The Mashreq Conference on Women’s Economic Empowerment was held on January 19, 2019, at the Grand Serail in Beirut at the margins of the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in Beirut.
The conference was held under the Patronage and with the presence of H.E. Saad Hariri, Lebanese Prime Minister with high level representation from the Governments of Jordan and Iraq, as well as heads of international organizations, ministers and members of parliament.
Gender equality is smart economics, contributing to poverty reduction, strengthening resilience and boosting shared prosperity. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, women only generate 18 percent of GDP, compared to a world average of 37 percent, and increasing female labor force participation to the levels of men could boost regional GDP by 47 percent. Today, the majority of women in MENA are jobless, that is facing high inactivity and high unemployment rates. Only 19% of working age women participate in the labor force in MENA, compared to 46% in middle-income countries and 52% in LAC. In Mashreq countries, Jordan has one of the lowest female labor participation rates in the world with 14% compared to 19% in Iraq and 23% in Lebanon.
Empowering women and girls has an intrinsic value and is instrumental to achieve more inclusive institutions, sound policies, and effective development outcomes. In the Mashreq countries, important gains have been made in women’s access to education and health, but persistent challenges remain in the areas of women’s economic opportunities, voice and agency.
Working towards this goal, the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Government of Canada have come together to support Mashreq Governments’ efforts towards enhancing women’s economic empowerment as a catalyst towards more inclusive, sustainable and peaceful societies, where economic growth benefits all.
This high-level conference aimed to elevate the dialogue and overall awareness of the importance and benefits of enhanced economic participation of women in the Mashreq region, and create a space for the Governments of Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, in collaboration with the private sector, civil society and development partners, to share their commitments to this agenda. Specifically, the conference aimed to:
It is proposed that this conference become an annual event to review progress and make new commitments each year to advance women’s economic empowerment.
8:30 - 9:30 | REGISTRATION AND COFFEE (Doors close sharply at 9:30) |
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9:30 - 10:30 | OFFICIAL OPENING Ferid Belhaj, Vice President, MNA Region, World Bank Stephanie von Friedeburg, Chief Operating Officer, IFC HE Emmanuelle Lamoureux, Ambassador of Canada in Lebanon HE Mahdi Al-Alak, Secretary General, Council of Ministers, Iraq HE Mary Kawar, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Jordan HE Ahmad Abu Al-Ghaith, Secretary General, League of Arab States HE Saad Hariri, President of the Council of Ministers, Lebanon |
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10:30 - 11:00 | NETWORKING BREAK |
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11:00 - 1:00 | SESSION 1: Why Women’s Economic Empowerment is Good for Growth: Towards a more enabling policy environment for women’s economic participation in the Mashreq
Introductory Remarks Annette Dixon, Vice President, Human Development, World Bank
Panel Discussion Moderator: Hadeel Abdul Aziz, Executive Director, Jordan Justice Center for Legal Aid HE Mary Kawar, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Jordan HE Jean Oghassabian, Minister of State for Women’s Affairs, Lebanon HE Thikra Alwash, Mayor of Baghdad, Chairperson of the Permanent High Committee on Advancing Iraqi Women Salma Nims, Secretary General, Jordanian National Commission for Women Claudine Aoun Roukoz, President, National Commission for Lebanese Women Ibtisam Aziz, Director General, Women Empowerment Directorate, General Secretariat of Council of Ministers, Iraq |
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1:00 - 2:00 | LUNCH |
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2:00 - 3:30 | SESSION 2: Private Sector as a Catalyst for Women's Economic Participation
Introductory Remarks Stephanie von Friedeburg, Chief Operating Officer, IFC Nadim Kassar, General Manager and CEO, BLC Bank, Lebanon |
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Lightening Talk Nour Al Hassan, Founder and CEO, TARJAMA
Panel Discussion Moderator: Tania Mousallem, Board Chair of Global Banking Alliance for Women and Acting CRO and Advisor to EGM at Bank Med Hala Fadel, Co-founder and Managing Partner, LEAP Ventures Farhan Ifram, CEO, MAS Kreeda Al Safi Nourah Mehyar, CEO, Nafith Logistics Nadia Al Saeed, CEO, Bank al Etihad, Jordan Khawla Al-Asadi, Chairperson and General Manager, Al-Rafidain Bank, Iraq |
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3:30 - 5:00 | SESSION 3: Leveraging Social Change to Enable Women’s Economic Opportunities
Moderator: Shereen El Feki, Regional Director, MENA, Promundo Mayyada Abu Jaber, Co-founder of JoWomenomics and The World of Letters – MENA Safa Salwan, Business Development Manager @Careem, Founder of GDG/WTM Baghdad Ghida Anani, Founder, Abaad, Lebanon Leila Serhan, General Manager, Microsoft Mohamad Naciri, Regional Director, UN Women |
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5:00 - 5:30 | CLOSING SESSION: Gender Commitments Moderator: Fadia Kiwan, Director General, Arab Women Organization
Commitments of Women’s Economic Empowerment Actions Plans HE Samir Murad, Minister, Ministry of Labor, Jordan HE Jean Oghassabian, Minister of State for Women’s Affairs, Lebanon HE Mahdi Al-Alak, Secretary General, Council of Ministers, Iraq
Launch of the World Bank Group Mashreq Gender Facility Ferid Belhaj, Vice President, MNA Region, World Bank Stephanie von Friedeburg, Chief Operating Officer, IFC HE Emmanuelle Lamoureux, Ambassador of Canada in Lebanon
Conclusions: “The Beirut Communique on Mashreq Women’s Economic Empowerment” Saroj Kumar Jha, Regional Director, Middle East Department, World Bank |
The Mashreq Conference on Women’s Economic Empowerment was organized in partnership with:
The Conference brought together the following stakeholders:
