-
Better Childcare Encourages More Women to Join the Labor Market in the Mashreq
There is an old Arabic proverb that goes “Qalb al-um madrasat al ṭifl” (قلب الأم مدرسة الطفل) which translates to ‘a mother’s heart is the child’s school’ – a common expression that illustrates societal...
Date: February 14, 2024 Type: Feature Story Language: English
-
Built to Include: Reimagining Social Protection in the Middle East and North Africa
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, limited work opportunities and low-productivity informal work have played a significant role in increasing poverty and vulnerability in the Middle East and North Africa...
Date: June 07, 2023 Type: Publication Language: English
-
Mashreq: 5 Lessons to Increase Women’s Work in the Digital Sector
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is vibrant and an engine for jobs. Yet, women in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon are often excluded...
Date: November 24, 2022 Type: Feature Story Language: English
-
US$100 Million to Support COVID-19 Vaccination in Iraq
BAGHDAD, September 28, 2021 — The World Bank has approved a new US$100 million project to scale up Iraq’s health sector response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Iraq COVID-19 Vaccination Project will...
Date: September 28, 2021 Type: Press Release Language: English
-
MENA Has a Food Security Problem, But There Are Ways to Address It
Food insecurity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is a growing challenge. Even before COVID-19, UN agencies estimated that over 55 million of its population of 456.7 million was undernourished...
Date: September 25, 2021 Type: Opinion Language: English
-
Engaging Women on the Frontlines of Reconstruction Efforts in Iraq
During years of conflict, ISIS destroyed the Aldolouiya Bridge in the Salah Ad-Din area in 2014, disconnecting 80,000 Iraqis and severing communities. Rebuilt in 2017 using funds from the World Bank’s...
Date: September 20, 2021 Type: Feature Story Language: English
-
Partnering With the Private Sector to Champion Gender Equality in the Mashreq: Passing the Baton
When COVID-19 struck Lebanon in early 2020, 32-year-old working mother Marianne Itani was confronted with a new reality: to put her thriving career in the natural beauty industry on pause so she can stay...
Date: August 16, 2021 Type: Feature Story Language: English
-
Addressing the Barriers that Hold Back Women’s Economic Activity in the Mashreq Countries Would Boost Growth and Prosperity
WASHINGTON, June 23, 2020 — Women’s labor force participation in the Mashreq countries remains among the lowest in the world and is likely to be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing prevailing...
Date: June 23, 2020 Type: Press Release Language: English
-
“Beirut Communique” from the First High-Level Mashreq Conference On Women’s Economic Empowerment
On this day, January 19, 2019, the World Bank Group and the Governments of Lebanon and Canada convened the first high-level Mashreq Conference on Women’s Economic Empowerment. Conference participants representing...
Date: January 19, 2019 Type: Press Release Language: English
-
Towards Women’s Economic Empowerment in Iraq
Baghdad, October 7, 2018 – The World Bank Group, the Government of Iraq, and the Government of Canada launched today a US$1.95 million grant to support Iraq’s efforts to strengthen systems and deliver...
Date: October 07, 2018 Type: Press Release Language: English
-
World Bank’s Commitment to Iraq Reaches US$4.7 Billion
Kuwait- The World Bank Group and the Government of Iraq signed two projects today totaling US$510 million to help the Iraqi people by improving living conditions, enhancing water supplies, and creating...
Date: February 14, 2018 Type: Press Release Language: English
-
Conflicts May Threaten Gains Made to Date by Women in the Middle East & North Africa
How do you view the status of women in the Middle East and North Africa now? A: Women in the region have made a lot of progress in areas like education and health over the past two decades. The level of...
Date: March 08, 2017 Type: Feature Story Language: English
-
Women in MENA Enter Labor Markets at Half Global Rate says World Bank Report
Constraints include legal and social barriers, inadequate skills, limited private sector prospects BEIRUT March 15, 2013 – The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has taken admirable strides over...
Date: March 15, 2013 Type: Press Release Language: English
-
Missing Voices: Gender Equality in the Arab World
You probably haven’t heard Rahma’s story. She has been too busy overcoming long odds to tell it. It‘s well worth a listen though. There is a local saying in the part of Yemen where Rahma lives: “To...
Date: March 14, 2013 Type: Feature Story Language: English
-
Transcript: Development Committee Press Conference
MR. MILLS: Well, thank you very much for joining us for this closing press conference. Our participants will each make an opening statement and then we'll take...
Date: April 21, 2012 Type: Speeches and Transcripts Language: English
-
Transcript of Opening Press Conference with World Bank Group President Robert Zoellick
MR. MILLS: Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us for our World Bank Group press conference for the 2012 Spring Meetings. Joining me this morning is the President of the World Bank...
Date: April 19, 2012 Type: Speeches and Transcripts Language: English
-
Zoellick Congratulates Dr. Jim Yong Kim as New World Bank Group President
Washington, April 16, 2012 — World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick today congratulated Dr. Jim Yong Kim for being chosen to become the 12th president of the development institution and offered...
Date: April 16, 2012 Type: Press Release Language: English
-
Statement from Dr. Jim Yong Kim regarding his selection by the World Bank's Executive Directors as 12th President of the World Bank
WASHINGTON, April 16, 2012 - Dr. Jim Yong Kim today released a statement in response to his selection by the World Bank's Executive Directors as 12th President of the World Bank: “I am honored to...
Date: April 16, 2012 Type: Press Release Language: English
-
World Bank’s Executive Directors Select Dr. Jim Yong Kim 12th President of the World Bank Group
WASHINGTON, April 16, 2012 - The Executive Directors met today to select a new President of the World Bank Group. The Board expressed its deep gratitude for Mr. Robert B. Zoellick’s outstanding leadership...
Date: April 16, 2012 Type: Press Release Language: English
-
OPED: Europe is distracted by endless firewall talk
Policy makers under pressure can get preoccupied with the fixation of the moment. For the eurozone, that idée fixe has been “the firewall”. How big is big enough? Who contributes and how? Now that the...
Date: April 16, 2012 Type: Opinion Language: English