Youth Empowerment in the MENA Region
Despite their demographic weight, young men and women in the MENA region are at a significant risk of being unemployed, they often express low trust in government and they face significant challenges in their transition to autonomy. In some countries, young people are also heavily affected by violent conflicts and displacement.
In line with the OECD Recommendation on Creating Better Opportunities for Young People (English/French), the MENA-OECD Governance Programme provides policy analysis and advice, bilateral technical support and a platform for regional dialogue among policy makers to support governments and public administrations in:
- uniting various governmental and non-governmental stakeholders behind a joint vision and strategy targeting young people;
- building administrative and institutional capacities to mainstream the perspectives of young people from different backgrounds in policymaking; and
- encouraging the participation and representation of young people and youth stakeholders in public and political life.
> Discover more about the OECD work on youth empowerment and intergenerational justice.
The Programme also supports young people, youth organisations and youth-led initiatives. Take a look at the outcomes of the Local Youth Ambassadors Programme in Jordan and the Youth Policy Shapers Programme in Tunisia, implemented by the OECD in co-operation with the Ministry of Youth (Jordan) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Tunisia).
- Local Youth Ambassadors Programme in Jordan (videos in English and Arabic)
- Youth Policy Shapers Programme in Tunisia (video in Arabic with English subtitles)
Youth at the Centre of Government Action: A Review of the Middle East and North Africa
Young people have demonstrated resilience to shocks and led positive change in their communities across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Young people (aged under 30) constitute more than half (55%) of the population across MENA, compared with 36% of the population across OECD countries.
While challenges vary significantly across the region, youth unemployment rates are among the highest in the world, young people tend to express low trust in public institutions, and nearly four in ten live in fragile and conflicted-affected areas. The COVID-19 crisis has underscored the need to place the needs of young people at the centre of an inclusive and resilient recovery. To support this process, this report analyses current governance arrangements and practices across 10 MENA governments. |
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> Read a short brochure with key highlights (English/French/Arabic) |
MENA-OECD Youth Empowerment Network
Delivering on the 2021 MENA-OECD Ministerial Declaration, the MENA-OECD Youth Empowerment Network regularly brings together high-level government officials, youth policymakers, young people and other youth stakeholders from MENA governments and OECD countries to promote regional dialogue, discuss cutting-edge research and share good practices.
- Youth at the Centre of Government Action, 23 June 2022, Caserta
Check out the previous Regional Youth Conferences:
- 2021 MENA-OECD Youth Event: Youth after COVID-19 15 June, Virtual
- 2018 Regional Youth Conference 27-28 November, Tunis
- 2017 Regional Youth Conference 3-4 October, Rabat
Country Projects
The Programme supports ministries in charge of youth affairs throughout the MENA region in strengthening governance arrangements for youth-response policy outcomes.
This has resulted in a series of reports, which provide a holistic assessment of the arrangements and practices in place and policy recommendations based on international good practices and lessons learned.
Jordan | Morocco | Tunisia |
> Check out a short presentation of key findings |
> Check out a short presentation of key findings |
> Check out a short presentation of key findings |
Events
- MED Dialogues 2022 Panel “The Mediterranean Needs Youth”, 2 December 2022 (co-organised by MED and OECD)
- New Report: Youth at the Centre of Government Action: A Review of the Middle East and North Africa released on 23 June 2022
- Meeting of the MENA-OECD Youth Empowerment Network: Youth at the Centre of Government Action, 23 June 2022 (English/French/Arabic)
- Youth Policy Shapers Programme in Tunisia: Congratulations ceremony for the winning initiatives, 24 September 2020 (in French)
- Youth Policy Shapers Programme in Tunisia: Meet the selected initiatives
- MED-OECD Virtual Panel “Youth and COVID-19: leaving no one behind”, 15 September 2020
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Local Youth Ambassadors Programme: Participants’ COVID-19 response to mitigate the crisis in Jordan
- Local Youth Ambassadors Programme in Jordan: Meet the selected Initiatives
- Roundtable Meeting, 5 March 2020, Amman
- Past events
OECD DSG Kerri-Ann Jones at Rome MED 2022: Building trust among young people
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