Building effective reform coalitions through Public Private Dialogue in the MENA region

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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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