The Deauville Partnership and the MENA-OECD Initiative

In May 2011 the G8 launched the Deauville Partnership as a response to the historical changes underway in several countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. While this transformation provides Transition Countries (Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Yemen) with unique opportunities, it also entails serious challenges in a time of economic adversity and political transition. Appropriate domestic policies and international support will be critical to building confidence and enabling the countries to over-come these challenges.

The Deauville Partnership was launched as a long-term, global initiative that provides Arab countries in transition with a framework based on technical support to: (i) strengthen governance for transparent, accountable governments; and (ii) provide an economic framework for sustainable and inclusive growth.

The Deauville Partnership comprises four types of members: (i) Donor country members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States; (ii) Transition Country members, as listed previously; (iii) International Financial Institutions; and (iv) an international organisation member, the OECD.

>> G8 Statement acknowledging Deauville Partnership work, April 2013

EVENTS

>> Angel Gurría talks to Deauville Partnership finance ministers about OECD’s work, 12 October 2012, Tokyo, Japan

>> Reviving Private Investment in the Deauville Partnership Countries, 7-8 May, 2012, Cairo, Egypt

>> Deauville Partnership Conference on “Building Open, Fair, and Transparent Government for Growth and Development”, 24 April, 2012, Paris, France.

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The G8 maintains its commitment to the Deauville Partnership, says UK Minister Alistair Burt

How does the OECD contribute?

- Policies for Small and Medium-Sized Entreprises: Advancing economic growth in the MENA region though the promotion of SMEs and entrepreneurship is a priority for Members of the Partnership. To this end, transition countries have been working with the OECD and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on developing country-specific action plans to foster SME growth, improve job creation, including women’s entrepreneurship, and increase economic development.

- Improving investment frameworks: Investor’s perception of the investment climate in these countries has been negatively affected by the 2011 political and social events. In response, Transition countries’ national investment promotion agencies and investment policy makers are working with Deauville members to undertake measures to mitigate these concerns.

- Governance and public procurement