Where we work
We currently work with 28 partner countries, mostly in the context of the EU's enlargement and neighbourhood policies.
While there are obvious differences from one country to the next, the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region is marked by profound socio-economic challenges arising from political volatility and security threats. In Lebanon and Jordan in particular, structural challenges and the influx of migrants and refugees have exacerbated existing problems of unemployment, social inclusion, and instability.
The ongoing political volatility is also hindering the creation, growth and internationalisation of new businesses. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain the backbone of the region’s economy, and while there are many successful examples of entrepreneurship, little progress has been made in entrepreneurial learning and SME skills development. There are also significant challenges in terms of the performance of the labour market. With the exception of Israel, activity rates in the region are among the lowest globally (between 40% and 50%), largely due to very low female participation — averaging just 25% — representing a significant loss of human resource potential. Unemployment ranges from 10% to 25% and remains consistently twice as high among women and young people. The phenomenon of young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) is growing. NEETs represent around 30% of young people aged between 15 and 24 in Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Palestine and Tunisia, and 20% in Lebanon. High NEET rates and inactivity early in life have a negative impact on employability, future earnings and access to quality jobs.
Action is needed to boost workforce employability, address skills shortages, and better connect job seekers with employers. Long-term political stability depends on investing in human capital for social and economic growth. To this end, the ETF supports youth employment and skills development by promoting strong VET governance, strengthening social dialogue around skills policies, and building the capacity of local actors. Social inclusion remains a key challenge in the region; vocational curricula must support the development of key competences and solid basic skills for all, including immigrants and refugees.
The ETF’s work in the region places strong emphasis on promoting entrepreneurship and addressing youth unemployment through private sector job creation. Tackling skills mismatches involves supporting governments in developing policies to reform education and training systems to better align with labour market needs. Promoting work-based learning is also a key priority.
