11 June 2004 - Publication of DWP research reports: Evaluating the European Social Fund (ESF) Objective 3 programme 2000-2006 - Evaluation of Equality Mainstreaming in ESF Objective and Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in ESF Supported Projects and Local Impact of ESF Objective Funding
Three reports are published today by the Department for Work and Pensions which present findings on themes within the England European Social Fund (ESF) Objective 3 programme up until the mid-term (end 2003).
The report “Evaluation of Equality Mainstreaming in ESF Objective 3” reviewed the effectiveness of the implementation of equality mainstreaming in the England Objective 3 Programme at national, regional and project level. The study was informed by interviews with national and regional stakeholders, a review of relevant policy documents at national and regional level, analysis of recent administrative and survey data and 15 case studies of projects in order to identify good practice.
Among the main findings it is indicated that:
- At national level, a robust system of equality mainstreaming has been introduced into the England Objective 3 Programme which covers gender, race and disability.
- At regional level, equality mainstreaming plans have also been produced. However, the regions need to produce more effective implementation strategies as the pace of implementation is uneven.
- The proportions of women and ethnic minority participants who have received support from the programme are above forecast, although the numbers of disabled participants are slightly lower than forecast.
- Projects provided a variety of support for people with disabilities to enable them to access training. The most common were access to premises provided by almost two thirds of projects and specialist provision offered by almost a half. Altogether around two thirds of projects made some sort of provision for people with disabilities.
The second report “The Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in ESF Supported Projects”, looked at the impact of the Objective 3 Programme on the Information Society and the role ICT is playing within Objective 3. The research used a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods, involving interviews with key players, a postal survey of projects and 12 case studies.
Some of the main findings showed that:
- In general there is a good alignment between Objective 3 ESF priorities and wider UK Government/regional policies. Promoting wider access to ICT and helping a wide range of individuals improve their ICT related skills has become the “received wisdom”.
- The role of ICT within ESF project management activities was substantial (77 per cent of survey respondents planned to use ICT extensively in project management and monitoring), although they tend to draw on existing systems.
- Overall there seems to be generally good results in relation to beneficiaries increasing their ICT skills as a result of ESF support (51 per cent of projects which responded to the postal survey indicated that half of beneficiaries or more improved their ICT skills).
- ESF-supported projects played an important role in tackling the ‘digital divide’, as among those who improved their ICT skills were the unemployed, young people, returners to the labour market and lone parents.
The third report to be published “The Local Impact of ESF Objective 3 Funding” assessed the impact of ESF at the local level and whether ESF is meeting local needs, including those of rural areas. The research included contacting ESF funded projects (a postal survey of over 600 and 25 case studies), interviews with key players and a review of programming documents.
Some of the main findings indicated that:
- The new system of co-financing provides scope to sharpen the focus on local needs, and to help local groups participate by easing some of the problems with match funding and complex procedures that deterred applicants under the old bidding system.
- Objective 3 has a positive, although limited impact, on local systems and structures – with ESF helping many local/community organisations to become more involved in partnership activity.
- Capacity building funding appears to play a small but important role in helping local organisations to get involved in ESF and partnerships.
- ESF supports a range of projects that are addressing the needs of rural areas. Generally rural based projects feel ESF funding is geared to meeting these needs, but have raised issues about their capacity to deliver in rural areas and unit costs.
- There is room to improve understanding of sustainable development issues in ESF as these are not yet fully embedded in ESF.
Notes for editors
- The European Social Fund is an EU fund which supports employment and training projects in the Member States. About £2.9 billion of ESF Objective 3 funding is available in Great Britain in 2000-06. The funding supports the following priorities:
- helping unemployed and inactive people into work;
- providing opportunities for people at a disadvantage in the labour market;
- promoting lifelong learning;
- developing the skills of employed people; and
- improving women’s participation in the labour market.
- Evaluation of Equality Mainstreaming in ESF Objective 3 by Carolyn Hay, Ginnie Betts and Stephen Murray of ECOTEC Research and Consultancy Ltd. The report is published in the Department for Work and Pensions In-house Report Series (Report No. 141, ISBN 1 84388 277 9).
- The Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in ESF Supported Projects” by CRG. The report is published in the Department for Work and Pensions In-house Report Series (Report No. 138, ISBN 1 84388 274 4).
- The Local Impact of ESF Objective 3 Funding by the Policy Research Institute at Leeds Metropolitan University, the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University and the Institute for Employment Studies. The report is published in the Department for Work and Pensions In-house Report Series (Report No. 140, ISBN 1 84388 276 00).
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