The Challenge. The Arab world has strong potential for growth and development, but it remains poorly integrated into the global economy apart from the oil sector. It has the highest unemployment among developing regions, as well as the lowest economic participation by women. The region's poor and rich countries alike suffer from such problems as water scarcity, lack of economic diversity, weak public accountability, and conflict.

What We're Doing. The World Bank Group is looking to forge a more effective partnership with countries in the Arab world. By disseminating global knowledge, facilitating learning, and piloting new approaches, we seek to foster broad-based growth, increase trading opportunities, and improve the environment for entrepreneurship and innovation. We aim to help expand social services, boost public accountability, address environmental issues, and connect education systems more effectively with the job market.