World Bank2013-02-272013-02-272013-02-06978-0-8213-9763-3https://hdl.handle.net/10986/12552Since the early 1990s, countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region have made admirable progress in reducing the gap between girls and boys in areas such as access to education and health care. Indeed, almost all young girls in the Region attend school, and more women than men are enrolled in university. Over the past two decades, maternal mortality declined 60 percent, the largest decrease in the world. Women in MENA are more educated than ever before. It is not only in the protest squares that have seen women whose aspirations are changing rapidly but increasingly unmet. The worldwide average for the participation of women in the workforce is approximately 50 percent. In MENA, their participation is half that at 25 percent. Facing popular pressure to be more open and inclusive, some governments in the region are considering and implementing electoral and constitutional reforms to deepen democracy. These reforms present an opportunity to enhance economic, social, and political inclusion for all, including women, who make up half the population. However, the outlook remains uncertain. Finally, there are limited private sector and entrepreneurial prospects not only for jobs but also for those women who aspire to create and run a business. These constraints present multiple challenges for reform. Each country in MENA will, of course, confront these constraints in different contexts. However, inherent in many of these challenges are rich opportunities as reforms unleash new economic actors. For the private sector, the challenge is to create more jobs for young women and men. The World Bank has been pursuing an exciting pilot program in Jordan to assist young women graduates in preparing to face the work environment.en-USCC BY 3.0 IGOaccess to educationaccess to health careadolescent girlsadolescentsage of marriagebabiesbasic health carebasic human rightBirthsBulletincatalystsChild CareChild Marriageschildren per womancitizenscitizenshipcommunity developmentcontraceptive usedemocracyDemographic Transitiondemographic trendsdeveloping countriesdiscriminationdiscrimination against womendivorcedomestic violenceearly childhoodeconomic empowermenteconomic growtheconomic opportunitieseconomic productivityeducated womeneducational attainmentemployment opportunitiesEmpowering WomenEmpowerment of Womenenforcement of lawsequal accessequal opportunitiesequal opportunities for womenequal partnersequal treatmentequal workFemale EducationFemale ImmigrantsFemale LaborFemale Labor ForceFemale Labor Force ParticipationFemale life expectancyFemale LiteracyFemale MortalityFemale WorkersFertilityFertility Ratesfewer childrenfewer womenfocus group discussionsForms of Discriminationfuture generationsgap between girlsGendergender balancegender differencesgender disparitiesGender EqualityGender Equitygender gapgender gap in educationgender gap in literacyGender Gapsgender inequalitiesgender issuesGender Normsgender paritygender perspectiveGender PolicyGender UnitGirls in SchoolGross domestic producthealth carehealth servicesHousehold Choreshousehold dutieshousehold incomehousehold levelhousehold responsibilitiesHousehold surveyshuman capitalHuman DevelopmentHuman RightshusbandsilliteracyImmigrantsImportance of EducationInequalityinfantinfant mortalityinternational conventionsInternational Cooperationinvestment in childrenInvestment in Educationjob creationjob opportunitiesjob securityLabor Marketlabor marketslabor supplyLabour MarketLabour Organizationlegal rightslegal statuslevels of educationlife expectancyLives of Womenlocal communitylow-income countriesLow-income countrylower fertilityMarital Statusmarriage ageMarried Womenmaternal mortalitymaternal mortality ratematernal mortality ratesmaternity leaveminoritymothernational levelnatural resourcenewbornnumber of girlsnumber of womenOpportunities for Womenparliamentary seatsParliamentary Unionparticipation in societyparticipation of womenPeacepensionsPersonal Status Lawspolitical participationpolitical partiespolitical rightspolitical supportpolygamyPopulation CouncilPopulation DivisionPopulation EstimatesPopulation Reference Bureauprenatal careprimary educationPrimary schoolProgressPublic PolicyPublic Spherequality of educationrate of growthreform lawsreligious leadersreproductive healthreproductive health servicesrespectright to educationRights of WomenSalaried WorkersSecondary Educationservice deliverySexSex discriminationSex discrimination against womenSex Ratiossingle mothersSingle Womenskilled workersSocial Affairssocial barrierssocial cohesionSocial InstitutionsSocial NormsSocial Securitysocial unrestson preferencespousesstatus of womenSustainable Developmenttertiary educationtertiary leveltraditional gender rolestraditional mediatransportationtreatiesUNDPUnemploymentUnemployment RatesUNESCOUNFPAUNIFEMUnited NationsUnited Nations Development Fund for WomenUnited Nations Development ProgrammeUnited Nations Population Fundurban communityWage GapWarWDRWomanWorkforceworking conditionsWorking Womenworking-age populationWorld Health Organizationyoung girlsyoung menyoung mothersYoung PeopleYoung WomenWorld Bank10.1596/978-0-8213-9763-3