NEW WEBSITE!

16 Dec 2014 - The OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Development (FPLD) is pleased to announce that its new website is now live!

The new website includes a new, comprehensive database of Forum materials, including country fact-sheets on partnership models, examples of local development projects, thematic handbooks, publications and events proceedings. Users can easily search the database by country, topic, of type of material.

In addition, the website includes information on upcoming activities.

We invite you all to be active members of the network by sharing information in this database.

Go to the new FPLD website!

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^{The Forum on Partnerships and Local Development is the OECD’s networks of practitioners in the field of economic development, employment, skills and social inclusion. In a globalised economy where policies are fragmented policy and actions are interdependent, effective strategies requires a deep understanding of how policies interact and how different levers can be combined for maximum impact. Created by the Local Economic and Employment Development Programme in 2004 as a follow-up to the LEED comparative study on Local Partnerships carried out in 14 countries, the Forum aims to build the capacities of stakeholders at all levels to work in partnerships to better tackle current economic and social challenges. It groups partners from national government, local authorities, employment and training agencies, businesses and non-government organisations in exchanging experience on how to achieve cross-cutting goals in times of limited resources. ‌}

^{Today the Forum has a membership of over 2,900 members in 61 countries.}

CAPACITY BUILDING

I. Study visits and capacity building for partnerships

Previous activities of the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships have demonstrated the growing interest of partnerships in capacity building activities to address such issues, and in the possibility of sharing and acquiring new experiences and know-how. As a response to this demand the Forum has designed a series of capacity building activities including seminars, workshops and study visits to participating countries.

• Capacity building seminar: Promoting entrepreneurial education in schools (Potsdam, Germany) 3-6 November 2014
  The seminar contributed to the development of a tool  that should allow schools to (1) map the perceptions of learners, teachers, parents, and partner organisations as they relate to the entrepreneurial education opportunities (courses, extra-curricular work), resources and support available to teachers (e.g. time for preparation, training, teaching material), and the "outward looking school" (e.g., partnerships for challenge-based learning, new learning environments); and (2) employ this information for organisational development efforts.

• ‌Expert Seminar: What works, and what doesn’t? Evidence-based approaches to tackling disadvantage (Paris, France) 15 October 2014
  This expert seminar focused on how countries can establish a policy framework to enable effective local action using an evidence-based approach, choosing between different measures at a time of limited resources. The latest evidence from OECD countries on ‘what works’ and ‘what doesn’t’ were considered, with participants sharing their own experiences of what has been successful on the ground.

• Seminar: Delivering smarter local development - Latvian Seminar (Paris, France) 19-20 March 2014
  The purpose of local development is to build the capacity of a defined territory, often a municipality or region, to improve its economic future and the quality of life for inhabitants. This two day capacity building event seeks to build capacity in the design, implementation and evaluation of local economic and employment development strategies.

• Capacity building seminar: Strategic approaches to demographic change in Russia, Eastern Europe and OECD countries (Trento, Italy) 3-4 July 2012
  The seminar was targeted at national, regional and local practitioners who dealt with anticipating and managing demographic changes in Russia and Eastern European countries and wanted to interchange experiences and approaches with other experts from OECD countries.

• Capacity building seminar: Getting the long-term unemployed back into work - New finance and delivery mechanisms (Trento, Italy) 21-22 June 2012
  To find effective financing and delivery mechanisms to address long-term unemployment is a challenge which practitioners and policy-makers confront. The seminar reviewed innovations in these areas and reflected on how they can be used to support the long-term unemployed into employment.

• Study visit for local development practitioners: Partnership strategies for youth employment (UpperAustria, Austria) 24-26 April 2012
  Issues covered during the study visit included exploring features unique to the Austrian system, such as the dual apprenticeship system and qualification guarantees. The structure and targets of the Territorial Employment Pact were discussed and project visits to relevant initiatives allowed participants to meet with project promoters and participants, and discuss programme implementation and outcomes.

• Capacity building seminar: Universities, skills and entrepreneurship (Trento, Italy) 18-20 October 2010
  Much can be learned from an international exchange of information about the rationales behind university entrepreneurship support and local partnerships to foster the birth and growth of new firms. The seminar explored strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, examined what constitutes good practice in local entrepreneurship support and discussed potential pitfalls.

• Study visit for local development practitioners: Partnerships & the green economy (Graz, Austria and Slovenia) 11 – 13 October 2010
  The study visit was organised for a selected group of local development practitioners to review the green experience of the Austrian Province of Styria. The study visit provided opportunities to meet with people from institutions responsible for different issues of green policies, e.g. entrepreneurial support, labour market and skills development, environment and regional development, as well as with representatives from enterprises and project promoters.

• Capacity building seminar: Local strategies for greener jobs and skills (Trento, Italy) 9-11 June 2010
  "Greening the economy" is today one of the most pressing issues in the majority of OECD countries. The seminar reviewed the impact of the climate change on local labour markets (including through regulations) and studied the different tools and methods that can be used to facilitate and best manage the transition to a greener local economy.
• Capacity building seminar: Getting the young into jobs: the role of partnerships (Trento, Italy) 26-28 October 2009
  Ensuring a smooth and quick transition from education to employment and fighting education drop-out trends are key objectives of youth policies across OECD countries. The seminar was addressed to those already working in partnerships on youth policies, or in the process of establishing a partnership in one of the following areas: (i) promoting entrepreneurship; (ii) youth skills initiatives; and (iii) integrating youth with accumulated disadvantages.
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  The study visit offered the possibility to: (i) get insights about the TEPs labour market integration strategies and programmes, their rationale, development and how barriers to their effective implementation have been addressed; (ii) learn about the organisational and funding structure of Austrian TEPs within the framework of the ESF; and (iii) network with people running local social inclusion projects.
• Capacity building seminar: Routes out of the crisis – New strategies for skills and employment (Trento, Italy) 10-12 June 2009
  The seminar began with a one-day session open to a wider audience of policymakers and practitioners involved in tackling the impact of the crisis on jobs and skills. Days 2 and 3 were structured around a mix of presentations by OECD experts followed by discussion and group work.
• Capacity building seminar: New and nascent local development partnerships in Central-East and South-East Europe (Trento, Italy) 10-12 November 2008
  The objective of this 2.5-day seminar was to improve the functioning of local partnerships. The seminar was aimed at local partnership practitioners and their counterparts in local and national governments. The seminar focused on three main themes: (i) what makes local partnership building successful?; (ii) what are the key elements of a national support framework for local development partnerships?; and (iii) how to manage and improve performance?
• Capacity building seminar: Designing and delivering skills strategies for cities (Trento, Italy) 11-13 June 2008
  The objective of this seminar was to improve the capacity of partnerships to design and deliver integrated skills strategies. It focused on three main themes: (i) understanding local skills needs; (ii) building an integrated skills strategy and (iii) assessing the impact: moving from quantitative to qualitative assessment.
• Capacity building seminar: Enhancing the capacity of partnerships to influence policy (Dublin, Ireland) 18 - 20 April 2007
  After the lively first seminar in Vienna, this 2.5-day seminar allowed a more in-depth discussion on how partnerships can enhance their capacity to influence policy at the local, national and international levels. The thematic focus of this seminar was on skills development, in particular on the contributions of partnerships in designing and delivering local skills development strategies. The seminar was hosted by Pobal Ireland, a long-standing partner of the OECD LEED Programme.
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  A 2.5-day capacity building seminar on “Enhancing the Capacity of Partnerships to Influence Policy” brought together partnership managers from Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The seminar was held at the Centre for Social Innovation (Vienna, Austria) on 5 – 7 December 2006. The seminar was a unique opportunity to discuss the “Why”, “What” and “How” issues behind partnerships’ interest in influencing policy.

The OECD LEED Programme released a report on "Enhancing the capacity of partnerships to influence policy” which gathers the experience of the two capacity building seminars 2006-2007.

II. E-learning: Follow us  

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BUILDING A KNOWLEDGE BASE

III. Annual Brochure. Country Fact Sheets 2012. The new 2012 edition is under preparation.

The FORUM_PARTNERSHIPS_2009 – Country Fact Sheets provided an update on what has changed over the last 3 years, with new information added on regions that have not been included before.

The annual brochure  presented a variety of area-based partnership models showing methods, tools and results achieved.

IV. Thematic handbooks. These pedagogical tools provide practical guidance on how partnerships can address thematic and substantive issues and tackle organisational challenges that are specific to partnership work. Each handbook introduces general principles, set out key issues and obstacles, provide illustration with concrete case studies and conclude with guidelines. To date, the themes covered by this series are the following: 

Innovative financing and delivery mechanisms for getting the unemployed into work (June 2013)

Ensuring labour market success for ethnic minority and immigrant youth (June 2011)

Partnering for success in fostering graduate entrepreneurship (March 2011)

Local youth entrepreneurship support (April 2010) (April 2010)

Partnerships in the recovery: Rebuilding employment at the local level (February 2010)

Partnerships, performance management and evaluation (March 2009)

Improving local transport and accessibility in rural areas through partnerships (January 2009)

V. Thematic brochures. These brochures review the experience of partnerships in different countries in combating social exclusion, fostering economic development, addressing the implications of climate change, and creating employment at local level. On each of these themes, partnership organisations which are members of the Forum have shared their approaches, strategies and results. To date, the themes covered by this series are the following:

Partnerships and environmental issues (April 2011)

VI. Documentary base.  The Forum collects data on partnership initiatives in OECD Member and non-member countries (list of partners, management structure, strategy, objectives, target groups and evaluation results) and gathers research reports, thematic reviews and studies carried out on partnership issues.

The Forum Document Database website contains over 300 English links, records published between 1999 and present.

VII. Successful partnerships – A guide. In January 2006, the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance published guide to successful partnerships building and operation in order to assist partnerships in their further development and help countries learn from existing experience.

VIII. E-Bulletin: News at a Glance. Issued to announce new events and activities, and to publicise first results, the E-Bulletin is providing information in a short and informative way. You can find brief summaries of events, insights into OECD LEED research and policy advice activity, library items, forum discussions and more, all related to local governance & partnerships and local development.

Are you interested in receiving the E-Bulletin? Please send us an email to subscribe. You can also send us by e-mail news and information you wish to publicise in a forthcoming issue.

IX. Electronic newsletter. Thematic e-newsletters have been issued and circulated to Forum members and all interested institutions.  The topics cover cross-border partnerships co-operation activities, development of synergies between different programmes, partnerships instruments and examples of successful experiences. Download here the special issue e-newsletter (released in July 2009).

Download here the eighth e-newsletter (released in March 2008)
Download here the seventh e-newsletter (released in April 2007)
Download here the sixth e-newsletter (released in January 2007)
Download here the fifth e-newsletter (released in August 2006)
Download here the fourth e-newsletter (released in April 2006)
Download here the Download here (released in September 2005)
Download here the second e-newsletter (released in May 2005)
Download here the first e-newsletter (released in December 2004)

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NETWORKING AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE

X. Forum Board meetings. Board meetings are held on the eve or during each Annual Forum Meeting, and at other times at the request of the Board members.

XI. Forum meetings

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  In partnership with the Swedish Public Employment Service, Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR), Swedish Ministry of Employment and the World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES), the 10^th Annual Meeting of the Forum on Partnerships and Local Development was held  in Stockholm 23 April – 25 April, on the theme of ‘job creation just ahead:  building adaptable labour markets’. Participants had the opportunity to explore a range of topics through 4 plenary sessions and 18 workshops.  Sessions included the first public release of results from the LEED Local Job Creation project, an employer panel on partnerships to support school-to-work transitions, a panel of public and private employment services to discuss managing transitions during the lifecycle, and workshops on topics such as youth guarantees, social innovation, entrepreneurship, and evidence-based policies.  Additionally, participants had the opportunity to visit six local projects.
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  Today many local communities are confronted with the challenge of reducing high and persistent unemployment and defining new sources of economic growth, all in the context of shrinking public resources. Local and national governments are in search of policies and tools that work in getting people back into employment, providing jobs for youth, and facilitating business creation and growth. Governments are seeking ways to achieve maximum local impact and ensure that implementation mechanisms are operating efficiently at a local level. Priority is being given to policy mechanisms and structures which ensure that best practice be embedded in approaches to tackle unemployment, support job creation and stimulate growth. The 9th Annual Meeting will offer an opportunity to reflect on innovative ways to support local job creation, youth employment and effective policy delivery.
• The 8th Annual Meeting: Partnerships for youth - Getting the young into jobs and business (Berlin, Germany) 20-21 March 2012
  The transition from education to work is not easy for many young people, particularly when it comes to finding sustainable employment with progression opportunities. While many OECD countries have recently established national policies to support youth, they will be more effective if they are implemented in a coordinated way at local level. Providing jobs for youth requires place specific cross sectoral responses involving different local players as part of wider local development strategies. The 8th Annual Meeting of the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance brought together some 200 representatives of local partnerships, government officials, local leaders, youth organisations, social entrepreneurs, business representatives, trade unions and academics to review how local development actors are adapting to this new reality and the innovations emerging on the ground to respond to these new challenges.
• The 7th Annual Meeting: Doing more with less - Local partnerships’ role in the recovery (Vienna, Austria) 10-11 March 2011
  Even if the recovery is in sight, many OECD countries and localities are facing fiscal restraints and will have to achieve more with reduced budgets. In this context governments and local leaders need to be smart to make sure that policies and local initiatives are efficient to generate growth, job creation and combat exclusion at local level. The 7th Annual Meeting of the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance brought together some 200 representatives of local partnerships, government officials, local leaders, social entrepreneurs, business representatives, trade unions and academics to review how local development actors are adapting to this new reality and the innovations emerging on the ground to respond to these new challenges.
• The 6th Annual Meeting: From recession to recovery - Local partnerships to rebuild employment (Vienna, Austria) 16-17 February 2010
  Although the latest economic indicators suggest that a recovery may be in sight, the experience of previous economic downturns shows that it will take long before employment gets back to pre-recession levels. While solutions are put in place to address urgent needs, new ways of working are required to create more sustainable, more productive and more equitable employment for the future.  New approaches are needed to help people stay and progress in employment through greater skills utilisation. New skills are crucial to the development of a greener economy and in order to release its job creation potential. Social entrepreneurship can contribute to providing sustainable solutions to those most at risk of exclusion from the labour market. Working in partnership is required to address these multiple challenges. Partnerships, many of which were first created to deal with social and unemployment consequences of previous economic downturns, have accumulated a considerable amount of knowledge and know-how in bringing different stakeholders together, ensuring coordination and policy adaptation to local needs.
• The 5th Annual Meeting: Building strong partnerships with the private sector for better jobs and inclusion (Vienna, Austria) 9-10 February 2009
  The 5th Annual Meeting of the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance addressed an issue of central importance to most partnerships today: how can collaboration with the private sector be strengthened to deliver better and more sustainable outcomes on the labour market? Excellent examples exist of partnerships that have established strong collaboration between business and the public sector/local community, and which have managed to contribute significantly to a more inclusive local economy. In many of them business representatives play a leading role in the collaboration process or actively support local initiatives designed in partnership.
• The 4th Annual Meeting: Partnerships for skills and competitiveness (Vienna, Austria) 18-19 February 2008
  The 4th Annual Meeting sought to identify the best ways for partnerships to contribute to the design and implementation of skills development strategies which can boost competitiveness and make the economy more inclusive. More than 130 partnership practitioners, managers, national co-ordinators of partnership networks, and policy makers from OECD Member and non-member countries joined fruitful debates.
• The 3rd Annual Meeting: Improving cross-sector and multi-level collaboration (Vienna, Austria) 1-2 March 2007
  The meeting focused on cross-sector and multi-level collaboration, supporting the exchange of experience and practice between partnerships and exploring ways to overcome common obstacles. The Forum meeting provided a unique occasion for such an exchange, providing opportunities for in-depth discussion within a series of interactive working sessions.
  In order to deepen common understanding within the Forum and its members, the Forum Meeting aimed to build on the outcomes of the interactive workshops and to develop a “Vienna Action Statement on Partnerships”, adopted finally by the meeting’s participants.
• The 2nd Annual Meeting: International partnership fair (Vienna, Austria) 13-15 February 2006
  The 2nd Annual Meeting provided opportunities to meet, learn from each other and build new co-operation relationships. The conference was organised for partnership practitioners, such as co-ordinators and partners of alliances, as well as policy makers aiming to exchange partnership experiences. This spectacular conference was attended by 240 participants from 33 OECD members and non-members countries. 33 partnerships covering countries from the European Union, South-East Europe, America and Asia Pacific presented themselves at exhibition stands and shared their practical partnership experiences with Fair participants.
• The 1st Annual Meeting: Enanching the effectiveness of partnerships (Vienna, Austria) 26-27 April 2005
  The aims of the First Forum Meeting were to bring together partnerships and exchange views and experiences on their development, operational activities, implementation of national strategies, management structures, use of policy recommendations and evaluation methodologies. This unique conference was attended by 139 participants from 33 OECD members and non-members countries. Conclusions were highlighted in the second Forum Newsletter, published in May 2005.

XII. International events hosted by Forum partners

Hosted by interested countries, conferences provide a platform to debate key issues faced by partnerships.

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