Technical Assistance is a resource provided by the SEALC Network to generate specific spaces that promote the exchange of good practices, information, and learning between the applicant for public employment service and the official(s) who provide this assistance (e.g., public employment service or expert consultants). These exchanges arise from the principal request from the applicant, who is seeking to learn from the good practices of peers to solve specific needs.

This resource is available exclusively to the members that are part of the SEALC Network. If a member country expresses a specific need and requests this assistance, the Network will proceed to evaluate this request and begin the corresponding process.

The first step is to download the application form ‘Application for Network Resources’. Once the team is aware of the specific case, the request will be analyzed together with the IDB counterpart in the corresponding country (if it exists), and a response will be issued to the public employment service. The SEALC Network team may request clarification via email or through a meeting as part of the application process. When this assistance is completed, the receiving public employment service must deliver a report within seven working days of the Technical Assistance having ended using the format available here. 

Previous to the COVID-19 pandemic, the technical assistance had a duration of no longer than five working days. The exchange of experiences and good practices was transferred through workshops organized around the topics(s) requested by the public employment service. Currently, and given the "new normal" conditions, this type of support will be provided virtually through the different videoconferencing platforms. The times at which the technical assistance will take place must be agreed on in advance between the SEALC Network, experts, and applicants.

Regarding the type of methodology, it is recommended to use a workshop format that contains at least the following structure: a) the problem that is addressed; b) the purpose or objective; c) the main components and activities; d) the main performance indicators; e) the organizational structure for implementation; f) the budget and source of resources; g) the non-governmental partners involved in the implementation and/or financing; h) the monitoring and evaluation schemes; i) the outstanding features; j) achieved results, and k) future perspectives. This is to facilitate the identification of areas in which it is convenient to focus on during the exchange of ideas and analysis, as well as to formulate recommendations for improvement by the official or consultant who provides the technical assistance.

This resource has no cost to the member country that requires it. The SEALC Network will coordinate technical assistance through videoconferences, visits from experts, and regional workshops or courses; it will also cover the costs of simultaneous translation services for working sessions (if required), travel, and logistical costs for visits from experts, among others.

It is recommended that the PES who receives the technical assistance make a presentation on the first day explaining the general structure (governance, budgeting, and financing, offices, personnel services available to job seekers and employers) and then focus on the presentation of the area it wishes to strengthen. This is important for the PES providing the technical assistance to be able to understand the context. On the second day, the PES providing the technical assistance repeats the process and offers a presentation (governance, budget, and financing, offices, personnel services available to job seekers and employers), focusing on the area of technical assistance. In the following days, the teams will work together to develop a diagnosis and a roadmap to strengthen the area of technical assistance, including activities, schedules, and KPIs.

There are several factors that the SEALC Network considers when approving technical assistance. One of these is the relevance and consistency of the request in relation to the support that the Bank has been giving to the public employment service (if this is the case, it will be coordinated with the IDB specialist in charge); another factor is the availability of experts and technicians from the public employment services to provide the necessary assistance. Furthermore, there will be a review of the model and how it adapts and meets with the needs of the public employment service or if, on the contrary, another action could be implemented, such as a webinar, a group meeting with other members of the SEALC Network, a course or training. The Network shall consider each request individually and shall have the power to accept or deny such requests. It may also recommend additional possibilities in an attempt to respond to requests from its members.

The following is the step-by-step layout of the process to make use of the assistance:

• The PES downloads the form to make the formal request for assistance, completes it, and sends it to the Network coordinator or IDB specialist who is working with that country (if applicable).
• The Network and the IDB specialist review and request clarification if they deem this necessary. This can be through email or a meeting with the PES team.
• The Network will contact the corresponding technicians and experts to analyze the feasibility, availability, and conditions of the assistance.
• The Network shall convene a meeting between the applicant PES and the designated team to support this assistance. This meeting will coordinate the specific details of the times, agendas, work plan, and materials to be prepared by both parties.
• Once the technical assistance is carried out, the receiving team must complete a Technical Assistance report provided by the Network team.