Current economic conditions are increasing the demand for flexible social policies that will go some way to mitigating the effects of the downturn  and speed recovery.  In the EU, the Lisbon Strategy and the European Employment Strategy are driving active labour market interventions in new member countries.  Speed is of the essence if the policies developed and interventions designed are to be effective.

A4e has practical experience of delivering active labour market programmes in Australia, Israel, Germany and France as well as the UK. It is also working with agencies in countries as diverse as Poland and India to develop coherent programmes that tackle both long term unemployment and the wider impact of social exclusion.

Successful programmes in each of these geographies have core aspects in common. A4e has identified what these are and learned from them. A4e Insight now advises governments on how to apply this best practice to help governments create innovative policies and interventions.

Most of this support is focused on the design of active labour market policies and programmes in the areas of supporting the long-term unemployed into work and providing low and intermediate level skills to help people get and keep work.