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An overview of OECD work with the MENA region

The OECD is actively engaged in supporting MENA economies in the design and implementation of ambitious reform agendas. Building on internationally recognised tools, standards and work methods, this partnership has pioneered policy dialogue, peer learning and capacity building at the regional and country levels. The scope and depth of our co-operation is a testimony to the OECD's commitment to work with the region to bring better policies and inclusive growth across MENA.

MENA-OECD Competitiveness Programme

Supporting reforms to mobilise investment, private sector development and entrepreneurship as driving forces for inclusive growth and employment.

Read about the Programme

MENA-OECD Governance Programme

Sharing knowledge and expertise, with a view of disseminating standards and principles of good governance.

Read about the Programme

Read the brochure in Arabic

Agriculture

The OECD supports countries in improving agricultural productivity and food security.

The 'regional brief' chapter of the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2020-29 (2020) describes key trends and emerging issues facing the agricultural sector in the Near East and North Africa. It provides background on key regional characteristics and highlights medium-term projections for production, consumption and trade for the period 2020-29.

Agriculture data

Competition

Project

Fostering competition in Tunisia, the OECD is conducting a review of laws and regulations in the freight transport, and retail and wholesale trade sectors.

Publication 

OECD Competition Assessment Reviews: Tunisia (2019)

Corporate Governance

The MENA-OECD Working Group on Corporate Governancesupports MENA economies in the development of sound corporate governance frameworks and practices. 

OECD Publications

Development Aid

Aid data

OECD Initiatives:

 

OECD Publications:

Education & Skills

The OECD supports MENA governments in setting measurable goals for improving education systems and enhancing learning results for students. Growing participation in the OECD’s international education surveys is helping economies the MENA region assess their needs and improve the impact of their education policies.

Country-specific reviews on education: Egypt and Morocco

PISA 2018 cover 3 students

PISA 2018: Access results for Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.

Education data

Entrepreneurship

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OECD Publications:

Fragility, Resilience & Risk Management

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Gender

One of the most important economic and social priorities for MENA countries is promoting gender equality and developing more equitable laws, policies and institutions. The OECD assists the MENA region in this endeavour through a number of regional and national activities.

 

OECD Initiatives:

 

Recent publications and articles:

 

OECD Publications: 

Green Growth & Resource Management

OECD Initiatives:

The OECD Green Growth Strategy advises member and partner economies on integrating green growth policy into the design and implementation of economic and environmental policies. Morocco and Tunisia are adherents to the OECD Declaration on Green Growth. 

The OECD Water Governance Programme advises governments at all levels on how to design and implement better water policies for better lives. 

OECD Publications: 

International Energy Agency (IEA)

The IEA works with many MENA countries in the areas of energy policy and statistics. 

Morocco became an IEA Association country in 2016 and signed a three-year work programme in June 2017 to deepen bilateral co-operation in the areas of energy security, energy efficiency, renewable energy, capacity building and data and statistics. 

Green growth indicators

Innovation

OECD Publications:

 

Integrity

The OECD works with MENA partners in strengthening integrity and transparency, building trust and promoting accountability in the public and private sectors.

OECD Initiatives:

 

 

OECD Publications:

Investment & Trade

Investment

Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia are adherents to the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises. Countries adhering to the Declaration commit to providing an open and transparent environment for international investment and to encouraging multinational enterprises to contribute to economic and social progress. For each adherent, the OECD conducts an Investment Policy Review, that presents an overview of investment trends and policies in the countries reviewed, as well as actions and opportunities for further reform.

Building on the Declaration, the Working Group on Investment and Trade supports investment and trade reform processes in the region by raising awareness, sharing experience with MENA stakeholders and formulating policy advice. Additionally, the MENA-OECD Competiveness Programme implements the OECD-EU Regional Programme on Promoting Investment in the Mediterranean.

 

OECD Publications: 

Global Value Chains

The OECD Initiative on Global Value Chains (GVCs), Production Transformation and Development supports countries, including Egypt and Morocco, in designing and implementing better production transformation strategies and in increasing evidence on GVCs, global trade and investment. 

The OECD Development Centre hosts the Initiative for Policy Dialogue on GVCs, Production Transformation and Development, which works to improve evidence and identify policy guidelines to support production transformation and better integration into global markets. 

Trade Data

The OECD-WTO Trade in Value Added (TiVA) database was developed to generate new insights about commercial relations among economies and the process of value creation. The 2018 edition of TiVA indicators includes Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.

To help governments improve their border procedures, reduce take costs, boost trade flows and reap greater benefits from international trade, the OECD has developed a set of Trade Facilitation Indicators (TFIs) that identify areas for action and enable the potential impact of reforms to be assessed.

Trade data

Local governance

The OECD engages with local communities to enable them to engage successfully with citizens and all levels of government. In the framework of its Open Government work, the OECD is contributing to build local governments that are that are transparent, accountable and accessible.

OECD Initiatives:

OECD Publications:

Public Governance

OECD Initiatives: 

OECD Publications:

Rule of law

OECD Initiatives:

Social & Economic Development

OECD Initiatives:

OECD Development Centre formulating innovative development strategies to support the policy reforms needed to achieve further sustainable and inclusive development in the region.
EU-OECD Project: Supporting the development of the Suez Canal Zone Authority providing a needs assessment, action plan and recommendations for improving the management of the Zone.

OECD Publications:

Statistics & Data

The OECD is one of the world’s largest and most reliable sources of comparable statistical, economic and social data. The OECD maintains comprehensive databases of statistics to support its analytical and policy work and help governments understand what drives change. A number of MENA countries are already collaborating with OECD technical experts to gather and share specific statistics in different policy areas.

 

 

PARIS21, hosted within the OECD, was established by the United Nations, the European Commission, OECD, International Monetary Fund and World Bank promote the better use and production of statistics in developing countries. It works with North African countries to assess their statistical systems and help draft their National Strategies for the Development of Statistics.

 

OECD Publications:

Taxation

Initiatives:

 

Publications:

OECD Publications:

OECD data

Youth

OECD Initiatives:

  • Youth in Public Life: Towards open and inclusive youth engagement supports Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia in engaging young people in public life and delivering policies and services that are responsive to their specific needs.

  • The OECD Action Plan for Youth provides a strategic framework to develop education systems and labour market arrangements that work better for young people.
  • The Youth Inclusion Project supports countries to better respond to the aspirations of young people and to strengthen youth involvement in national development processes. Jordan participates in the project.

OECD Publications: