Robust assessments for better policies: experts review training package

A draft methodological and training package on measuring employment and socio-economic effects of shifts to greener economies was discussed in the context of the second International Conference of the Green Jobs Assessment Institutions Network (GAIN).

News | 17 April 2015
More than 60 researchers from the GAIN network, key policy makers and technical experts from the ILO and other international organizations reviewed economic modelling tools, their application for policy analysis and their ability to inform policy making at the second GAIN conference.

Held from 14 to 16 April 2015 at ILO headquarters, this event was organized under the Partnership for Action for Green Economy (PAGE), which brings together five UN agencies to build national green economy strategies.

Participants discussed the relevance and progress made on measuring the labour market and social implications of the transition to low carbon and greener economies. By offering both a technical and policy track for participants to follow, the event not only enabled to address key technical issues but also policy questions related to green jobs assessments. Indeed, parallel discussions enabled experts to peer review the draft training modules by paying close attention to the methodologies, format, tools and exercises. They also provided a space for national policy makers to review country experiences on how best assessments can inform the policy-making process.

In the spirit of south-south and triangular cooperation, participants also shared country experiences in terms of collaborative research and how to draw on best partnership experiences in light of strengthening the capacity of GAIN members and well as national research, academic and policy institutions.

Also discussed were the potential modalities of how a consolidated training package could be delivered, notably through relevant regional hubs and academic institutions that could serve as platforms for training and application of the methodologies at country level.

With GAIN growing both in terms of institutional presence and regional diversity, participants called for enhanced communication channels to facilitate knowledge sharing.

The green jobs assessment training package to be published at the end of 2015 will serve as a hands-on manual for relevant policymakers and researchers to help implement a just transition to a green economy by creating more and better jobs. It will consist of: (i) an introductory module; (ii) a module on Input-Output models; and (iii) a module on (Dynamic) Social Accounting Matrices.

The first GAIN conference in December 2013 concluded with the objective for GAIN to formulate a capacity building strategy.

GAIN was initiated in 2013 as a network of institutions and experts sharing common views and interest on measuring economic and social implications of transitions to low carbon and greener economies, and recognising the importance of rigorous and credible assessment methodologies and tools. GAIN supports capacity building for assessments and policy analysis particularly in developing and low income counties.