Introduction section one 6

Institutional Landscape

In order to consider the manner in which a possible project could be implemented there is a need to consider the array of institutions that are implementing and supporting youth programmes to address youth unemployment. There is limited data available on the institutional landscape, however a survey²² that was recently completed provides some useful insights in this regard. The survey clustered organisations in terms of four distinct categories related to the functions performed by the organisations. Categories are defined with a view to bundling similar initiatives such that a basis for comparison is established. The categories are as follows²³:

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  “Clearing-house”: The clearing-house category includes the development of a database comprised of work-seekers and/or employers, with some degree of assessment and/or screening to filter or categorise entries. In relation to the supply of labour, the clearing-house functions that were considered comprise (i) sourcing and screening work-seekers, (ii) conducting assessments and/or psychometric tests of work-seekers, (iii) developing a database of labour-supply, (iv) channelling work-seekers and (v) providing career guidance to work-seekers. In relation to demand for labour, the clearing-house functions comprise (i) mapping the demand for labour, and (ii) engaging with employers to increase awareness of supply-side initiatives.
  
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  “Learning & Employability”: This category refers to functions that relate to the provision of (i) work-readiness training to work-seekers, both with regards to behavioural training / development of soft skills and minimal technical training / development of hard skills, (ii) training to address functional competence gaps (e.g. English communication and mathematical skills) that are required in order to meet the entry requirements of employers, (iii) sector-specific training, which is intended to give candidates exposure to what is expected in the working world but is not employer-specific training, and (iv) work experience or work exposure that is essentially temporary in nature. With reference to the demand-side, this category includes the provision of support to employers to facilitate or educate around hiring of work-seekers from the bottom of the pyramid.
  
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  “Linking & Placement into education, work or entrepreneurial activity”: This category is primarily concerned with the function of connecting work-seekers to employers. The connecting function may be performed through various means such that candidates are linked to a wide range of work opportunities that are aligned to market needs and their profile of success, including (i) securing interviews of candidates with employers and (ii) providing physical/digital space whereby the employer and work-seekers can meet/engage, and (iii) placing candidates into fulltime jobs having been equipped with the basic skills, behaviours and mindset to adequately function and retain their jobs.
  
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  “Transition into self-employment/entrepreneurship”: This category refers to the functions of (i) developing entrepreneurial skills of candidates and (ii) supporting/assisting candidates in the establishment of small enterprises.
  

Based on these categories the following institutional landscape emerged:

Figure 3: Number of organisations per category of service provided (Number of organisations)

Figure 4: Number of organisations operating per province (Number of organisations)

Source: Genesis Analytics

Figure 5: Percentage of total organisations serving industries, by industry served (% of total organisations)

Source: Genesis Analytics

Number of organisations per source of funding (Number of organisations)

Source: Genesis Analytics

The study draws the following conclusions based on the sample:

1. 
   It is clear that there is much activity in the youth employment space in South Africa, across the nation, but predominantly in urban areas - although this is not captured in the data but is evident from the locations of the largest and most innovative initiatives. Although widespread, the provinces with greatest activity are Gauteng, Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal perhaps reflecting the relatively large service economies of the provincial cities within these provinces. Any evaluation subsequent evaluation of best practice should therefore look to these provinces as the starting point of inquiry.
   
2. 
   There is a broad swathe of industries where there is significant supply-side activity. Disaggregating industries according to the StatsSA categories, indicate that organisations in the directory serve all of the industries listed. The most common industries served are the ‘administrative and support activities’, ‘education’ and ‘information and communication’ industries. The least served industries include ‘real estate activities’, ‘public administration and defence’ and ‘electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning’ industries.
   
3. 
   The majority of the organisations that responded to the survey operate on a small scale, supporting less than 500 candidates on average per annum. This is indicative of the challenges perceived with operating at large scale in the youth employment space.
   

2. Proposal for a possible project

During this assignment we have considered a vast number of evaluations undertaken both nationally and globally. We have also considered policy documents, discussions and debates taking place about youth in the country as well as elsewhere, and have reflected on the context of young people in South Africa. A substantive amount of work has been done, many lessons have been learnt – some point to challenges, but there are also really positive examples of programmes that are successfully enabling young people to make the transition. These lessons from this report and previous work completed are captured as Annexure A to this report.

Work with Department of Labour and other institutions (such as Harambee) to broaden and strengthening employment services. It is noted that there is already research²⁴ that is taking place about ways in which the Public Employment Services can be strengthened through low cost initiatives. This includes three interventions: Reference letter template (Previous employers provide job-relevant information about job-seeker); Certificate (Indicates score on basic numeracy and English language test) and Counselling (Group session with labour centre counsellor (combined with action plans, peer support and reminders). There has also been considerable research undertaken at Harambee – and there are also three on-going RCTS exploring impact of enriching workseeker programmes, access to information and financial literacy – these all point to ways in which these programmes can be further strengthened. More recently programmes such as the International Youth Foundation are exploring ways to integrate work readiness skills into foundational learning programmes that provide access to apprenticeships and learnerships are also being explored and could be further strengthened.
It is proposed that there is a need to build on strengths of the system and consider ways of supporting partnerships and linkages that can strengthen the way in which public and private institutions interface to maximize their respective strengths. This should include specific interventions to grow those aspects of the programme that have been found to have the greatest impact. It is noted that these initiatives are already funded by government and in the case of Harambee the Jobs Fund and the private sector: this means that any engagement with Jobs Fund would need to indicate the specific contribution that this programme will have to the existing landscape.
Supporting a youth service/internship programme that brings young people into the system and sees them deployed to support youth employment initiatives including the Employment Services as well as other initiatives. This could include a formal skills programme (such as in the case of NARYSEC) and would include a structure workplace experience for these young people that would enable them to attain their qualification and also strengthen youth employment services.
With respect to programmes to support foundational learning, occupational training, entrepreneurial development and public employment programmes: it is suggested that further work needs to be done in this regard to determine if there are particular ways in which the UNDP can add value in these areas and based on this a more proposal be developed.