Looking back, looking forward: the growth of the

Inclusive Employment Sector

Anne LEYMAT and Harisha VARATHARAJAHTechnical Advisors for Livelihoods

Inclusive Employment SeminarVientiane, LAOS

7th – 11TH October 2013

“Every day we are reminded that, for everybody, work is a defining feature of human existence.

It is the means of and of meeting .

But it is also the activity through which individuals affirm their own both to themselves and to those around them.

It is crucial to individual choice, to the welfare of families and to the stability of societies.”

Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO, 2001

Inclusive Employment Seminar Vientiane, Laos. October 2013

© J.Clark for Handicap International

“Every day we are reminded that, for everybody, work is a defining feature of human existence.

It is the means of sustaining life and of meeting basic needs.

But it is also the activity through which individuals affirm their own identity both to themselves and to those around them.

It is crucial to individual choice, to the welfare of families and to the stability of societies.”

Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO, 2001

Inclusive Employment Seminar Vientiane, Laos. October 2013

© J.Clark for Handicap International

The Key Milestones

Inclusive Employment Seminar

1993-2004 2005 2006-2013

Sector wide approach : Activities and target : microfinance, rural development, vocational

training projects

From 2002 : Start developing Innovative Pilot Projects with Microfinance

stakeholders

Key Countries : Cambodia, Laos, Senegal, Mali, Central Africa Republic, Madagascar, Burundi, Kenya, Mozambic

The journey so far: 1993 – 2005

More specific livelihood projects target towards persons with disabilities and surrounding families

Aims expanded beyond service delivery, poverty reduction, living conditions

Key projects : Cambodia, Mali, Senegal, Burundi, Angola, Madagascar and Nicaragua

The journey so far: 2005

2005 / 2006 : Study on Good Practices

Study Good Practices : crucial for learning lessons

from HI’s experiences in microfinance

for confirming HI’s place as an innovative actor on inclusive microfinance

International Advocacy on Microfinance

2006 : Launch of a livelihood and microfinance working group within IDDC

2008 : IDDC / HI member of European Microfinance Platform Emfp

2009 / 2011 : disability part of the Agenda / Emfp

2010 : Center for Financial Inclusion / World Bank

From theory into practice

2010 : Sensitization

Pilot Afghanistan

Change practices

2012 / 2013 : Center for Financial Inclusion partnership

Pilot : Paragway

Training kit and coaching at institutional level

Results : Smart Campaign include Disability

A common voice

An organisational Policy Paper was produced based upon field level evidence and under pinned by international livelihood influences(MDGs , CRPD ....)

Operational Tools

The journey so far: 2006 - 2013

HIF HIB

Exponential growth of Inclusive Employment worldwide

• 18 Livelihoods projects • 18 Livelihood components• 27 countries

Regional Breakdown of projects

Inclusive Employment Seminar Laos. October 2013

10 countries

12 countries

Scope of intervention Main focus :

Microfinance : 10 projects, VET : 5 projects, Grants : 6 projects, Livelihood Services providers / ILD : 4

Profile of beneficiaries : persons ultra poor, other vulnerable groups (women,

ethnic minorities….), persons refugees, ex combattants

Diverse contexts : 6 post conflict context

Forecast in 2014

New countries joining : Bolivia, Cuba, TunisiaAfghanistan? Timor East ? DRC ? Ethiopia ?

New projects with innovative approach : Mali, Senegal, Morocco

Inclusive Employment Seminar Vientiane, Laos October 2013

Three basic intervention principles:

• Persons with disabilities / Vulnerable persons have the right to access remunerated employment,

• Environments must respond to the physical, social, emotional needs and personal aspirations of individual,

• Employment policy and practice must reflect and respect the diversity.

Our Vision

Levels of intervention • Direct support to persons with disabilities and their families, as part of local inclusive community development

• Improvement of services (microfinance, VET, social, private employers….),

• Inclusive employment policy development at national level.

Our approach

photo(c) Handicap International

photo(c) Handicap International

photo(c) Handicap International

FACTThe situation and the economic

constraints in developing countries lead the majority of PwDs to create

their own employment.

• Self-confidence• Technical / VET skills• Skills required for joining the workplace• Job search skills

Waged Employment

Self-Employment

• Self-confidence• Technical / VET skills• Entrepreneurial skills • Accessible and appropriate financial resources

Our Thematic scope

Successes to date Worldwide portfolio of livelihoods projects

Diverse target groups : persons with disabilities, vulnerable people, refugees, demobilized soldiers, persons living with HIV...

Significant increase in the number of persons accessing and participating in economic life, thus improving quality of life

Strong field teams (partners and HI staff)

Challenges ahead

Scaling up actions to produce systemic change

Strenghtening strategic partnership with mainstream livelihood actors

Generating Research Based Evidence

Opportunities to seize

Playing a lead role in the Microfinance sector promoting Inclusive Microfinance (theme: disability)

Alone we go fastest, together we go further …

… Promoting Inclusive Employment for all !

7 - 11th October 2013

Vientiane, LAOS

Working Together for a decent work for all!

For further info about Handicap International’s Livelihood work visit:http://www.handicap-international.org

photo(c) Handicap International