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The OECD and MENA

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is a diverse region, affected by economic and political transformations, but with a potential for more and better growth. It benefits from a privileged geographic location with access to large markets; a young and increasingly educated population; and comparative advantages in several sectors such as manufacturing, renewable energies and tourism.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MENA economies are implementing reforms to build a resilient and more inclusive economic model to improve growth, governance structures, diversification, employment, private sector development and integrity. The MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Competitiveness for Development, initiated and led by the region, supports these reforms through an inclusive and co-ordinated approach, innovative policy dialogue, links between key stakeholders, peer learning and capacity building.

The MENA-OECD Initiative covers Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Read the 2021 Ministerial Declaration

OECD activities with the region

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

Egypt Country Programme

This Country Programme will be a key source of information, practices and guidance for the successful design and implementation of structural reforms to address Egypt’s main economic challenges. 

Egypt-OECD Country Programme

Morocco Country Programme

Supporting 16 projects built around the strategic areas of competitiveness, public governance and social inclusion.

Read about the Programme

G7 Deauville Partnership

Engaging in a multilateral platform providing political and financial support to Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Libya and Yemen with the aim of fostering good governance, civil society engagement, job creation, SME development investement, financial inclusion and women's empowerment.

Read about the Partnership

Arab-DAC Dialogue on Development

Supporting Arab providers of development co-operation in their efforts to better co-ordinate their development assistance activities.

Read about the Dialogue

MENA publications

Featured data

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Blogs

Experts give us their take on what is needed for a more resilient recovery in MENA

Seizing the silver lining: investment must lead MENA on the path to recovery, H.E. Mr. Ali Kooli, Minister of Investment, Finance and Economy, Tunisia and co-chair of the MENA-OECD Competitiveness Programme

The Road to Recovery: MENA's time is now, Angel Gurria, Secretary General, OECD

Time to reset the clock for trade reform and recovery in MENA, Hichem Elloumi, Vice-Chair UTICA, co-chair of the MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board

How serious is COVID-19 for women in the Arab World?, Sana Afouaiz, Founder & Director, Womenpreneur Initiative

Look ahead, but don't forget to look back, H.E. Jan Thesleff, Commissoner General of the Swedish Expo 2020 and co-chair of the MENA-OECD Women's Economic Empowerment Forum

Capital markets and corporate governance in post-pandemic MENA, H.E. Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi, Co-Chair, MENA-OECD Working Group on Corporate Governance

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