From coordination to impact: Insights from Egypt’s productivity ecosystems for decent work project

Egypt’s Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work project- implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS)- has moved from its inception phase into a decisive stage of implementation across the leather tanning and marble industries. Both sectors hold strong potential for enhanced productivity, improved working conditions, and increased competitiveness.

To better understand the progress achieved and the priorities ahead, we spoke with Valentine Offenloch, the Project Manager leading the initiative in Egypt.

© ILO

© ILO

The project brings together a wide range of national partners. How has this coordinated framework supported progress so far?

By bringing Egypt’s industrial partners into one coordinated framework, the project has established a strong institutional platform through two Technical Working Groups (TWGs). These platforms unite representatives from government, industry, labour and technical institutions, helping to ensure coherent planning, shared responsibility and a unified approach to sector development.

Recent TWG meetings included exchanges with ILO global experts. What insights emerged from these discussions?

During the most recent TWG meetings, members engaged with ILO global experts from Bangladesh (leather tanning) and India (natural stone/marble). These discussions revealed striking commonalities across contexts: high levels of informality, significant occupational safety and health (OSH) risks, skills gaps, environmental compliance challenges, and the need to upgrade value-chain strategies to access high-value markets.

The exchanges underscored the importance of integrated, multi-stakeholder industrial strategies, reinforcing the relevance of the approach currently being implemented in Egypt.

One major development was the endorsement of a sector productivity monitor. Why is this tool important for the sectors?

A key milestone was the endorsement of a sector productivity monitor, an evidence-based tool grounded in an annual survey of 50–100 representative enterprises. This tool is expected to provide reliable sector-level data, supporting targeted and evidence-based policymaking. It will also enable sector support institutions to offer tailored financial incentives and technical assistance programmes that address the specific needs of enterprises.

At enterprise level, what impact have you seen through the SCORE training component?

Significant progress has been achieved at the enterprise level through the Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) training component. Between December 2024 and October 2025, more than 185 improvement projects were implemented by enterprises across the marble and leather sectors. Key achievements include:

• A reduction in staff turnover (from 25 per cent to 12 per cent),
• a 20 per cent increase in product quality,
• a 24 per cent improvement in workspace organization, and
• Egyptian Pounds 6.1 million in new revenue.

These results reflect the strong impact of improved workplace cooperation, cleaner production and structured productivity interventions.

Looking ahead, what are the next steps planned for the coming phases of implementation?

Looking ahead, the TWGs agreed on several priority actions: organizing cluster events to showcase SCORE achievements; leveraging existing partnerships to expand enterprise participation and developing a joint outreach plan to guide engagement with new enterprises over the coming period.

The next implementation phase is planned for the first half of 2026, followed by a subsequent phase in the second half of 2026. This direction aligns with Egypt’s economic narrative: “Productivity is the backbone of sustainable growth and competitive industrial transformation.” With strong national ownership and a clear, evidence-based roadmap, the project is well positioned to deliver measurable, sector-wide impact.

To complement the insights shared in this interview, the two short videos featured below provide a closer look at progress in the leather tanning and marble sectors. They illustrate how coordinated and evidence-based support, enhanced workplace cooperation, and productivity-driven practices -reflected throughout this discussion- are contributing to measurable improvements at the enterprise and sector levels.