The document discusses building a case for innovation in projects funded by the Flemish European Social Fund (ESF). It argues that ESF projects often lack focus on their goals and intended impacts. It proposes a new logic for ESF-funded innovation projects that tests instruments with intermediaries first before broader dissemination, in order to evaluate business cases and impacts more rigorously. This new approach aims to improve how projects contribute to employment goals and policy objectives.

1. Building the case for innovation in the Flemish ESF: PCM for innovation projects. Louis Vervloet Director Flemish ESF Agency

5. Prior 4 GENERAL LOGIC OF ESF PROGRAMME Extra adjustment + dissemination outside targeted group of intermediaries Job seekers Workers LABOUR MARKET Prior 1 ¨Prior 2 Prior 3 INTERMEDIARIES =broadly speaking eg. also employers Development, testing, validating, dissemination Preparatory action INSTRUMENTS =broadly speaking eg. something that can be used by intermediaries to improve their capacity to better serve the labour market eg. a method, training, process description, manual etc.

6. Difference in logic with mainstream Activities Operational objectives Project contributes to carrying out better training activities for job seekers and finding a job Global objectives Develop new method for training job seekers Tests with small group Lessons + adjustment method Validation Dissemination Training processes and skills/attitudes of trainers improved Specific objective Intermediaries capable of training jobseekers better “ Jobseekers find work” Train the trainer: innovation Target= group of intermediaries!! Training for trainers yields improved knowledge and attitudes for trainer Trainers uses in trainings for job seekers Train the trainer: mainstream Job seekers have better skills and attitudes Project contributes to employment goals Target= Job seekers

7. Difference in logic with mainstream Activities Operational objectives Project contributes to carrying out better training activities for job seekers and finding a job Global objectives Develop new method for training job seekers Tests with small group Lessons + adjustment method Validation Dissemination Training processes and skills/attitudes of trainers improved Specific objective Intermediaries capable of training jobseekers better “ Jobseekers find work” Train the trainer: innovation Target= Dintermediaries!! Training for trainers yields improved knowledge and attitudes for trainer Trainers uses in trainings for job seekers Train the trainer: mainstream Job seekers have better skills and attitudes Project contibutes to employment goals Target= Job seekers MAX 3 years, incl. prepratory action and 1 year active dissemination (if validated) MAX 2 years

8. Focus for testing: what is the business case for introducing the instrument with internediaries? Output (provided by intermediaries) Quality (eg appropriateness of new skills or speed in acquiring them etc.) of services, knowledge, attitudes, practices (eg. level of qualification gained) from intermediaries for number of clients Results (for clients of intermediaries) -Qualitative level of benefit (eg better paid jobs) -Time (eg. in months) to gain benefit (eg. work) -Number of clients that gain benefit (eg. more unemployed find job) Impact (policy) Contributing to policy goals Input (means) Financial and other means for implementing activities for clients Solution that will be active when instrument is implemented Existing solution

9. Cost per qualified participant of the new alternative is 5000 EUR pp (40000/8 for a group of ten people) compared to 6000 EUR pp (30000/5) in the old alternative! The case would be strenghtened if the results would also be compared. In any case, it is reasonable to assume results under the new option will be better. Negative: 1000 EUR extra cost per participant -20 days training per employee with on average: monthly wage of 2000 EUR bruto = 2000 EUR -Tuition of 1000 EUR per employee Total= 3000 EUR -30 days training per employee with on average: monthly wage of 2000 EUR gross = 3000 EUR -Tuiton of 1000 EUR per employee Total: 4000 EUR Input Positive: 30% extra qualified 50% of the participants is qualified 80% of the participants is qualified Output / / / Result / / / Impact / Training employees Training employees Activity Difference if new alternative is chosen Old alternative New alternative