could become a centre of excellence in the field of environment and a knowledge hub in the region.
Moreover, in Peru the programmes created under the framework of this example of tripartite cooperation are being replicated across the country through the SENATI network. SENATI has 80 operative units at national level and strategic alliances with 2500 manufacturing enterprises where students can apply for the “dual” learning program. In addition, young men and women with low incomes will have access to professional and technological education in the field of environment, improving their quality of life and enjoying a decent income, enabling them to enter the formal national economy
8. Areas of contribution
9. Awareness of the initiative
The project plan and progress has been disseminated through the media with success; monthly articles in SENATI´s Journal and other journals have been issued; and brochures and websites have been developed. A monthly conference was organized for professionals in general, involving 1,500 participants. The Ministry of Environment are eager to be involved in the implementation of the CTA and to work jointly with SENATI to help them in various initiatives. Radio and TV interviews were given.
10. Other information
The transfer of technology, good practices and experience has in the short term resulted the development of techniques, strategies and tools. Efficient teamwork and close inter-institutional collaboration have ensured efficiency and have brought results that contribute to national development.
Nominee: Youssef Alaoui Solaimani
rue Sijilmassa Belvédère,
20300 Casablanca – Morocco
Tel: +212 6 53 20 88 14
Email: youssefalaouis@hotmail.com)
1. Description
Managing your Agricultural Cooperative -My.COOP-is a training package published in 2011. It covers managerial challenges faced by many agricultural cooperatives. face. It is based on the idea that strong cooperatives are necessary for a more equitable distribution of income, democracy, and economic and social development. My.COOP is a partnership initiative that draws on the success of the ILO’s Materials and Techniques for Cooperative Management (MATCOM) Programme (1978-early 1990s) that developed over 40 training tools. The My.COOP training package includes a trainer’s manual, four modules, and a mobile learning toolkit. In addition, It uses a five-pronged delivery strategy:
• Training of trainers and training of managers delivered by the ITC-ILO
• A network of partners and trainers
• Face-to-face, self-learning and distance learning
• Use of a My.COOP community platform where a series of services and tools can be found such as a distance-learning programme for training of trainers, My.COOP training material translated and adapted, and information on partners
• A package containing the manuals and modules in booklets
2. Main partners
The My.COOP partnership was initiated by the ILO Cooperative Facility for Africa and the ILO’s Cooperative Branch (COOP). The partnership and other support organizations include: Agriterra, the Cooperative College of Kenya, FAO, ITC-ILO, the Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers, the Moshi University College of Cooperative and Business Studies, the Nigerian Cooperative Development Centre, the Royal Tropical Institute, the Uganda Cooperative Alliance and the Wageningen University and Research Centre. The initiative was showcased during the 2013 session of the Academy for Social and Solidarity Economy.
3. Horizontal dimension of cooperation
My.COOP was developed by various organizations from countries of the North and South such as Kenya, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom. It has been shared as a good practice between Bolivia, Nigeria and Peru. Moreover, it was show-cased in the Academy for Social and Solidarity Economy during a South-South session in April 2013.
4. Achievements and impact (from a SSTC perspective)
Training activities are meant to strengthen the management of agricultural cooperatives so they can offer high-quality, efficient and effective services to their members. Moreover, they provide guidance to ensure member satisfaction, facilitate business opportunities and address social considerations. Direct beneficiaries of the training package include trainers of cooperatives, managers of agricultural cooperatives, and members involved in managerial tasks. Employees and members of the agricultural cooperative and the local community indirectly benefit from the programme due to organizational changes.
5. Sustainability and replicability
Pilot training activities and country adaptations are taking place in Bolivia, Nigeria and Peru. The My.COOP network of partners would allow the training package to be extended to other countries. Although the existing training materials are currently available in English, they will soon be translated into Spanish to reach a wider audience. The My.COOP training package is adaptable to local situations and contexts. For instance, modules and topics can be used independently from each other and in any given order to address specific needs. They are illustrated by practical cases from various parts of the world which contain explanatory boxes on definitions and concepts.
There are other initiatives that promote the transition to a greener economy in the framework of Social and Solidarity Economy. For example, the “green city” initiative in Morocco located 70 km north of Marrakech that includes standards for responsible water management, rainwater storage, recycling and a dual circuit (gray water -drinking water). This project also involves the use of wind, solar and biomass power.
Most of the environmental challenges are concentrated in urban areas. Innovative responses to face these challenges can be replicated and adapted to different context thorough different mechanisms such as city-to-city cooperation. The experience of cities and local communities in the transition to a green economy while promoting decent work for all has been strongly recognized. In this regard, the ILO has been engaged in initiatives promoting cooperation between cities from the Global South.
6. Innovation
The main innovation is that the training package is very flexible because of the delivery strategy mentioned above. It leaves space for self-learning and offers self-assignment opportunities. Similarly, face-to-face and distance learning (My.COOP resource platform) contribute to the success of the programme and target cooperatives worldwide
The Global South-South Development (GSSD) Expo is a United Nations system-wide global high-profile event for South-South Cooperation. The GSSD Expo 2013 was the first to be held in the South. The overall objective of GSSD Expo 2013 was to provide a powerful platform for the sharing and exchange of scalable, replicable and innovative southern solutions that have significant development impact on the ground. Solutions were therefore not presented as universal models but as references for voluntary learning, with the common aim of scaling up their development impact.
Under the overarching theme of "Building Inclusive Green Economies: South-South Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication", the GSSD Expo 2013 was an occasion to showcase the collective response of the UN to relevant provisions of the Rio+20 Outcome and its capacity to facilitate South-South cooperation and exchanges of experience on green economy. UNEP co-hosted this session of the Expo with the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, and explicitly stated that decent work is a critical element in the promotion of a Green Economy.
The solutions were presented in forums on different themes. The ILO solutions proposed here, which were presented at the Sustainable Development and Decent Work Solution Forum on 30 October 2013, address various aspects of environmental conservation and green jobs through innovative South-South and triangular arrangements based on the concept of decent work. A report on the proceedings of the Forum is available.
Solutions proposed
- South-South cooperation to strengthen Brazil’s Bolsa Verde programme (national government: Departamento de Extrativismo do Ministério do Meio Ambiente)
- Good Environmental Practices in construction - "building renewable energy"
- Developing skills for green jobs in the Americas through South-South cooperation (public sector: Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA), Costa Rica
- Promoting green entrepreneurship among young women and men through South-South cooperation (private sector: Cobitech Kenya Limited)
- Triangular Cooperation for Vocational Training and Skills Development (Public-Private Partnership: SENAI)
- Managing your Agricultural Cooperative
ILO and the GSSD 2013
In March 2012 the ILO Governing Body adopted an ILO South-South and Triangular Cooperation Strategy: “South–South and triangular cooperation: The way forward”. In addition, in 2011 the International Labour Conference approved the ILO Programme and Budget for 2012–13, placing particular emphasis on South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) as a means of achieving the Organization’s objectives.The results framework for the Strategy were:
- The ILO has greater institutional awareness and capacity to identify and implement SSTC, with a view to establishing and implementing an initiative on SSTC.
- The Decent Work Agenda is advanced through SSTC with the engagement of an increasing number of governments, social partners, UN agencies and non-state actors.
Green Jobs
Green jobs are defined by the ILO as jobs that “help to reduce negative environmental impact ultimately leading to environmentally, economically and socially sustainable enterprises and economies; more specifically, green jobs are decent jobs that reduce consumption of energy and raw materials; limit greenhouse gas emissions; minimize waste and pollution; and protect and restore ecosystems”. The ILO recognizes that further efforts are necessary to build Member States’ capacities and knowledge of labour market trends and developments brought about by the greening of economies and enterprises so as to enable a just transition.The joint UNEP/ILO/IOE/ITUC report of 2008 broadly defined a green job as any decent job that contributes to preserving or restoring the quality of the environment, whether in agriculture, industry, services or administration.
An important element in this definition of green jobs is the fact that the jobs have to be not only green but also decent, i.e. jobs that are productive, provide adequate incomes and social protection, respect the rights of workers, and give workers a say in decisions which will affect their lives. This definition incorporates the three dimensions of sustainable development - social, economic and environmental. Green jobs are decent work that significantly reduces the negative environmental impact of economic activity, ultimately leading to sustainable enterprises and economies.
The ILO Solution Forum will bring together governments, workers and employers, as well as practitioners from the South already engaged in horizontal cooperation in the field of decent work and sustainable development. It will also examine the experience of workers' and employers' organizations, which are increasingly promoting sustainable development in the world of work.
Environmental and social development must be treated as complementary pillars of sustainable development, but with closely interrelated dimensions. Such an integrated approach turns the drive towards environmental sustainability into a significant avenue for development, with more and better jobs and social inclusion, and poverty reduction. The opportunities for gains may in fact be greatest in developing countries and emerging economies, which that is why South-South and triangular cooperation exchanges are being promoted in this field.
Experiences in the field of social and solidarity economy and the promotion of green jobs and sustainable development will also be showcased. The convergence between the social and solidarity economy (SSE) as a thematic area and SSTC as a cooperation modality is a strategic opportunity for the ILO. The ILO’s Academy for Social and Solidarity Economy in Agadir 2013 promoted horizontal approaches for the promotion of sustainable jobs.
The discussion at the 2013 International Labour Conference on “Sustainable Development, Decent Work and Green Jobs” is particularly relevant to the Solution Forum.
Key areas of interest regarding the ILO-led solution forum -
- How to integrate a cross-cutting and cross-sectoral approach.
- Waste management and horizontal cooperation, including the engagement of workers and employers organisations, and cooperatives
- South-South exchanges in green entrepreneurship development, with some possible concrete examples in the green business option (GBO)
- Social Protection Dimensions of horizontally adaptable country-specific good practices such as the Brazilian “Bolsa Verde” programme
- Skills development for green jobs and green entrepreneurship. Identification and standardization of technical capacities for green jobs.
Useful links
- ILO’s page on South-South and Triangular Cooperation within the Partnerships and Field Support Department
- ILO participation in GSSD 2012
- Discussion at the International Labour Conference in 2013 on “Sustainable Development, Decent Work and Green Jobs”
- ILO: The Global Impact of e-waste
- Bolsa Verde
- Academy Gateway
- Collective Brain (useful resources and knowledge sharing platform)
- UNRISD: Potential and Limits to the Social and Solidarity Economy
- Annual Review Meeting ILO-Brazil
- South-South and Triangular Cooperation: The Way Forward
- South-South Cooperation and Decent Work: Good Practices
Panelists
| Chair: Mr Jürgen Schwettmann, Director, Department of Partnerships and Field Support, ILO. Jürgen Schwettmann is responsible for resource mobilization and the management of technical cooperation programmes. He has written numerous articles, discussion papers, studies, books and essays related to cooperative development, rural finance, the social economy, rural development and cash crop marketing. Mr Schwettmann will also provide insights into the ILO’s engagement in South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) under the framework of the ILO South-South and triangular cooperation strategy: The presentation will highlight the benefits of SSTC strategies and mechanisms in the context of sustainable development and the potential of ILO’s tripartite structure in this regard. |  |
HE Ms Marcela Nicodemos, Ambassador of Brazil to Kenya, has served in many posts including Kenya, Armenia, the United Nations in New York and Peru. She is a well known career diplomat with particular expertise in human rights and social development. She will give examples of how Brazil has taken the initiative to cooperate with other countries of the Global South in the fields of sustainable development and decent work. As Brazil was the host country for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), and played a key role in the finalization of the Outcome Document, “The Future We Want”, reflection on the follow-up to Rio, especially the interlinkages between the three pillars of sustainable development – social, environmental and economic – will be essential. A recent example of Brazil's environmentally friendly programmes is the Bolsa Verde programme (green grant), launched in October 2011. The Government of Brazil has since 2005 been a major contributor to ILO’s South-South and Triangular Cooperation initiative and has stimulated the engagement of many countries of the Global South to support these initiatives. |  |
| Ms Romina Castro, Advisor for Internal Affairs and Head of the Sustainable Development Division, Argentinian Building Workers Union (UOCRA), is responsible for providing technical support on various areas of international trade union participation (OAS, ILO, UN, ICM, CSI, CSA, etc.) and environmental issues. This presentation will be devoted to a good practice of horizontal cooperation between countries in the Americas related to green construction, in which the Argentinian Building Workers Union (UOCRA) has been involved. It will highlight the involvement of and cooperation between trade unions in terms of transfer of knowledge on green construction initiatives. |  |
Mr Javier Bonilla, Chief of Technology Management Processes, National Learning Institute (Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje - INA, Costa Rica, is an expert in Technology Project Management. He is also a professor and business consultant, and has written several articles and papers on technology and automotive mechanics.. The Regional Network of Technical Vocational Education and Training Institutions of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama) and the Dominican Republic was created in 2004 with the objective of jointly standardizing and improving technical vocational training programmes in line with the latest labour market developments. This presentation will showcase an initiative developed through the network, which was developed in collaboration with the ILO. The objective of the initiative is to strengthen the institutional capacity of public labour institutions and to facilitate the labour insertion of marginalized groups in Central America. Accordingly, in 2010, the network members decided jointly to focus on the creation of learning standards and methodologies for the promotion of green occupations, perceiving a need from the labour market for workers with knowledge and skills about environmental protection and new technologies and techniques. |  |
Mr Samson Gichia, CEO Cobitech Kenya Limited, is an Economist and Sociologist. He is the Managing Director of Cobitech Limited, a biogas construction company based at Ruiru Town, Kiambu County. It was registered in November 2010 after winning an award from the ILO Youth Entrepreneurship Facility (YEF) during the Enablis Chase Bank Business Plan Competition. In 2010, based on a request by ILO stakeholders, the ILO Green Jobs Programme formed a partnership with the (YEF) The objective of the partnership is to promote green youth entrepreneurship in the three YEF target countries Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This presentation will focus on the training programmes for green entrepreneurship developed and conducted in the three countries under the YEF-Green Jobs Programme Partnership, and on how these activities have helped young people to start their new green businesses and connect with one other to exchange knowledge and experience. This exchange has taken place at both levels, within and across national borders, to the benefit of all participants. |  |
Ms Elena Nicolini, Coordinator, South-South Cooperation, SENAI (Brazil), works at the International Relations Unit of the Directorate of Education and Technology (DIRET) at the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), being responsible for South-South cooperation projects involving the Social Service for the Industry (SESI), the National Service for Industrial Apprenticeship (SENAI) and the Institute Euvaldo Lodi (IEL). Before joining CNI, Ms. Nicolini served as Chief Technical Adviser with the United Nations Development Programme in Haiti and had under her responsibilities the coordination of South-South cooperation projects funded by Brazil, India and South Africa. Before that she served as Engineering Officer at the Crisis Management Unit of the Presidency of Republic of Brazil, with responsibilities for the issues of energy, natural disasters, overseas humanitarian aid, natural environment and water resources. This presentation will highlight the results of a triangular cooperation initiative between the Brazilian National Service for Industrial Apprenticeship (SENAI), in partnership with the Peruvian National Service of Skills Development in Industrial Labour (SENATI) and the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ) to create the Centre for Environmental Technologies which is based in Peru. SENAI’s extensive experience in South-South and triangular cooperation initiatives will be shared with this concrete example of triangular cooperation for vocational training and skills development in the field of environment. SENAI’s experience in supporting industries to achieve environmental safeguards, design capacity-building methodologies, and provide advisory and laboratory services were shared with its Peruvian counterpart, with technical assistance from Germany's GIZ. |  |
| Mr Alaoui Solaimani, Consultant and trainer on Social and Solidarity Economy, has over 32 years of experience, in particular in cooperatives and Social and Solidarity Economy. Recently he has facilitated in Morocco the South–South and Triangular Cooperation Session of the Social and Solidarity Academy of the ILO (Agadir, April 2013). The presentation of Mr Solaimani will be focus on SSTC in Cooperatives, especially the work of “My Coop”. My COOP training package targets agricultural cooperatives and was developed by various organizations from countries of the North and South such as Kenya, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom. He also has experience with “green cities” project which cover decent work and sustainable development between cities. |  |
Ms Anita Amorim, Head, Emerging and Special Partnerships Unit of the ILO Department of Partnerships and Field Support, is responsible for the coordination of the Unit including South-South partnerships and UN issues. She has over 20 years of experience in UN system wide coherence issues, particularly education, child labour and gender rights. Ms Amorim will be the discussant for this Solution Forum, introducing some questions and key challenges to the participants, while highlighting ILO’s Strategy for SSTC in the world of work, as well as the ILO-UN Office for South-South Cooperation joint project. |  |
Solutions for Sustainable Development and Decent Work
| Contacts for all Solutions | |
| Anita Amorim, Head, Emerging and Special Partnerships Unit, Department of Partnerships and Field Support, ILO, amorim@ilo.org (pictured above) | |
Cristina Maldonado, South-South Partnerships Officer, Department of Partnerships and Field Support, ILO, maldonadoc@iloguest.org |  |
1. South-South cooperation to strengthen Brazil’s Bolsa Verde programme (national government)
Nominee: Larisa Ho Bech Gaivizzo - Diretora do Departamento de Extrativismo do Ministério do Meio AmbienteEsplanada dos Ministérios - Bloco B – 7º andar – sala 756
CEP 70068-900 - Brasília - DF, Brazil
Tel: +55 61 2028-1090/1666/1742
Fax: +55 61 2028-1657
Email: larisa.gaivizzo@mma.gov.br
1. Description
In October 2011, Brazil launched officially the Bolsa Verde (green grant) programme to promote social inclusion and encourage the conservation of Brazilian's ecosystems. The programme is administered by Brazil's Ministry of Environment as part of the country's national poverty alleviation plan, Brasil Sem Miséria.
Under the Bolsa Verde programme, poor Brazilian families receive R$ 300 in grant funds every three months in exchange for the commitment to developing activities of environmental conservation, maintenance of vegetation covering, and sustainable use of natural resources. As at October 2012 the Bolsa Verde programme had benefited more than 30,000 families living in national forests, extractive reserves, traditional communities and new settlements.
By 2014 the Bolsa Verde programme aims to support 73,000 families in different regions of the country. This effort of up-scaling will be undertaken in a strategic manner.
A new project implemented with the ILO and financed by Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment aims to tackle the challenges related to the scaling up of the Bolsa Verde programme and the promotion of sustainable activities that may generate employment and income to the beneficiary families. The Ministry of Environment aims to learn about best practice examples from other countries, and to organize a knowledge sharing workshop to discuss challenges and opportunities for social and environmental protection floors.
2. Main partners
- Ministry of Environment
- Ministry of Social Development
- Ministry of Agrarian Development
- Ministry of Foreign Relations
- Governmental bodies of China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Mozambique and South Africa who are in charge of the implementation of similar programmes in their countries.
3. Horizontal dimension of cooperation
Cooperation with other countries will include a mapping of best practices as well as a knowledge sharing workshop.
4. Achievements and impact (from an SSTC perspective)
The project will be implemented from September 2013 to March 2014.
5. Sustainability
The mapping of best practices and the knowledge sharing workshop with other countries takes place at a very timely moment: the Ministry of Environment is currently examining the opportunities for up-scaling and improvements, and it is therefore guaranteed that the project outcomes will be directly incorporated into the Ministry’s work.
6. Innovation
A number of countries have experience of public works programmes for climate change adaptation. The combination of social protection floors with efforts to restore and safeguard forests and protected areas is relatively new. In Brazil this benefits population groups, in particular indigenous and tribal peoples living in rural areas, which are often left out of other social programmes. The pro-active approach by the Brazilian government to engage partners from other countries in a discussion about social and environmental protection floors is also innovative.
7. Replicability and up-scaling
Good practices and exchanges of experience will be documented and will allow Brazil and other countries to draw lessons and further improve already existing social and environmental protection floors. It may further help countries to set up new programmes.
8. Areas of contribution
- Income-generation: The Bolsa Verde programme has benefited some 23’000 families who live in national forests, extractive reserves, traditional communities and new settlements. The target for 2014 is to reach 73’000 families.
- Social inclusion: Under the Bolsa Verde programme, Brazilian families living in extreme poverty (those with a monthly per capita income of less than R$ 70) who preserve the vegetative cover of the areas where they live receive R$ 300 in grant funds every three months
- Outreach: The idea of Bolsa Verde is to increase the income of beneficiaries and thus reduce pressures for wood cutting and the creation of areas for cattle raising. This, of course, also requires a change in perception. The natural environmental, the forest and the existing biodiversity is considered as something that needs to be protected.
- Environment: Families receive a quarterly transfer of R$ 300 in exchange for the commitment to developing activities of environmental conservation, maintenance of the vegetation covering, and sustainable use of natural resources.
9. Awareness of the initiative
The Bolsa Verde programme has become quite well known not only in Brazil, but also in other countries. The project offers a clear opportunity to raise awareness about this issue.
2. Good Environmental Practices in Construction - "Building renewable energy"
Nominee: Unión Obrera de la Construcción de la República Argentina Virrey Cevallos 520 4° piso, 1097 Buenos Aires, Argentina;
Tel: 5491156958404 / 5441244920
Email: RCastro@uocra.org
1. Description
The project aims to train workers, technicians and professionals of the construction sector to implement good environmental practices on construction sites. It also aims at promoting both the rational use of energy and the technical training in photovoltaic solar energy.
The training allows acquiring knowledge to build photovoltaic solar bags (independent equipment able to provide electricity by converting solar energy for domestic use), which are then donated to schools which do not have electricity, in different rural areas. This system is capable in its most basic configuration, to provide basic lighting for at least 4 hours, with 5 days of autonomy (days without sun).
Activities in Argentina
- Courses on "Rational Use of Energy" were developed within the activities of the project. Biomass burners were built (efficient stoves) to reduce the use of wood and Compressed Natural Gas.
- Another activity is the "Conference on Good Environmental Practices”, its main goal is to change habits for the rational use of natural resources.
- To achieve this, the initiative has its own training manual on "Good Environmental Practices and Renewable Energy" and "Sustainable Homes".
2. Main partners:
UOCRA
OIT
Organismo Provincial para el Desarrollo Sostenible (OPDS)
3. Horizontal dimension of cooperation
(a) "Inter-regional trade union training on Decent Work, Sustainable Development and Green Jobs" - Turin, 2012
The initiative Good Environmental Practices in construction - "building renewable energy" has been presented during the training in Turin. This training had two main objectives:
- Sharing knowledge on various roads for trade union action on environmental issues at different levels: from the workplace to the land; at the national, regional and international levels. It was mainly focused on experiences on sustainable workplaces and both bipartite and tripartite social dialogue in environmental issues.
- Presentation of experiences of union action on environmental issues.
- Environmental Challenges and Changing Development Model, Environmental and Social Consequences: the 2008 ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization
- Work and Environment
- Climate change and other environmental problems, Consequences on Employment -opportunities and challenges- and Trade Union Action
- Future prospects
(b) Training on the Multidisciplinary Team for Decent Work (MTDW) – CGTRA (Confederacion General del Trabajo) –
The MTDW was created in 2006 within the scope of the National ILO Decent Work for the primary purpose of placing decent work at the center of policies.
THE MTDW consists of union representatives, leaders, advisors and professionals from various organizations within the CGTRA, they contribute with their views and experience on the union agenda. With the aim of giving education and training, the MTDW has traveled several provinces training on various subjects.
In this context, the program with its various areas was presented in August 2011 on the occasion of the ILO Course to strengthen Mexican Trade Unions (UNETE, CTM and CROC) in Tlaxcala. The aim of this course is to enable the creation of Mexican MTDW, based on the experience of the various projects in Argentina. It was funded by the ILO.
(c) These actions are also presented and discussed in the context of Environment Workshops, particularly at the annual meeting of MERCOSUR on health and safety, in issues related to the environment and processing of materials that negatively impact health.
4. Sustainability
This initiative is sustainable as it has manuals for awareness of good environmental practices. Besides the aim of the "Conference on Good Environmental Practices” is to change people's habits to promote the rational use of natural resources, which further strengthens the sustainability of this initiative.
5. Replicability and scaling up
This initiative has the potential to be replicated, as it has manuals for awareness of good environmental practices. The impact at the national level of the initiative “Good Environmental Practices in construction - building renewable energy" has been recognized, it has also been recognized that it can be implemented in other countries, proof of this is that UOCRA has been invited to various international fora, in order to present the initiative.
6. Areas of contribution
Education and skills development: To influence the formation of desirable habits, through the formation of suitable persons to apply good environmental practices and preventive methods of work in risk situation. The project also develops skills that allow diagnose, prevent and resolve environmental risks in work environments.
Environment: The "Conference on Good Environmental Practices” imparts explanations on concepts such as "Good Environmental Practices and Renewable Energy" and "Sustainable Homes" to be implemented in the construction processes and in offices or private homes, and thus contribute to reducing the ecological footprint.
Promote the implementation of sustainable building practices, the use of alternative energy and the construction of bioclimatic housing.
7. Awareness of the initiative
The courses use training manuals prepared by UOCRA, these were developed with support from ILO/ACTRAV. The manuals of good environmental practices are intended to explain concepts and contribute to reducing the ecological footprint. That is, to create awareness among the population in order to achieve a rational use of energy.
3. Developing skills for green jobs in the Americas through South-South cooperation (public sector)
Nominee: Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA), Costa Rica
Sede Central, La Uruca. Frente al Parque de Diversiones
5200-1000 San José, Costa Rica
Tel: (506) 2210-6504
Email: jbonillaherrera@ina.ac.cr (Javier Bonilla)
1. Description
In 2004 the technical vocational education and training institutions (TVET institutions) of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama) and the Dominican Republic created a regional network with the objective to jointly standardize and improve technical vocational training programmes in line with the latest labour market developments.
In the framework of the Spanish funded project FOIL (Formación, orientación e inserción laboral), the ILO is collaborating with the regional network of TVET institutions. The overall objective of FOIL is to strengthen the institutional capacity of public labour institutions and to facilitate the labour market insertion of marginalized groups in Central America.
In 2010 the network members decided jointly to focus on the creation of learning standards and methodologies for the promotion of green occupations perceiving a need in the labour market for workers with knowledge and skills related to environmental protection and new technologies and techniques.
2. Main partners
The seven technical vocational education and training (TVET) institutions which comprise this partnership are -
- Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje de Costa Rica, INA
- Instituto Nacional de Formación Profesional y Capacitación para el Desarrollo Humano de Panamá, INADEH
- Instituto Nacional de Formación Profesional de Honduras, INFOP
- Instituto de Formación Técnico Profesional de la República Dominicana, INFOTEP
- Instituto Nacional Tecnológico de Nicaragua, INATEC
- Instituto Técnico de Capacitación y Productividad de Guatemala, INTECAP
- Instituto Salvadoreño de Formación Profesional de El Salvador, INSAFORP.
From the outset the network members decided that participation would take place on a purely voluntary basis. Regular meetings and exchanges take place at three different levels:
- Executive Directors meet to evaluate recent process and decide on new areas for cooperation
- The tripartite management boards meet to validate work plans and define responsibilities for follow-up
- Experts from each institution participate in technical meetings to follow-up on work plans
3. Horizontal dimension of cooperation
The elaboration of learning standards and curricula for green jobs is characterized by a process of consultation and collaboration that can take up to one year for each new standard and includes several meetings of experts.
In the first meeting of the technical experts, participants review the work plan, take stock of existing knowledge and define responsibilities. Each institution, depending on experience and knowledge, volunteers to elaborate a first draft standard. INA for example, having expertise in recycling, worked on a first draft for waste management. During the second meeting, all experts have the possibility to review, comment on and improve this draft standard which is then used to elaborate the respective training curriculum. The training curriculum, again, is reviewed by all members of the network during the third meeting. Once the standard and curriculum are finalized and supported by all members of the network, it is each institution’s responsibility to incorporate this new standard into the existing training portfolio. Taking the differences between member countries into consideration, the standard can be adapted to each country. However, 70% of the jointly agreed standard and curriculum must be maintained. Cooperation is based on jointly developed requirements for standards and curriculum development to ensure consistency and compliance in relation to the different standards and curricula.
This example of cooperation between network members shows how each partner plays an important and active role within this horizontal cooperation mechanism. Discussions and exchanges between technical experts contribute positively to the development of each institution.
The ILO’s role in this context is that of a facilitator to ensure that meetings are held regularly and that the technical experts have all the required information to work on one particular issue.
4. Achievements and impact (from an SSTC perspective)
Based on previous cooperation experience, the network members elaborated learning standards and curricula for eight green occupations, including organic agriculture, installation and reparation of photovoltaic systems, water management (drinking water and waste water), sustainable forestry, environmental risk management in selected sectors, watershed management, installation and maintenance of hybrid power systems and waste management . All eight standards were incorporated into the national training portfolios.
With support from the ILO project FOIL, a workshop on “Vocational training: towards a carbon neutral economy” was help in Costa Rica in November 2011. During this workshop, the regional priorities in terms of vocational training for green jobs were defined. Good practices in vocational training for green jobs were presented from various institutions from both within and outside the region, which provided a platform for capacity building and knowledge sharing.
More recently, the network decided to conduct national assessments on technical vocational training needs for green jobs, and is now applying an assessment methodology developed by the Brazilian National Service of Industrial Learning (SENAI). SENAI has provided training to all seven TVET institutions on its methodology. Countries are set to conduct sectoral surveys to identify skills shortages in green occupations, which will in turn develop new technical vocational training and standards.
INA, the Costa Rican TVET institution, has already gathered experience in applying the SENAI methodology and provided just a short while ago, in May 2013, the second training programme for technical staff of their counterpart institutions.
5. Sustainability
The eight curricular standards, incorporated into the respective countries’ vocational portfolios, are evidence of the sustainable nature of the initiative. The institutions have jointly elaborated and validated the technical standards, and this has led to a strong ownership among them. Moreover, the findings from the national assessments will enable the identification of country-specific training, standards and curricular needs. This will clearly contribute towards ensuring their long-term implementation.
6. Innovation
Regional cooperation between TVET institutions is nothing new. However, the interest among TVET institutions to play a pro-active role in the greening of national economies is innovative. The sectoral assessments and the development of training curricula for green occupations at regional level makes it possible to identify existing needs and needs that are expected to occur through the greening of national economies. In this context, the training institutions take up the important role of matching technical training with labour market needs.
7. Replicability and scaling up
As the project is based on a network of institutions, this model can easily be replicated in other regions and likewise scaled-up. Of key importance is the pro-active role of the TVET institutions, awareness of environmental concerns, and the interest in gaining more knowledge in this area.
8. Areas of contribution
- Job creation: The project aims to facilitate labour insertion and therefore job creation for marginalized groups in particular.
- Education and skills development: The project is based on developing standards and curricula for green occupations, and identifying any skill gaps for green jobs promotion.
- Social inclusion: Together with FOIL, the TVET institutions have also developed a certification system. People who have many years of experience in one occupation but who have never obtained formal recognition of their professional knowledge and skills, can undertake an exam (oral and/or written) to receive a formal recognition. This technique has the potential to be applied not only for traditional occupations, but also for green occupations.
- Networks: the project is founded on a network of technical vocational education and training institutions in the region.
- Environment: By focusing on green jobs, the project promotes jobs that reduce consumption of energy and raw materials, limit greenhouse gas emissions, minimize waste and pollution, and protect and restore ecosystems
9. Awareness of the initiative
The initiative is known among key partners in the region. In the last year, efforts were undertaken to share this experience on a wider scale. It has been included as a best practice example into the Green Jobs Programme training programme and an article on the main results was published in the last Green Jobs Programme progress report, Green jobs becoming a reality. Progress and Outlook 2013.
4. Promoting green entrepreneurship among young women and men
Nominee: Cobitech Kenya Limited (owner: Mr. Samson Gichia)
P O Box 21377, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 (0722) 453 701/ (0722) 807 272/ (020) 2106 777
Email cobitec@gmail.com)
1. Description
The Youth Entrepreneurship Facility (YEF) is a partnership between the Africa Commission, the Youth Employment Network (YEN) and the ILO. Implemented over the period 2010-2014 in Kenya, Uganda, and United Republic of Tanzania, the partnership is funded by the Government of Denmark.
Six components guide the activities of the partnership:
- Fostering a culture of entrepreneurship among young people
- Introducing entrepreneurship education in schools
- Ensuring access of potential and existing to business development services
- Enabling access to finance for young entrepreneurs
- Strengthening youth-led organizations through a youth challenge fund
- Promoting evidence based advocacy to better understand what works in youth entrepreneurship development
In 2010 the Youth Entrepreneurship Facility formed a partnership with the ILO’s Green Jobs Programme in response to the identification of green jobs and green entrepreneurship as one of the key priorities during the initial national and local stakeholder consultations.
2. Main partners
- Kenya
- Ministry of Labour
- Federation of Kenyan Employers
- Central Organization of Trade Unions
- Ministry of Youth Culture and Sports
- Private sector
- Civil society organizations
- United Republic of Tanzania (mainland)
- Ministry of Labour, Employment and Youth Development
- Association of Tanzania Employers
- Trade Union Congress of Tanzania
- Private sector
- Civil society organisations
- Uganda
- Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development
- Federation of Ugandan Employers
- Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions
- National Organisation of Trade Unions
- Association of Micro Finance Institutions of Uganda
- Uganda Small Scale Industries Association
- Private sector
- Civil society organizations.
Regular knowledge exchanges take place in and between countries and has led to the replication of successful experiences. For example, and as further explained under point 4, Uganda replicated Kenya’s green business plan competition model.
YEF activities have also led to a direct exchange between partners of the participating countries and project-independent knowledge exchange has started to unfold. A green jobs awareness raising workshop was held in Kenya in September 2012. During this workshop, ILO programme staff drawn from East, Southern, Central and West Africa were introduced to the beneficiaries and visited some of the green business start-ups supported by the YEF. Workshop and field visits allowed ILO staff to then link national partners interested in learning more about green business options with respective contacts in Kenya. As a result green entrepreneurs from Kenya have been invited from partners in Uganda and Tanzania to presentations and training to share their experience and know-how. Some of the most successful green entrepreneurs have also been invited to international meetings to present and share experience. A case in point is the recent held summer academy in Turin (July 2013) where a young entrepreneur shared her business model and received several invitations to different countries in the South to explore collaboration.
4. Achievements and impact (from a SSTC perspective)
During the YEF’s first phase, 2010-2011, various activities promoted green entrepreneurship. Below are highlights of two activities which are particularly important due to their South-South cooperation characteristics.
In 2010, ILO-YEF entered into a sponsorship agreement with ENABLIS, a business network supporting youth companies and business creations, to support a business plan competition and introduce a category focusing on green business. The competition creates opportunities for people with a business idea or existing business who find it difficult to secure conventional commercial funding or to access start-up or expansion capital. The Green & Ecological Business category was established to identify businesses that contribute significantly to environmental sustainability and ecological best practice; businesses that have developed new sustainable technologies that can address Kenyan energy, water and pollution needs and products and services that are designed to save, conserve, or reduce consumption of finite natural resources.
During the mobilization phase of the competition, green business awareness raising programmes were rolled out and youth groups, entrepreneurs, and potential entrepreneurs could benefit from training on green business options. At the end of YEF’s first phase in 2011, 5,284 entrepreneurs were trained on business plan development, strategies to green existing businesses and opportunities to create new green businesses. Additionally, the top 100 finalists in each year received further support to enter the final competition. Out of the total of 721 business plan entries from the first two, 81 entries (11%) were in the Green & Ecological Business category. The green business plan competition and prizes proved to be a successful motivator to elicit greater interest in green businesses and kick-start green ideas.
Exchanges of experience between Kenya and Uganda have led to the replication of the green business plan competitions in Uganda. In May 2012, YEF contracted Enterprise Uganda to likewise prepare and conduct a Green Business Plan Training Workshop. Following a call for proposals, 66 candidates were selected to attend the business plan training workshop in September 2012. Out of these, 28 candidates with the most successful business plans developed during the training received further support such as business skills training and mentorship to finalize the initiated business plans and enter the annual competition.
Another major activity implemented by YEF to promote green entrepreneurship is the development of an education programme. Under a partnership with Junior Achievement (JA), a global non-for-profit youth organization, a 15-week long green enterprise course was developed and rolled out for secondary school students. During the course, students learn about theoretical concepts and practical tools on how to develop a green business plan and start and manage their business. The overall objective of the course is to make young people reflect on the input and production processes of businesses and their adverse impacts on the environment. Yearly competition between the student-run businesses helps increase motivation and ensure entertainment. In 2011, the green enterprise course was rolled out to 107 secondary schools, reaching 4,680 students, and to 12 universities across the country, reaching a total of 400 university students. This partnership with JA to promote green entrepreneurship is planned to be replicated and adapted to Uganda, based on the successful implementation in Kenya.
5. Sustainability
The various capacity building activities in promoting green entrepreneurship ensure the sustainability of this initiative. Training of trainers allows continuing training activities after the end of funding. The partnership approach focuses on creating capacity among national institutions that can then carry out activities without further support from the ILO.
6. Innovation
Guiding young people towards new business opportunities is an innovative approach, particularly in countries where youth unemployment rates are high. Green entrepreneurship has a beneficial impact on the social and economic situation of young people and on the protection of the environment. Moreover, it supports the shift of the national economy from unsustainable to more sustainable processes.
7. Replicability and scaling up
The green entrepreneurship training modules can be easily replicated in other countries. However, to achieve sustainability it is important to undertake these trainings in cooperation with national institutions.
8. Areas of contribution
Job creation - the initiative tackles youth unemployment by enabling potential youth entrepreneurs to develop business opportunities
Income-generation - the initiative provides income generation opportunities through entrepreneurship
Education and skills development - the initiative focuses on education and skill development, notably through the Junior Achievement partnership
Environment - the initiative promotes green entrepreneurship and green jobs, and hence helps reduce the negative environmental impact of business activities and promotes new green sectors.
9. Awareness of the initiative
The initiatives undertaken in the context of YEF have gained significant visibility thanks to successful experience sharing. A presentation on the experiences in Kenya was for example given during a side event of the Rio+20 conference. The experiences and lessons learned from this partnership were also shared in other events, organized or co-organized by the ILO
5. Triangular Cooperation for Vocational Training and Skills Development (Public-Private Partnership)
Nominee: Ms Eliana Nicolini, National Industrial Apprenticeship Service/Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje Industrial – SENAI SBN - Quadra 01 - Bloco C - Ed. Roberto Simonsen - 5º andar, Brasilia - DF - CEP:70040-903, Brazil
Tel: +511-2089995 (55)(61) 3317- 9010/9001/9000
Email: eliana.nicolini@cni.org.br
1. Description
Peru is a country with a varied geography (coast, highlands, jungle) which has been facing environmental degradation (natural and man-made) and the depletion of natural resources (mining, deforestation, and frequent natural disasters, such earthquakes, floods, pollution, illegal factories and others.
The Government is committed to improving environmental protection and it controls the process through national programmes, education and prevention activities. The deterioration of the environment costs about 8,200 million soles (2,500 million U.S. dollars) annually - equivalent to 3.9% of the GDP.
The Ministry of Environment was established in 2008, since when it has provided a revised legal framework addressing in particular the following relevant issues:
- the creation of national environmental policy and legal approval of the National Environmental System & Audit Act
- the National Water Authority as part of the Ministry of Agriculture and the approval of the Water Act
- enhancement of the legal framework at the Vice-Ministry of Mining to improve and standardize regulations and tools for environmental management to control and audit mining and hydrocarbon productive stag
- creation of the environmental programme for relief and compensation at the Vice-Ministry of Energy, to be implemented by enterprises in the hydroelectric, natural gas and mining sectors. In addition, Peru has signed international agreements on environmental law with the American Region and Neighbour Countries.
SENATI is the Peruvian Vocational Training Institute with presence nationwide, training nearly 60,000 students in 63 technical careers in the past 3 years, in which the German dual system (learning by doing) has been applied. To respond to the needs of the Peruvian productive sector, a market study was carried out by SENATI. It has clearly identified the needs related to qualified human resources, laboratory services, applied environmental research, and environmental technology consultancy services in order to comply with environmental regulations in line with new Peruvian legislation and international market requirements, and to reduce the economic impact caused by inefficient and inadequate use of natural resources.
The National Service for Industrial Apprenticeship (SENAI) is a Brazilian non-profit organization that provides technical and vocational education and training in industrial areas of expertise while promoting applied research and technology transfer for the benefit of Brazilian industry. SENAI has played a key role in South-South cooperation. Together with the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations, SENAI is responsible for the implementation of 15 technical and vocational training centres in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The institution trains 2.5 million professionals a year, and manages a network of 809 mobile and fixed operational units, with 55 million students enrolled since its creation.
SENAI, in partnership with SENATI and the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ), entered into a cooperation agreement whose main outcome was the creation of the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA) based in Peru. The Centre trains professionals in areas related to clean production and environmental conservation. It also aims at providing technical capacity building in research and laboratory services in areas such as water and sanitation, clean air and clean development mechanisms, land and recuperation of degraded landscape, solid waste, clean production and energy efficiency. In addition, it offers continuing education courses on environmental community-based monitoring, environmental monitoring (technical level) and eco-efficiency.
SENATI is responsible for the implementation and management of the CTA with international technical support from SENAI, the Brazilian counterpart and GIZ, the German Counterpart. The Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation together with the Brazilian Agency for International Cooperation are in charge of the political coordination of this project and of GIZ’s participation.
The Centre has developed a marketing and communications strategy as well as a monitoring and evaluation framework to measure impact and outcomes. The estimated duration of the project is three years (December 2010 to June 2014) with a total budget of more than US$5.2 million (SENAI, 2013). Upon completion of the project, the centre will be managed solely by SENATI.
Project implementation – key strategies
The project implementation is organized in four components of Annual Work Plans:
- Building & Construction - Organizational Structure and Physical Space in the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA), run by SENATI Peru.
- Professional Programmes & Training in Environmental Technologies and Energy Efficiency.
- Academic Design and Development of a Range of Services: Environmental Analytical Monitoring, Laboratory Testing, Environmental Applied Research and Technical Consultancy Services.
- Plan, Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA).
2. Main partners:
The Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) and the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) have worked jointly to support bilateral and triangular cooperation projects in several areas. SENATI and SENAI share similar institutional models, with financial, administrative, and pedagogical autonomy as well as strategic areas of interest, such as the environment and energy.
SENATI supports the Peruvian productive sector by providing training in technical areas and specific services to enterprises. Accordingly, SENATI is seeking to strengthen its capacity to respond to enterprises' needs regarding compliance with national and international environmental requirements. SENATI has extensive experience in providing technical training through 80 professional and vocational training centres (Centros de Formación Profesional –CFP) across the country. In this context, SENATI requested technical support from the Brazilian Government in order to create the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA) to create quality human resources and services in specific areas such as water, sanitation, air quality, soil, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Peru´s request is based on close collaboration between SENAI and SENATI, and on the successful experience with SENAI in providing support to different enterprises to comply with environmental requirements. The SENAI Environmental Department in the city of Bahia was created in 2005 with a team of 63 multidisciplinary professionals including doctorates, masters and specialists in Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Geologist, Geography, Education and Business Administration with relevant experience in the industrial process and the education field. It has extensive experience in supporting industries to produce environmental safeguards, designing capacity-building methodologies and providing advisory and laboratory services. The SENAI Environmental Department provides environmental consultancy to 16 Brazilian States. In addition to the services provided to enterprises, the Department has close collaboration with environmental organizations in monitoring hydrographical basins and beaches in the State of Bahia, and undertakes emergency environmental interventions in rivers and other areas.
Germany has been active in providing technical cooperation and financial contributions in both Peru and Brazil. In addition, SENATI and SENAI’s pedagogical approaches have been inspired by the German “dual” system of vocational training, which is a combined programme of practical training in a company with theory taught at a school. In view of German experience in energy efficiency and environmental technologies applied to the clean development of productive services, the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) invited GIZ to engage in a triangular cooperation agreement establishing the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA) in 2011 in Peru. The project is led by SENATI and it is implemented by the three parties. SENAI transfers technology, trains the technical team, and shares its experience of the application of environmental technologies in Brazil. GIZ offers technical advice on cutting-edge technologies, environmental policy guidance, technical advisory services and budgetary contributions. ABC coordinates the triangular partnership with its Peruvian counterpart, the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI), and also supports budget execution.
3. Horizontal dimension of cooperation
The mechanism applied to develop the triangular cooperation project is the following:
- SENATI is responsible for implementing and managing the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA) providing as a local counterpart, the physical infrastructure, technical staff and logistics, among other elements requested for the execution of planned activities.
- The Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), through SENAI, will contribute to transferring technology and successful practices in environmental technologies in Brazil. SENAI will be responsible for providing specialized technical support to the organization and management of the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA) as well as graduate studies for the technical team at the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA). In addition, the Environmental Department of SENAI will be responsible for providing training in cleaner water-sanitation production services for solid waste, and to support the academic programme for technical careers in environmental technologies, laboratory services and specialized environmental consultancy services among the productive sectoral areas.
- GIZ will be responsible for the integration of the Centre for Environmental Technologies in the international network for environmental technology, in order to develop air and cleaning development mechanisms, recovery of soil and degraded areas, and energy efficiency. The objective of this support is that the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA) is able to offer courses, specialization studies and technical consultancy services to productive sectors. In addition, GIZ will contribute with its experience to develop a monitoring and evaluation model jointly with ABC, SENAI and SENATI for the CTA.
Joint Coordination Committee
The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) is composed of management representatives from the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA)-SENATI, SENAI and GTZ) with the following functions and responsibilities:
- Strategic Orientation Project
- Annual Operative Plans prepared by the Execution Technical Unit
- Revision of periodical information on project progress
- Terms of Reference Approval and Strategic Monitoring and Evaluation System
- Review of results of evaluations annually and at the end of the project
- Institutional support for international missions.
The JCC will meet annually in order to approve annual operational plans and to monitor annual evaluations. It will be the responsibility of each counterpart to conduct regular missions to monitor the project based on needs identified.
Execution Technical Unit
The Execution Technical Unit is composed of technical representatives from the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA)-SENATI, SENAI and GTZ) with the following functions and responsibilities:
- Diagnosis and Project Planning
- Annual Operative Plans
- Implementation and adjustment of authorized activities from Operative Plans
- Monitoring Activities, Products and Services: expected outcomes and project impacts
- Periodical information, project reports and other instruments to the Coordination Committee
- Organization of Project Evaluation Processes (internal and /or external as defined in the strategy for System M+E).
The following chart shows the inter-institutional relations from involved agents.
4. Achievements and impact (from a SSTC perspective)
The positive institutional relationship between SENATI, SENAI, and GIZ has played a key role in the implementation of the triangular cooperation agreement and establishment of the CTA. Each entity contributed fundamental experience. The CTA developed a marketing and communications strategy as well as a monitoring and evaluation framework to measure impact and outcomes.
The estimated beneficiaries of the project for the first 3,5 years are 265 young students from low-income households who will have an opportunity to receive technical instruction related to skills with high labour demand and a variety of action areas in the field of environmental and energy technologies. The programme provides young students with an Environmental Technician Diploma involving theory and practice, with an opportunity to start an internship as from their second year at any of the industries with which SENATI has mutual cooperation agreements.
In addition, training is also offered to enterprise staff in different productive sectors in order to strengthen technical competence among the management and improve the performance of the firm. SENATI will also offer specific training for people already in the industry, involving short training programmes. It is estimated that for the first 3.5 years of the project, 500 members of the staff of different enterprises will be attending this programme and about 2,000 professionals will attend conferences and workshops.
Through technical consultancy, environmentally applied research and laboratory testing, this project will help develop cleaner production and environmental practices for better environmental performance and productivity among enterprises. Services will be expanded to other public sectors to promote regulations and technical strategies that will eventually improve and expand environmental protection.
5. Sustainability
This initiative is grounded in a solid partnership in strategic areas of interest for all partners and with benefits for the industrial sector. Accordingly, the CTA could become a centre of excellence in the field of environment and a knowledge hub in the region. In addition, given the different partnerships already existing between SENAI and SENATI with other training institutions in the region, the experience can serve as inspiration for other countries.
The Environmental Technologies Programme is unique as a professional programme in Peru. It was created and implemented in the framework of the triangular partnership between SENAI, SENATI and GIZ, and led by SENATI, a solid and prestigious institution, which guarantees its sustainability. It is planned to replicate the programme across the country. Its aim is to generate skills for sustainable development in Peru in order to preserve and regulate environmental activities in production processes, mitigating the degradation of air, soil, water and environment. The Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA) will contribute and provide tools for better environmental management and sustainable development.
6. Innovation
Several features of this project make it innovative:
- The triangular arrangement made it possible to transfer technology strategies from Brazil and Germany, which is assisting SENATI. This will provide the institution with broader experience to contribute to Peru’s environmental development.
- The project has developed a unique professional programme with great prospects, and has stimulated labour demand by applying the dual learning methodology (80% practical sessions) which increases the access of low-income young men and women to the labour market, improving their quality of life.
- The establishment of the Centre for Environmental Technologies (CTA) promotes ongoing research and technological innovation, which could be beneficial for the region.
7. Replicability and up-scaling
This example of triangular cooperation for vocational training and skills development is grounded in a solid partnership between partners, a model which has also been observed with similar institutions in the region and in other regions. SENAI has also been involved in other South-South cooperation initiatives, and has been actively promoting the transfer of knowledge together with the ABC. In addition, given the different partnerships already existing between SENAI and SENATI with other training institutions in the region, the experience can serve as inspiration for other countries. The CTA could become a centre of excellence in the field of environment and a knowledge hub in the region.
Moreover, in Peru the programmes created under the framework of this example of tripartite cooperation are being replicated across the country through the SENATI network. SENATI has 80 operative units at national level and strategic alliances with 2500 manufacturing enterprises where students can apply for the “dual” learning program. In addition, young men and women with low incomes will have access to professional and technological education in the field of environment, improving their quality of life and enjoying a decent income, enabling them to enter the formal national economy
8. Areas of contribution
- Job creation: The project has increased access to employment for young people from low-income households. SENATI’s technical and vocational programmes have proven successful: the employment rate of SENATI’s students is 90% after completion of studies.
- Income-generation: The skills created by this project have high demand in the labour market. In addition, the project is targeted at young people from low-income households in order to allow them to increase their income.
- Education and skills development: The triangular partnership has strengthened skills development and vocational training in the field of environment by providing education in short-term technical careers related to current skills demand in the labour market.
- Networks: The initiative is grounded in a solid partnership between two training institutions of the South which are also linked with other institutions in the region. In addition, it has strengthened the links between the Peruvian private sector, SENATI, the Ministry of Environment with the support of the Brazilian institutions, SENAI (and its network of researchers), ABC, and the German Cooperation Agency, GIZ.
- Environment: The project contributes to sustainable development, social inclusion and technology transfer to improve environmental practices, tools and productivity among enterprises. In addition, the project improves compliance with regulations and techniques for environmental protection in all productive sectors by promoting clean production and better alternatives to manipulate and manage natural resources in the industry and their human resources.
9. Awareness of the initiative
The project plan and progress has been disseminated through the media with success; monthly articles in SENATI´s Journal and other journals have been issued; and brochures and websites have been developed. A monthly conference was organized for professionals in general, involving 1,500 participants. The Ministry of Environment are eager to be involved in the implementation of the CTA and to work jointly with SENATI to help them in various initiatives. Radio and TV interviews were given.
10. Other information
The transfer of technology, good practices and experience has in the short term resulted the development of techniques, strategies and tools. Efficient teamwork and close inter-institutional collaboration have ensured efficiency and have brought results that contribute to national development.
6. Managing your Agricultural Cooperative
Nominee: Youssef Alaoui Solaimani rue Sijilmassa Belvédère,
20300 Casablanca – Morocco
Tel: +212 6 53 20 88 14
Email: youssefalaouis@hotmail.com)
1. Description
Managing your Agricultural Cooperative -My.COOP-is a training package published in 2011. It covers managerial challenges faced by many agricultural cooperatives. face. It is based on the idea that strong cooperatives are necessary for a more equitable distribution of income, democracy, and economic and social development. My.COOP is a partnership initiative that draws on the success of the ILO’s Materials and Techniques for Cooperative Management (MATCOM) Programme (1978-early 1990s) that developed over 40 training tools. The My.COOP training package includes a trainer’s manual, four modules, and a mobile learning toolkit. In addition, It uses a five-pronged delivery strategy:
• Training of trainers and training of managers delivered by the ITC-ILO
• A network of partners and trainers
• Face-to-face, self-learning and distance learning
• Use of a My.COOP community platform where a series of services and tools can be found such as a distance-learning programme for training of trainers, My.COOP training material translated and adapted, and information on partners
• A package containing the manuals and modules in booklets
2. Main partners
The My.COOP partnership was initiated by the ILO Cooperative Facility for Africa and the ILO’s Cooperative Branch (COOP). The partnership and other support organizations include: Agriterra, the Cooperative College of Kenya, FAO, ITC-ILO, the Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers, the Moshi University College of Cooperative and Business Studies, the Nigerian Cooperative Development Centre, the Royal Tropical Institute, the Uganda Cooperative Alliance and the Wageningen University and Research Centre. The initiative was showcased during the 2013 session of the Academy for Social and Solidarity Economy.
3. Horizontal dimension of cooperation
My.COOP was developed by various organizations from countries of the North and South such as Kenya, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom. It has been shared as a good practice between Bolivia, Nigeria and Peru. Moreover, it was show-cased in the Academy for Social and Solidarity Economy during a South-South session in April 2013.
4. Achievements and impact (from a SSTC perspective)
Training activities are meant to strengthen the management of agricultural cooperatives so they can offer high-quality, efficient and effective services to their members. Moreover, they provide guidance to ensure member satisfaction, facilitate business opportunities and address social considerations. Direct beneficiaries of the training package include trainers of cooperatives, managers of agricultural cooperatives, and members involved in managerial tasks. Employees and members of the agricultural cooperative and the local community indirectly benefit from the programme due to organizational changes.
5. Sustainability and replicability
Pilot training activities and country adaptations are taking place in Bolivia, Nigeria and Peru. The My.COOP network of partners would allow the training package to be extended to other countries. Although the existing training materials are currently available in English, they will soon be translated into Spanish to reach a wider audience. The My.COOP training package is adaptable to local situations and contexts. For instance, modules and topics can be used independently from each other and in any given order to address specific needs. They are illustrated by practical cases from various parts of the world which contain explanatory boxes on definitions and concepts.
There are other initiatives that promote the transition to a greener economy in the framework of Social and Solidarity Economy. For example, the “green city” initiative in Morocco located 70 km north of Marrakech that includes standards for responsible water management, rainwater storage, recycling and a dual circuit (gray water -drinking water). This project also involves the use of wind, solar and biomass power.
Most of the environmental challenges are concentrated in urban areas. Innovative responses to face these challenges can be replicated and adapted to different context thorough different mechanisms such as city-to-city cooperation. The experience of cities and local communities in the transition to a green economy while promoting decent work for all has been strongly recognized. In this regard, the ILO has been engaged in initiatives promoting cooperation between cities from the Global South.
6. Innovation
The main innovation is that the training package is very flexible because of the delivery strategy mentioned above. It leaves space for self-learning and offers self-assignment opportunities. Similarly, face-to-face and distance learning (My.COOP resource platform) contribute to the success of the programme and target cooperatives worldwide