The first edition of the MENA Youth Employment Summit (MENA YES!) took place on October 7-8, 2024, in Casablanca, Morocco, marking the first event of its kind in the region. The solutions-focused summit brought together 250 participants representing 141 organizations, including government officials, private sector leaders, and youth advocates. Notably, 20% of attendees were youth, highlighting their vital role in shaping the future of employment in the MENA region, and EFE’s commitment to making sure their voices are heard.  

Distinguished guests included H.E. Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills, Kingdom of Morocco; H.E. Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, Kingdom of Morocco; H.E. Ghita Mezzour, Minister of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, Kingdom of Morocco; and H.E. Enas Attari, Minister of Labour, Palestinian Authority. Key players from the private sector, such as SAP, BCG, and CITI Bank, also participated, alongside representatives from civil society and multilateral organizations such as Amideast, Bridges, FHI360, and World Learning.  

This year's summit focused on four critical themes:  

Eighteen organizations presented innovative solutions to tackle employment challenges within these areas, fostering collaboration and actionable insights. The event will culminate in a comprehensive white paper summarizing key findings and recommendations, set to be published later this month.  

The event was supported by several partners including SAP, Dell, The European Union, LinkedIn, Bank of America, and others. The first edition sets a powerful precedent for addressing youth employment challenges through collective action.  

MENA YES! will become an annual gathering, with the next edition scheduled for October 2025 in Tunis, Tunisia.

Watch the highlights from 2024 below and learn more about how you can be part of the solution at www.menayes.com.