Research Studies
WSI equips policy makers, leaders, managers, and stakeholders with the knowledge needed to design and implement programs for economic and social development. Whether capturing best practices and lessons learned in workforce development projects in Central and Eastern Europe or developing the first-ever baseline surveys on labor dispute resolution in China, WSI enables improvements in program design quality, relevance, and effectiveness.
South East Europe: Labor Impact Assessment of the Coal Sector (2005-2007)
Donor: USAID
WSI profiled coal mine and coal-fired power plant labor forces, key labor provisions, and employment systems in Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia. We also identified Lessons Learned and Best Practices in labor adjustment related to coal sector restructuring in Hungary, Poland, and Russia. A comparative assessment report of the current status of workforce development issues was developed to increase the understanding and commitment of donors and country stakeholders in formulating effective approaches to address labor transition. In addition, in-depth profiles were developed for each country including community level assessments to understand restructuring impact.
Central and Eastern Europe: Regional Capacity Building (1999-2003)
Donor: USAID, USDOL
WSI developed region-wide strategies that incorporated lessons learned for local, regional, and national sustainability of labor market transition programs. WSI developed a regional network of local staff experts to exchange best practices and lessons learned from implementing an Integrated Community Development Program in Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Ukraine. A website www.w-s-i.net/cee was created to house case studies from these countries.
Croatia: Local Governance Reform II (2004-2005)
Donor: USAID
As a subcontractor to the Urban Institute (UI), WSI developed a comprehensive Guideline for Local Government Support of Agriculture-Related Development. This report detailed local government's role and the decisions required to develop local retail green markets; land planning, assembly, and consolidation; irrigation; value-added food processing; organic farming; and farmer associations. The guide included national, regional, and international best practices as well as resources and contacts for assistance.
UNMIK Kosovo: Local Governance Initiative (2004-2005)
Donor: USAID
Under a subcontract with the Research Triangle Institute, WSI worked with community leaders to build on and activate previous local economic development strategies for the communities of Suhareka, Peja, Gjakova, and Strpce. Cross-sector, multi-ethnic local leaders were brought together to agree upon a community vision and strategic goals. Action plans were created to develop projects for small-medium enterprises, agriculture, urban planning, budget/finance, and education, health or culture.
Global: International Resource Handbook for Career Guidance (2005)
Donor: International Labour Organization (ILO)
WSI provided expert input for an ILO career guidance handbook to reflect labor market changes in the last twenty years. The purpose of the handbook was to focus the attention of policymakers and program administrators in middle income and developing countries on the core issues involved in reforming career guidance services. The guide also provided program planners and practitioners at the national and local levels a wide variety of country examples and actual career guidance tools to use as models for possible adaptation and application.
Global: Local Economic Development Writer's Workshop (2005)
Donor: ILO's International Training Centre, Turin, Italy
The ILO¡¯s International Training Centre provides courses to build the capacity of developing and transition countries to design and implement value-added local economic development (LED) schemes. WSI provided expertise to develop an LED training program. Course content and associated tools were designed covering territorial diagnoses, institutional and poverty mapping, awareness raising, promoting an LED forum and entry point activities, designing an LED strategy, program, and action plan, strengthening local structures, and interventions, review, feedback, and disengagement.
China: Labor Law Cooperation Project (2002 - 2007)
Donor: USDOL
WSI provided expert assistance to develop the data needed to improve China¡¯s regulatory framework for dispute resolution and prevention systems, considered a momentous achievement by Chinese partners. Baseline surveys provided previously inaccessible data for research studies, seminars, and conferences that pinpointed specific realities and problems in various cities and enterprises. The findings resulted in tailored recommendations for short, medium and long-term improvements in China¡¯s Labor Contract Law and Labor Dispute Resolution Law. During its discussions, the National People¡¯s Congress mentioned these surveys as important reference documents.
Russia: Performance-Based Financing of Regional Employment Offices (2007)
Donor: World Bank - Russia
WSI provided expert analysis and recommendations on best practices in OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries for performance-based financing of regional employment offices. Focusing on the experience of the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, the report discussed ways to apply appropriate models of performance measurement, funding disbursement, and performance incentive practices within the Russian context. Recommendations on best practices were made so that further efforts by the Russian Regional Employment Offices and the Russian Federal Employment Service to improve regional service delivery could build upon international experience.