Many countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are struggling to reduce poverty and vulnerability. Multiple, overlapping crises have made the task even harder. Labor market exclusion is at the root of poverty and vulnerability in the region, as work opportunities are limited, particularly for women and youth, and most workers are engaged in low productivity informal jobs. Social protection can play a key role in mitigating such inequities, protecting people across the welfare and age distribution from shocks both economic and natural, while building human capital and promoting improved livelihoods, in a financially sustainable way.
The World’s Bank’s new Built to Include: Reimagining Social Protection in the Middle East and North Africa report, to be released on June 7, 2023, identifies reform priorities to make social protection systems in MENA more inclusive in an efficient manner.
In the lead-up to the 2023 World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings in Marrakech, this launch event will include a virtual panel discussion that will feature senior policy makers from across the region reflecting on the report’s insights and recommendations for developing policy reforms across three social protection instruments – social assistance, social insurance, and labor regulations – as well as programs to move toward an inclusive social protection system.
Join the conversation using #InvestInPeople
