Mainstreaming Employment into Trade and Investment in the Southern Mediterranean

The Mainstreaming Employment into Trade and Investment (METI) programme, co-funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA), and implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), supports countries in the Southern Mediterranean region in ensuring that trade and investment growth translates into decent employment opportunities, particularly for youth and women.

By strengthening the connection between trade, investment, and employment policies, METI promotes inclusive and sustainable and sustainable development, enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises; especially micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), while advancing social justice and decent work.

The Mainstreaming Employment into Trade and Investment (METI) programme works at regional and national levels to ensure that trade and investment policies generate more and better jobs.
Through research, dialogue, capacity development, and technical assistance, METI supports governments, employers, and workers in making economic growth more inclusive and employment-centred.

Its main areas of focus include:

• Trade and investment
• Social dialogue
• Skills development
• Supply chains
• Enterprise development
• Decent work and employment promotion

Across the Southern Mediterranean, METI promotes coherent, evidence-based policies that connect trade, investment, and employment.
At the regional level, the programme supports knowledge generation, technical training, and policy dialogue that bring together representatives from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia.

At the country level, METI translates regional insights into practical support for national partners, helping them design and implement policies that create jobs, strengthen value chains, and encourage inclusive economic reform.
Current country activities focus on Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia, where sector analysis, policy coordination, and skills development contribute to employment-rich growth strategies.

Our methodologies

To ensure an evidence-based approach, METI applies analytical and participatory methodologies such as policy working groups (PWG), export expansion and employment potential, sector selection, value chain analysis (VCA) and impact assessment on employment and trade effects. These tools help translate analysis into action, guiding national and regional partners toward job-rich trade and investment strategies.