How the ESF supports implementation of the New Skills Agenda? Costas VOYIATZIS DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Evaluation and Impact Assessment Unit ESF Committee Plenary session, 19 April 2018, Brussels

Report on New Skills Agenda (i) The European Commission’s flagship initiative to strengthen the development of human capital in the EU The NSA differs from previous initiatives in that: it looks at skills from a new angle: i.e. the focus on competitiveness / emphasis on digital skills aims to upgrading existing measures (e.g. EQF; the Blueprint for sectoral cooperation on skills, etc.) stresses the need to improve basic skills

Report on New Skills Agenda (ii) To what extent is the ESF likely to contribute to achieving the main challenges/development needs in terms of skills development? Methodology Focus on Upskilling Pathways Key findings Recommendations

Report on New Skills Agenda (iii) Methodology Desk research Field research (e-survey and interviews) Triangulation Focus on Upskilling Pathways-why?

Key findings (i) ESF already supporting activities relevant to NSA Little evidence that MS/MA adapting ESF implementation to NSA ESF flexible and could accommodate changes without resorting to renegotiation Stronger result-orientation and tight financial allocations might limit the flexibility

Key findings (ii) Substantial potential for ESF to support actions under NSA Relatively little to report on actions supported by the ESF Understanding the actions under NSA and how can be taken up by ESF NSA is specific and its strategies but less clear the actions that need to be undertaken in support

Recommendations (i) How to better design future EU initiatives? a) More information and guidance Clear signposting of MAs role Clearer overview of the governance structure at MS level (= better monitoring and follow up) Annual Review Meeting, Ex Ante Conditionalities?

Recommendations (ii) b) New initiatives and flexibility of ESF Programming “Financial reserve” used to adapt OPs to new needs Youth Guarantee might provide a good example

Recommendations (iii) c) Monitoring and evaluation Keep track contribution of ESF to the new initiatives Use already existing monitoring and evaluation provisions Encourage MAs and MS to report on elated achievements in Annual Implementation Reports or Progress Reports Encourage MAs and MS to implement thematic evaluations

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION