This pioneering World report on disability will make a significant contribution to implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. At the intersection of public health, human rights and development, the report is set to become a "must have" resource for policy-makers, service providers, professionals, and advocates for people with disabilities and their families.

The study investigates the relationship between women’s entrepreneurship and ownership of land/property in Egypt and Jordan. By utilizing a conceptual framework that identifies five mechanisms linking the two, namely access to credit and finance, additional income, increased investments, improved intrahousehold bargaining and improved social norms, the research reveals that property/land ownership enhances women’s involvement in employment and entrepreneurship. However, it suggests that property/land ownership may have a limited impact on their bargaining power and on reducing gender-based violence. The study highlights the need for improved data and understanding of the interconnections between women’s economic inactivity and entrepreneurship, in order to formulate effective policies to support women entrepreneurs in the Arab region.

The National Gender Lens Pocketbooks 2022 provides a statistical visual portrait of countries’ progress in 40 selected key gender indicators at the governorate/city level. The Pocketbooks present gender-related and sex- disaggregated indicators in the areas of population, education, inequality, health, and work. The Pocketbook illustrates gender gaps over a two-year period. The National Gender Lens Pocketbooks are designed to serve as source of information on the issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment at subnational level to assist decision-makers in formulating improved policies and programmes; and to raise awareness on gender issues.

Across the Arab region, gender inequality continues to limit women from realizing their rights and full potential. Despite some progress in recent decades, women in the region earn less than men, have lower access to resources, and remain underrepresented in economic leadership. This can be seen acutely in the areas of women’s property ownership and economic empowerment. Unlocking women’s economic potential will require addressing the many intersecting constraints they face. This working paper has demonstrated that patterns and forms of lending for SMEs show vast discrepancies based on the gender and property ownership of borrowers. The data collected from several banks in Jordan present a starting point for in-depth investigation into other direct and indirect practices that may also contribute to the gender gaps identified in this paper.

The current paper is an attempt to highlight the linkage between governance for health and the change in dominant economic policies during the last five decades. It will also provide definitions and identify the influential actors in global and national health decisions and discuss how they practice their influence. The analysis in this paper is supported by some case studies from the Arab region.