The OECD, the CAWTAR and the ILO have joined forces – with the support of numerous local, regional and international experts – to produce this new publication on legal reforms and innovative initiatives aimed at increasing women’s economic empowerment in the MENA region. Based on three years of research, the report examines the legal obstacles and social norms preventing MENA women from participating fully in the world of work. At the same time, it captures the potential of a region on the move towards greater economic empowerment of its women citizens and offers a toolkit for action.

At a moment when many countries of the MENA region are looking to accelerate economic growth and build more stable, open societies, this report argues that greater women’s economic empowerment holds one of the keys. It asserts that despite challenges some countries are facing in guaranteeing women equal access to economic opportunity, progress is underway and can be further nurtured through targeted, inclusive and coordinated policy actions. Building on the conclusions of a first monitoring report released in 2017, the report analyses recent legislative, policy and institutional reforms in support of women’s economic empowerment in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia and seeks to identify success factors that have helped anchor reform. Moreover, it delivers actionable examples and practical tools for policy makers to help them transform policies into effective actions for women’s economic empowerment.

This report contains information about girls in the MENA region and prompted an event hosted by the OECD entitled "Webinar: Gender-Sensitive Education and Skills Development Policies in the MENA region" on July 5, 2021. Read more about this webinar and its connections to the report here.