Productive transformation policies have gained renewed prominence in recent years. In both developed and developing countries, governments and private sector actors have begun planning and implementing programmes and instruments for private sector development; cluster promotion and value chain; as well as supply chain approaches linked to infrastructure provision, innovation and equity.

Many triggers have led to this revival:

(a) the economic crisis of 2008 demonstrated to governments the importance of regulation and policies to addressing market failures;

(b) the significant rise of intermediate cities and the dynamism of large cities, who are pushing for locally promoted policies with more autonomy and leverage; and

(c) productive policies are increasingly seen as a tool to generate jobs, to support micro and small-sized business, and create wealth. For the purposes of this report, Productive Transformation Policies (PTP) are defined as public programs and instruments designed to create jobs and achieve sustainable growth through higher productivity and promotion of competitive sectors.

The evaluation of the UN-Habitat Youth Programme was mandated by UN-Habitat Governing Council resolution 21/6, which, among other things, requested the Executive Director to establish the Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-led Development, and undertake an evaluation of the operation of the special fund and to submit a report thereon to the Governing Council at its twenty-third session in April 2011.

The main objectives of the evaluation were to:

• Assess the relevance of the work carried out by UN-Habitat with urban youth
• To review the integration of youth issues in the normative and operational work of UN-Habitat
• To evaluate the operations of the Urban Youth Fund
• To review the normative and operational performance of the youth empowerment initiatives of UN-Habitat