Ergon led this work for DG EuropeAid (now DevCo) with Engineers Against Poverty to analyse how employment and decent work objectives have been addressed in EC infrastructure programmes, in particular the use of employment-intensive methods, and how they could be better integrated in the future. (‘Employment-intensive’ is the term used by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to mean the optimal use of labour to reach maximum effect on poverty reduction, while paying due regard to cost and quality issues.
The starting point of the project was an initial analysis of Country Strategy Papers (CSP) and National Indicative Programmes (NIP) for 115 countries to identify those countries where an infrastructure focus and employment concerns intersected. Within these countries, a limited number of programmes were identified for in-depth analysis.
The study team also undertook interviews with Commission staff, as well as other Intergovernmental Organisations and bilateral development agencies that have supported programmes relating to employment-intensive works and the promotion of decent work in infrastructure / construction, informed by close communication with ILO-EIIP.
In order to explore practical challenges and opportunities, the team undertook field missions to projects and programmes in the following five countries: Benin, Cambodia, Kenya, Peru, and Togo.
