Egypt launches second phase of regional labour mobility programme

Cairo, Egypt (ILO News)– Within the framework of the EU-Egypt Talent Partnership, the Government of Egypt, the European Union, Germany and Italy officially launched the Egyptian component of the Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa (THAMM Plus) programme.

This new phase of regional cooperation aims to enhance skills development, labour mobility and regular migration pathways. It is jointly funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

THAMM Plus will be implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo (AICS).

High-level representatives from the European Union, Egyptian ministries, national institutions, social partners, academia, development cooperation agencies, and multiple EU Member States attended the launch event, underscoring the strategic importance of THAMM Plus and its alignment with Egypt’s national development priorities.

Building on the achievements of its first phase (2019–2023), THAMM Plus seeks to further strengthen governance of labour migration and mobility within the broader context of EU-Egypt migration cooperation and the Talent Partnership. The programme introduces innovative approaches to identifying skills and sectoral needs, while facilitating mobility schemes between Egypt, Germany, Italy and other EU countries.

The Talent Partnership provides a structured framework that brings together various projects and initiatives to enhance international mobility in a mutually beneficial manner, linking mobility with investments in skills and human capital. As a key component of the EU-Egypt Talent Partnership, launched in June 2023, THAMM Plus outlines concrete actions and funding support to enhance mobility between Egypt and participating EU Member States. By improving the match between labour market needs and skills, the initiative aims to foster economic development, address labour market needs in both Egypt and the EU and facilitate talent exchange across sectors.

Opening remarks at the event were delivered by Mrs. Anne Schouw, Deputy Ambassador of the European Union to Egypt, Mr. Holger Illi, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Cairo, Ms. Maria Michela Laroccia, Deputy Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Egypt, and Ambassador Amr Al Jowaily, Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs and International Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs. Each speaker emphasized the importance of strengthening legal migration pathways between Egypt and EU Member States.

Following the opening session, Ambassador Dr. Wael Badawi, Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Migration, Refugees and Combating Human Trafficking moderated a panel discussion titled "Operationalizing robust labour migration governance, agile labour mobility and strengthening national employment systems for Egypt".

The panel featured Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office; Dr. Regine Qualmann, Country Director of GIZ Egypt; Dr Martino Melli, Director of AICS Cairo; Counsellor/ Maha Shaheen from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs and Dr. Ibrahim Awad, Director of the Center for Migration and Refugee Studies, who provided an academic perspective.

The launch event marked the official start of the THAMM Plus programme and preceded a technical workshop, where national stakeholders convened to validate the programme’s work plans for Egypt through a participatory approach.