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Building effective reform coalitions through Public Private Dialogue in the MENA region
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BUILDING PUBLIC PRIVATE DIALOGUE IN THE MENA REGION
Why Public Private Dialogue? While the MENA region was beginning to show signs of recovery from the COVID-19 crisis - with a 4.4% expected growth for 2022, the war in Ukraine has placed a new set of constraints on economies and plunged firms into uncertainty. In this context, dialogue between the private and public sector is more crucial than ever to prepare the region to mitigate economic shocks and foster countries’ resilience. Business associations throughout the region are well positioned to harness the potential of digital technologies and the green transition while promoting deeper regional integration through trade and entrepreneurship. They can also design inclusive strategies towards regional integration that can facilitate job creation, increasing the participation of youth and women in the labour market.
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Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) provides a structured consultation between private and public decision-makers. Recent discussion in the context of the MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board (BAB) highlighted that MENA countries where PPD and coordination amongst key actors is strongest tended to perform better in reacting efficiently to the crisis.
PPD Diagram: From theory to practice: the PPD cycle PHASE 1: PLAN & COORDINATE
PHASE 2: DIALOGUE & IDENTIFICATION of PRIORITIES
PHASE 3: REFORMS IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING & PPD SUSTAINABILITY
Training of PPD facilitators
Monitor reform implementation
Skateholder mapping
Creation of sectorial working groups
Constitution of a PPD steering body
Public private dialogue consultations
Identification of a relevant tools in support of PPD
Sectorial & private sector climate-Analysis
Support durable M&E
Ensure sustainability of PPD
Identification of priorities of reform (public & private sectors)
Drafting action plans (private & public sectors)
By leveraging the combined impact of
PPD is also particularly valuable in transition
development and business solutions, PPD allows
environments, as it contributes to consolidate
to identify pressing concerns, implement inclusive
peace and stability as well as helps rebuild the
and workable solutions and further mutual
economy through private sector development.
understanding and trust among economic actors.
PPD will be key to building more resilient and integrated economies and mobilizing the innovation capacity of the private sector.
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BUILDING PUBLIC PRIVATE DIALOGUE IN THE MENA REGION
The role of the MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board (BAB) Partnering with the private sector and civil society
In order to meet these objectives, the BAB
in a structured and transparent manner is key to
organises annual high-profile meetings between
supporting reform efforts aimed at improving the
business associations and governments. The next
business environment, fostering job creation and
BAB meeting, scheduled on 29-30 June 2022 at
development. In a context of recovery from the
the OECD Istanbul Centre, will discuss the role of
COVID-19 pandemic and amid the major economic
business associations, governments and civil society
and social implications of the war in Ukraine, there
in building the foundations for economic resilience
is a window to turn crises into opportunities.
and regional integration in the MENA region.
The MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board (BAB) is a dedicated regional platform for publicprivate dialogue on policy solutions to immediate and long-term challenges throughout MENA. Open to private sector organisations from the 19 members of the MENA-OECD Competitiveness Programme and from OECD countries, it is a unique network of business associations creating opportunities for networking, sharing knowledge and best practices across MENA and OECD countries. The BAB has
3 main objectives: 1/ Strengthen the capacity of business organisations
It will focus on five priority themes: Advancing economic resilience in the MENA region by strengthening the private sector through a sound business environment, better access to finance and improved trade logistics Accelerating the digital transformation through infrastructure and skills development Facilitating job creation and entrepreneurship to address the skills mismatch, unlock the untapped potential of youth and women, and incentivise businesses to go formal Fostering trade and investment by promoting networking, information sharing, public-private dialogue and international standards Promoting the green transition by spreading and ensuring the effective implementation of environmental standards, and building capacity through practical guidance and training
Governance of the MENA-OECD BAB 2/ Promote new forms of effective publicprivate dialogue
Co-Chairs CEOE (Spain) & UTICA (Tunisia)
3/ Inform the work of the MENA-OECD Competitiveness Programme with the needs of the private sector
Bureau FEI (Egypt), MEDEF (France), BDI (Germany), RDCL World (Lebanon), Federation of Palestinian Industry (Palestinian Authority), CIP (Portugal), IACE (Tunisia)
Members: private sector organisations from MENA and OECD countries, and regional organisations
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Our PPD Projects in the region EU-OECD REGIONAL PROGRAMME ON PROMOTING INVESTMENT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN Attracting and retaining investment in the
This includes agribusiness in Morocco, the
Southern Mediterranean region– and harnessing
digital economy in Jordan, infrastructure and
its benefits –is needed now more than ever.
energy in Egypt, access to finance for small-
Mobilising private investment is not only key to
medium enterprises in the Palestinian Authority,
spur recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but
pharmaceuticals in Tunisia and overall business
to support more broad-based economic growth
and investment climate in Algeria, Lebanon and
across the region. Foreign direct investment
Libya.
(FDI) in particular can advance key sustainable development goals, including job creation,
The Programme works closely with stakeholders
productivity gains, skills development and green
and partners: government authorities responsible
growth.
for investment polices (e.g. Ministries of investment, trade, industry, economy, and finance),
Working together with governments and other
Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), and private
partners in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya,
sector representatives (e.g. business associations,
Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, and Tunisia,
chambers of commerce). The Programme
the Programme supports the implementation
also benefits from close cooperation with EU
of investment reforms in the region, including
delegations in the region and partner international
through public-private dialogues in priority
organisations, including the International Labour
sectors.
Organisation (ILO) and International Trade Centre (ITC).
National and regional Public Private Dialogues informed by issues papers as well as sector, and stakeholder mapping support implementation of reforms in specific sectors and areas.
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BUILDING PUBLIC PRIVATE DIALOGUE IN THE MENA REGION
EU-OECD PROJECT ON PROMOTING PUBLIC PRIVATE DIALOGUE IN LIBYA The economic transformation needed in Libya
Through public private dialogue, the Project aims
requires a new economic vision, which implies
to contribute to the adoption of the necessary
mobilising a large number of actors to set the
economic transformation policies that can lead to
foundations for a new social contract.
post-conflict recovery and the diversification of Libya’s economy. In doing so, the Project will work
Ensuring all actors have a voice and opportunity to
with a wide range of participants to establish
contribute to the development of a new economic
an effective PPD mechanism that can be utilised
vision for Libya is the goal of the EU-OECD
for sustainable policy reform dialogue. This will
Promoting Public-Private Dialogue in Libya Project.
entail building the capacity of “PPD Champions” and piloting this mechanism in four different
Participants include Libyan policy makers
Libyan cities on the following selected sectors:
and regulators, national government and local
banking, agri-business, transport and logistics,
authorities, public agencies, business unions,
infrastructure, and ICT.
chambers of commerce and sector-specific business organisations, corporations, civil society organisations, universities and academics.
Creates
Contributes
Creating a platform that mobilises public-private discussions
Contributing to developing a new economic vision for the country, delivering analytical inputs and well-structured and specific policy reform plans
Provides
Providing the government, private and social actors with the tools and expertise necessary to engage in a structured policy dialogue
EU-OECD PROJECT “PROMOTING ECONOMIC RESILIENCE IN YEMEN” Economic reconstruction in Yemen is critical to the
can also support communities to better deal with
peacebuilding process and requires developing
risks and shocks by increasing economic self-
a vibrant private sector. In addition to income-
reliance. The approach strives to build the capacities
generation and job creation, the private sector
of the private sector to strengthen its voice in
provides delivery of important goods and services.
policy-making by yielding significant results.
Enabling the private sector to become more resilient
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The EU-OECD Project “Promoting Economic Resilience in Yemen” aims to build capacity of key private sector representatives, including business associations and Chambers of Commerce, to advocate for their priorities and engage in a constructive dialogue with public authorities. To ensure inclusiveness, the OECD will ensure a balanced engagement of private sector voices through the participation of medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) and women business associations in capacitybuilding activities.
Enable
Enable key central level economic institutions to lead economic recovery and create the conditions for private sector development
Strengthen Strengthen capacity for economic data collection and analysis
Promote
Promote resilience and private sector development, focusing on job creation and employment of the youth, women and internally displaced persons (IDPs)
Facilitate
Facilitate donor coordination and policy coherence in the economic sector
Selection of publications Middle East and North Africa Investment Policy Perspectives
Competitiveness and Private Sector Development
Changing Laws and Breaking Barriers for Women’s Economic Empowerment in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia
Regional Integration in the Union for the Mediterranean PROGRESS REPORT
Contact info: MENA.competitiveness@oecd.org
Link more info: https://www.oecd.org/mena/competitiveness/
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