Strengthening Women's Contribution to the Economy in the Middle East and North Africa

The Department of State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) invites applicants to submit proposals that will support women's economic empowerment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The MENA region is ranked last globally on the overall gender gap index as having the highest gender gap in economic participation and opportunity, according to the Global Gender Gap Report – an annual World Economic Forum publication. MENA countries can close the identified gender gap if specific gender dynamics targeting women's economic participation within each country are identified and addressed by increasing the understanding of how women contribute to the economy based on sector, profession, and education level. With comparable information across the region, economic stakeholders will be better able to develop initiatives that seek to recruit, retain, and promote qualified women in the formal sector. This project seeks to contribute to the long-term objective to: • Increase women's contribution to the economy in the MENA region; • Empower women to assume a more active role in the economy and society; and • Increase economic stakeholders' knowledge of gaps, possibilities, and opportunities for increasing women's participation in the workforce and contribution to the economy.