Evaluation of Trade Union Training Financed under the LO - NORAD Framework Agreement 1980-85

The Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions (LO) has had a framework agreement with NORAD since 1980 covering support to development projects. Approximately half the projects are on a bilateral basis, implemented directly by the LO with local trade unions in four countries - Tanzania, Egypt, Portugal and Jamaica. The other projects, covering more than twenty countries, are on a multilateral basis. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), to which the LO is affiliated, or an International Trade Secretariat (ITS) is the coordinating and implementing agency in collaboration with local trade unions.

During the period of the first NORAD-LO agreement, 1980-82, funds were distributed to projects aiming at socio-economic development and at trade union training and organisation-building. For the term of the present agreement, 1983-85, funds are only available for trade union training purposes, though the LO may apply for support for socio-economic projects through the regular channels outside the framework agreement.

One condition of the second contract was that an evaluation of both bilateral and multilateral projects should take place before the end of 1984. This evaluation is limited to trade union education and related programmes, including training courses in Norway for third world union leaders.