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The objective is to strengthen regional policy dialogue between the members of the OECD ARAB-DAC Dialogue Forum and the implementation of joint projects on employability and vocational training in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) , with a special focus on youth and women.

Technical and vocational education and training as well as employability constitute two of the major SDGs, namely SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, and SDG 4 on inclusive quality education, which is both an end in itself and a means for achieving SDG 8. Despite the manifold and effective measures taken on national, regional and international level in this area over the last two decades, the challenges of qualification gaps, massive unemployment and social exclusion remain urgent in the MENA region. The effects of COVID-19 on economies, the labour market and employment as well as on education and skills exacerbated the need for action. 

Therefore, within the OECD Arab-DAC Dialogue, a Task Force on Employability and TVET was established at the beginning of 2022.  The Co-Chairs are the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) and the German Office for International Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training (GOVET), a unit of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education, BIBB, which is supported by the OECD Directorate for Development Cooperation. More than 40 participants joined the launch of the Task Force in Dubai. Participants included representatives from the OECD, the German Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of UAE, the League of Arab States (LAS), the European Union, Silatech, the United Arab Emirates, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Saudi Fund for Development, and the Arab Bank for Economic and Social Development in Africa. After a presentation of the work plan of the Task Force for 2022, potential initiatives for joint funding were presented. For example, it was suggested to organize a regional policy dialogue with Centres of Excellence for Employability and TVET together with various stakeholders. Additionally, the Secretary General of the Jordanian Ministry of Social Development provided information on the planned Centre of Excellence for Social Policy and Poverty Alleviation. The facility will be sponsored by the League of Arab States (LAS) and is intended to contribute to the fight against poverty in Arab countries. Tasks shall include the preparation of studies and collection of data on the multiple dimensions of poverty in order to improve social protection for poor populations. This will involve regional governmental and non-governmental actors and was welcomed by the participants as a good starting point for a possible first joint project of the Task Force. However, further discussions on how the Task Force can engage with the Centre will be needed. Furthermore, two success stories about implementation of joint projects on employment and vocational training under the umbrella of the Task Force can already be shared. AGFUND has proposed the project "Economic Empowerment and Financial Inclusion for Returning Migrants from Arab Countries" and has already allocated USD 100,000 for it. The project will be implemented jointly with the GIZ program “Migration for Development (PME)” and Shabaka, a network of Arab NGOs which is a subsidiary of AGFUND. The first implementation workshop to kick start the “Mentorship Programme” will start beginning of October 2022. Another project, "Reverse Linkage Intervention between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in TVET", aims to promote regional strategies for employment and vocational training through knowledge transfer in developing 20 national occupational standards for four sectors in Jordan in collaboration with the business community and to promote knowledge transfer on skills standards between Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The Co-Chairs have developed instruments for match-funding for further joint implementation of future projects. These should allow for an easier, more transparent and demand-based access to Task Force initiated activities as well as participation therein for member states, beneficiary countries or groups and implementing agencies. In order to achieve the objectives of the Task Force, the Co-Chairs of the OECD Arab-DAC Dialogue Task Force on Employability and TVET, the AGFUND and GOVET, would like to welcome interested participants of the Arab-DAC Dialogue to become an active member of the Task Force and support it in achieving its objectives by making contributions in terms of e.g. data, sharing of good practices, submitting of project ideas and supporting with technical and/or financial resources. Undoubtedly, collaboration between different stakeholders in this matter will be an essential part of the SDG 17 (partnership for the goals). Interested participants can contact the OECD which will coordinate the onboarding of new members of the Task Force.