The “Social Dialogue for Formalization and Employability in the Southern Neighbourhood (SOLIFEM)” project, implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and co-funded by the European Union (EU), will hold its regional closing meeting on 19-20 February 2025. The aim of this final event is to highlight and discuss achievements, emerge lessons learned and recommendations for sustainability beyond the project’s lifetime.

The meeting will showcase key project results and provide a platform for sharing good practices and emerging approaches to formalization, building on the tools piloted by SOLIFEM. Participants will discuss ways to sustain and scale up SOLIFEM’s achievements, addressing topics such as business formalization, workers’ rights, social protection, skills development and policy adoption through social dialogue. It is expected to culminate in the adoption of a regional future-oriented actionable document on formalization and skills development, which will contribute reflections towards the next Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial on Employment and Labour taking place in 2025.

The event will bring together ILO constituents from the project’s four focus countries/territory, alongside representatives from other partners across the region, from the EU, as well as regional organizations, development partners, and UN agencies. Discussions aim to foster collaboration to advance decent work and inclusive economic growth in the Southern Neighbourhood.