Tweet

2.2.3 Training objectives: Contributory factors

Written by: International Labour Organization

Article Overview: Training policy objectives with respect to the poor are frequently poorly defined. Social exclusion is a complex theoretical concept referring to causal mechanisms producing poverty. Translating this concept into practical, poverty reduction policies has proved to be difficult in most countries (see Gore and Figueiredo, 1997).

2.2.3 Training objectives: Contributory factors

Training policy objectives with respect to the poor are frequently poorly defined. Social exclusion is a complex theoretical concept referring to causal mechanisms producing poverty. Translating this concept into practical, poverty reduction policies has proved to be difficult in most countries (see Gore and Figueiredo, 1997).

The labour market is a critical mechanism for inclusion and exclusion. Policies to combat labour market exclusion focus on the elimination or reduction in discriminatory practices and improvements in the human and social assets of the poor. Certain groups, most notably women, disabled persons and minority groups, continue to be seriously under-represented in many occupations. Thus, as part of a comprehensive equal opportunities programme, education and training policy can promote more equitable labour market outcomes. This can be done by improving the access of these groups to secondary and tertiary education institutions and, where necessary, by also providing various forms of support once enrolled so as to boost graduation rates. However, the impact (at least in the short term) of these types of programmes on poverty reduction is likely to be fairly minimal because, in most countries, non-poor individuals tend to be the principal beneficiaries. Furthermore, the formal sector absorbs only a small fraction of the economically active labour force (typically 5-20 per cent in most South Asian and sub-Saharan African countries) so that only tiny proportions of the discriminated groups are likely to be affected.

There are two principal types of training provision to counter poverty. First, there are training activities directly targeted at specific groups of EVSE as the principal beneficiaries (e.g. poor farmers, roadside mechanics, women's income generating projects in a certain area). And secondly, there is training that has as its principal objective the improvement of services for the poor provided by institutions, especially those that are central to poverty reduction programmes. Many of these services are intended to improve directly the skills and knowledge of the poor and, as such, they can be considered to be forms of training.

Surprisingly, the literature on training for the poor focuses almost exclusively on the direct provision of training to the poor and largely ignores the role of training in improving the provision of basic services for the poor. This is a serious omission because the failure of many of the services provided by the state to benefit the poor (particularly women in rural areas), is a key characteristic of the 'training crisis' in many developing countries. The main concern here is that occupational structures in key areas of service provision are too top-heavy with a disproportionate number of professionals providing relatively sophisticated services to mainly non-poor, urban clienteles. Attempts in the past to create more bottom-heavy occupational pyramids have invariably been strongly resisted by professional associations and other powerful vested interests (6) (see Box 2).

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
PAPERS
43
Learning to change: Skills
development among the
economically vulnerable and
socially excluded in
developing countries
Paul Bennell
Employment and Training Department
International Labour Office Geneva
First published 1999

Related Articles
  Critical Success Factors
  SME's - a solution for Africa
  Is Your Sales Training Missing These Ingredients?
  What you should know before you invest in a sales training program.
  A Checklist For Performance Managment Planning

Article Tags: causal mechanisms, disabled persons, discriminated groups, discriminatory practices, formal sector, graduation rates, labour force, labour market outcomes, market exclusion, policy objectives, poor farmers, poor individuals, poverty reduction policies, principal objective, principal types, social assets, social exclusion, tertiary education institutions, theoretical concept, tiny proportions



Related Forum Posts
7 words or less for Structogram - Some "7 words or less" (more or less) for Structogram for your comments: Training to get your message across(6) Secrets to get your message across (6) Training so people will listen to you (7) Helping you get your message across (6) Training to learn to get your message across (8) Communications training for yourself and your team (7)
Poll: How many search results do you analyze of competitors - If you are trying to emulate your competition or let's say a competitor who is in the top search results you may examine certain factors in the SERPs such as keyword usage in the Title Tag, on page factors like keyword density, keyword prominence or keyword proximity in the body text, plus other on page factors. I know quite a few students of SEO like to do this as a way to improve their own search visibility. Here is this Poll question. If you were to examine competitors within the top results, how far down the list of SERPS would you care to explore for various factors?
Re: Looking for partners to start career consulting business - Hi Mike, 1) I'm moving this to the Looking For section 2) I think a good start would be to seek out local, potential competing or related organizations/companies in your area. Universities, job centres, head hunters, HR professionals...etc. [quote:34k2gxrf]It will target professionals who want to start working at executives or higher level positions but lack necessary experience.[/quote:34k2gxrf] And I think it'll definitely help if you align your products/services with your target customer group. i.e. How do you plan to seek out this group? -------> Find the necessary talent that can accomplish this. i.e. Providing internship --------> Training in-house? Or training outsourced? Again, seek talent that aligns with your objectives. Break down what your business operations would be like, then seek the appropriate talent to cover that area. Of course, you don't want to give up too much equity by seeking out too many partners. Usually lower number of founders the more likely the start-up will survive. Good luck
Re: Website Ranking Optimization - You are right SEO is a combination of many factors. This is because the Google algorithm considers 100s of ranking factors. SEO can be learnt with plenty of research and over time if you continue optimising you will get results. As with anything do-it-yourself it can take longer. A professional will have the experience to know how to show results fastest, which is essentially if you want to make money quicker.
Re: what makes your business unique? - The best skill is to never be satisfied with completed objectives. By scrutinizing yourself, you hone whatever expertise you've obtained over time.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Executive Blind Spots

20 MORE Must-Have Search Engine Marketing Tools

ROSI Return on SUNK Investment

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.