The overall objective of this programme is to strengthen the capacity of local actors to design and implement training and active labour market measures within the framework of a local partnership approach and by using European Structural Fund (ESF) procedures.

Despite enjoying considerable GDP growth rates for several years, Croatia has nonetheless been experiencing increased unemployment which is unevenly spread across the country. The programme is complementary to the Regional Operation Programmes of four counties (Lika-Senj, Karlovac, Slavonski Brod-Posavina, Pozega-Slavonia), supporting them through appropriate HRD measures which take into account the methodology developed through the 2002 CARDS project: “Local Partnership for Employment Project”.

This work will:

• Improve the labour market knowledge at county level;
• Increase the ability to foster HRD at county level;
• Raise the awareness of ESF principles and mechanisms among local counterparts in all four counties (local partnership being the principal approach to planning and implementation);
• Reduce the rate of unemployment at county level;
• Raise the awareness of ESF rules and procedures among HRD regional policy actors.

The target groups of the programme include:

• Young unemployed people;
• Redundant workers or those threatened by unemployment;
• Unemployed adults, especially the long-term unemployed and those at the edge of poverty and/or at risk of social exclusion;
• Inactive, often low skilled and disenfranchised persons who may wish to return to the labour market;
• Employed workers or other individuals who aim to upgrade their skills;
• Business managers.

The Regional Operational Programmes are analyzing socio-economic contexts and outlining strategies and measures for the further development of the counties in question. The measures cover three fields, namely: investment in infrastructure, business development and human resource development.