The National Action Plan (NAP) 2017-2019 goal is to implement the National Strategy for Women in Lebanon, to identify the goals and directions that the governmental, civil, and academic bodies involved in women’s issues aspire for in the coming three years. This plan comes after, a first National Action Plan for the years 2013-2016 following the th2021, on the 12-r Women in Lebanon 2011cabinet’s initial approval of the National Strategy foof June, 2012. During the 2013-2016 period, and with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and in cooperation with its different partners of the governmental and civil sectors, the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) monitored the work and activities implemented in Lebanon with the purpose to achieve these objectives. The new action plan is the product of collective efforts put by all the partners involved in women’s rights, with the support of the UNFPA. For the coming three years, this plan that was endorsed by NGOSs, INGOs, syndicates, academic bodies, will constitute an implementation tool facilitating the translation of citizens’ aspirations for equality into actions.

Since 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.

In the context of high rates of unemployment among young people in the Arab Mediterranean countries, along with the shrinking demand in the public sector, high-potential growth companies (start-ups) and entrepreneurship have increasingly been promoted as a means to drive job creation and generate value in these economies. During the past five years, an ecosystem has emerged, composed of public and private institutions dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship and innovation. As a result, various programmes aiming to raise the capacities of young entrepreneurs are expanding. The policy paper “Raising the capacities of young entrepreneurs: Best practices and recommendations” examines five Arab Mediterranean Countries, namely Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon and Egypt, in order to analyse the existing programmes that support entrepreneurship. It highlights best practices targeted at students, wannabe entrepreneurs and start-up founders, by taking into account the different stages of the entrepreneurial journey i.e. from the idea to the growing phase. Looking into the main policies introduced to foster entrepreneurship, the paper raises the issue of sourcing high-quality projects and the importance of tailored support to empower and inspire the youth at an earlier age. The author underlines several loopholes in the entrepreneurship support chain and puts forward recommendations for actions at the national and regional level.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is at one of the most critical turning points in its modern history. The Arab spring was driven by the desire for economic opportunity and justice in the face of poverty and unemployment. The development of strong economies that enable both women and men to enhance their livelihoods is crucial for the future of the region. The growth and success of women-owned businesses is one of the most profound changes in the business world today. There is no doubt that women are an emerging market force. However, many businesswomen are not accessing commercial credit, an essential driver of business success. Lack of access to finance and financial services is repeatedly identified as the major constraint for women business owners. This report 'ready for growth: solutions to increase access to finance for women-owned business in the Middle East and North Africa', is designed to shed a light on those barriers. It is the result of a unique International Finance Corporation (IFC) partnership with vital voices and the Middle East and North Africa Businesswomen's Network (MENA BWN). Its purpose is to fill a critical gap in our knowledge of what women-owned businesses need in terms of financial products and services. Building on our knowledge of how commercial banks currently reach the women's market, this survey data can provide banks in MENA with information to better serve women business owners.

This paper discusses the potential impact of the Arab uprisings that were sparked in December 2010 on the existing barriers to equality of economic opportunity. It was commissioned by the International Labour Organization (ILO) as a background paper for the Expert Group Meeting convened from 21 to 22 May 2013 on Women and Economic Empowerment in the Arab Transitions, and revised with comments from the meeting. The research for this paper was completed in May 2013 but it has, to the extent possible, been updated to reflect current events up until July 2013. The purpose of the paper is to provide an overview of the existing barriers to equality of opportunity in the Arab region, setting a baseline against which future progress and regression can be measured and identifying entry points to promote progress and avoid regression.