8 March 2006 - Women’s Participation in Economic Life in the Middle East

Women’s Participation in Economic Life in the Middle East
March 8 2006

On the occasion of the International Women's Day, the World Bank Brussels office held a Video Conference event on Women’s Participation in Economic Life in the Middle East. The Conference, jointly organized by the World Bank, the NGO - No Peace without Justice, and the Cabinet of the Belgian Vice-Prime Minister, brought together about 60 participants including policy makers, civil society actors, parliamentarians, and journalists from Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, West Bank and Gaza and Europe to discuss the advancement of women’s economic rights in the Middle East region.

The objective of the meeting was to share ideas and best practices on how to promote greater economic opportunities for women in the Middle East, and identify means to contribute to women’s empowerment in the region. It also aimed to promote better understanding and collaboration between the World Bank and other stakeholders working on gender and development in the Middle East Region.

Discussions focused on increasing the proportion of women in the labor force as a means of enhancing women’s participation in economic life in the Middle East. A key strategy advanced by the World Bank in achieving this was in fostering of entrepreneurship amongst women in the region.

Challenges identified by participants in enhancing women’s participation in economic life included: lack of training for women, poor access to financial resources for women, stereotypical views of women in society, corruption, in addition to all probloms linked with security and conflict facing the region.

Proposals put forward in addressing these constraints included improving training for women, providing better access to resources for women, establishing networks for women entrepreneurs to exchange information in the region, advocating for more women in decision making and political roles, and developing better linkages between the work of key actors in the region such as the World Bank, the UN and the European Commission. Particular emphasis was given by participants to the important role civil society role could play along side governments and the private sector in advocating these proposals.

To know more on the World Bank activities on Gender in the MENA region click here.