Mediterranean and Middle East

Mediterranean countries are suffering from considerable weaknesses: high levels of territorial inequalities between coastal and inland regions, high youth unemployment rates, particularly due to insufficient higher education and vocational training provision that does not match labor market needs and limited access to credit for SMEs, deemed too risky. There are, in addition, major challenges related to natural resources management, particularly for water.

The economic transition of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries requires developing the private sector in order to promote job creation and build growth that benefits all. To this end, and in order to contribute to the priorities of France’s cooperation policy, Proparco focuses its financing on strengthening local productive bases and creating employment. Proparco promotes social and vocational integration, particularly for young people, and better living conditions for populations by financing projects that contribute to improving the provision of healthcare, education and vocational training. It also finances initiatives for energy transition in the region’s countries.

Through its operations, Proparco contributes to:

• Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in high-potential economic sectors that create high-quality jobs, particularly in industry and service sectors;  
• Improving access to health services and their quality (upgrading of hospitals, creation of medical equipment and material companies and pharmaceutical laboratories for drug manufacturing, etc.);  
• Strengthening private education provision, mainly for higher education;
• Developing vocational training to allow young people to acquire skills that meet labor market needs and facilitate their social and vocational integration;  
• Supporting the energy transition by financing renewable energy projects.