In 2016, Work preparation training (AFT) replaced the measures ‘Work Experience in Sheltered Business (APS)’ and ‘Qualification in Sheltered Workshop (KIA)’. It was established in order to provide a better offer to persons with reduced ability to work, who for a period of time need a facilitated and sheltered working environment. The new AFT measure involves among other thing, the possibility of giving a more holistic offer within a temporary measure in the sheltered sector, greater emphasis on trialling in ordinary working life and the possibility of vocational training and learning within the same measure.

The purpose of AFT is to contribute to to testing the individual’s ability to work and to strengthen the possibility of getting ordinary work. The measure is aimed at persons with complex assistance needs who have had their ability to work reduced and who have particularly contingent occupational requirements, and a need for close and broad follow-up. Work preparation training (AFT) is currently the most used time-limited labour market measure for persons with reduced ability to work where the goal is to come back to ordinary working life.

Several previous studies have compared the impacts/effects of labour market measures in the sheltered sector, among other things, measures that AFT replaced, with measures for persons with reduced ability to work in ordinary working life. Such studies are not carried out for AFT. In 2020 Oslo Economics carried out mapping of AFT. They point out in the report that for such a large and important measure as AFT, there is a need for more knowledge about the actual effect of the measure, among other things about which components of AFT are decisive for the transition to work and education.

The Employment Committee (NOU 2021: 2 Competence, activity and income protection) and the Welfare Service Committee (NOU 2020: 13 Private actors in the welfare state) have pointed out that there is a need for cost-benefit and efficiency analyses of the labour market measure.

There is a need to strengthen the knowledge base to assess improvements to the measure's framework conditions, structure, and how and to what extent the measure is used. The project will analyse:

1. Transition to work for participants in AFT, including reasons for the results

2. AFT compared with other relevant measures

3. Cost-benefit and efficiency

The contract has an estimated value of between NOK 1.8 million excluding VAT to NOK 2 million excluding VAT.

The contractor must submit a progress report no later than the end of 2022. The final report/scientific article must be presented no later than 1 June 2023. The contractor must send the contracting authority the draft no later than 1 May 2023.

For a more detailed description of the assignment, see annex 1 of the contract (the Contracting Authority’s description of the assignment).