1

Gender in DPLsNdiamé Diop and Tara Vishwanath, Lead

EconomistsPREM MENA, World Bank

2

Structure of the presentation

MENA paradox Progress in HK versus women labor market

participation and job preferences Multiple constraints at work (identified

in recent MENA WDR companion paper)

Key gender priority reforms for MENA Attempts to address constraints How can DPL help? What are the

success factors?

3

MENA Paradox:Fast progress in human

development….

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

FEMALE LITERACY RATES (Annual percentage point

change: 1985-2011)

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

Middle East & North Africa East Asia & PacificSouth Asia Latin America & CaribbeanEurope & Central Asia Sub-Saharan Africa

FEMALE LIFE EX-PECTANCY

RATIO OF FEMALE TO MALE PRIMARY ENROLMENT

(Average annual growth rates, %: 1985-2010)

Source: Staff calculations based on World Development Indicators, 2011.

4

…progress made across the region…

Algeria

Bahra

in

Djibou

ti

Egyp

t, Ara

b Rep

.

Iran,

Islam

ic Rep

.Ira

q

Jorda

n

Kuwait

Leba

non

Libya

Moroc

coOman

Saudi

Arabia

Syrian

Arab R

epub

lic

Tunis

ia

United

Ara

b Emira

tes

West B

ank a

nd G

aza

Yemen

, Rep

.0

20406080

100120140160180

Female to Male Ratio of Enrolment Rates

Primary Secondary Tertiary

Source: World Development Indicators (2011)

5

Lowest women labor force participation in the world….

Egyp

t

Jordan

Moroc

co Iraq

West B

ank a

nd Gaz

a

Yemen

Djibou

ti

Saudi A

rabia

1/

Qatar

1/

UAE 1/

Kuwait1/

020406080

100

LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION (%)

Men Women

Source: Household Surveys; 1/ Official estimates for national non-immigrant population.

6

Higher rates of youth unemployment for young women…

AlgeriaBahrain

Egypt, Arab Rep.Iran, Islamic Rep.

JordanKuwait

LebanonMorocco

QatarSaudi Arabia

Syrian Arab RepublicTunisia

United Arab EmiratesWest Bank and Gaza

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Unemployment, youth male Unemployment, youth female

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT RATES (%)

Source: World Development Indicators (2011)

7

Strong concentration in the public sector…

SHARE OF EMPLOYED WORKERS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR (%)

Latent participation: When Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education opened up a new batch of positions in 2011, applications from women were 4 to 5 times the number of vacancies

Moroc

co

Djibou

ti

Jorda

nIra

qEg

ypt

West B

ank

Yemen

Qatar

1/

United

Ara

b Emira

tes

1/

Bahra

in 1/

Kuwait

1/

Oman 1/

020406080

100

11

43 4458

3724 26

82 78

45

7663

8

58

34 32 27 20 19

84 87

29

80

40

Women Men

Source: Household Surveys; 1/ Official estimates for national non-immigrant population.

8

Multiple constraints at work: Drivers of low participation rates

High unemployment rates and discouragement

Queuing for public sector work

Limited opportunities in the private sector for self-employment

Traditional norms and some laws restrict women’s mobility and choice

After their studies, “they stay at home, go apply for companies ,get depressed and say why did I waste my time..”

“jobs here are only for those who have connections, whoever doesn’t have connections stays at home and doesn’t work.”

“Boys move however they want, wherever they want”

9

Multiple constraints at work: Women’s mobility and decision making

constrained by some laws in some countries

Family codes may limit decision-making: head of household laws, permission to work, selecting matrimonial residence, unilateral divorce laws etc.

Low or no legal minimum Age of Marriage Laws for girls may limit decision-making power within the household, with respect to education, work.

Labor laws may limit opportunities: restrictions on industry and hours worked; maternity leave and childcare; legislation that discourages or does not recognize part-time work.

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Priority Reforms: Concerted policy action is needed to:

Bolster job creation for all Close the remaining gender gaps in human

development Foster women’s economic opportunities in

the formal labor market and in entrepreneurship

Give women greater voice and legal agency. Underpinned by careful, evidence-based

analysis and policymaking (e.g. Jordan Now)

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Priority Reforms: Learning what works

New gender-disaggregated data: Tunisia Youth Survey, IRAQ IHSES II, YEMEN HBS II

Policy pilots: e.g. Jordan NOW, Morocco CCT, Tunisia youth JSDF pilot (FY13)

Gender-informed and gender-mainstreamed analytical and knowledge products: e.g. Egypt Jobs study, West Bank and Gaza youth, inclusion and conflict policy note

DPLs: Egypt DPL: women access to finance in Egypt Upcoming Tunisia DPL: remote social services (women

to predominantly benefit)

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How can DPLs help? What Success Factors?

1. Integrate lessons from international experience:

Brazil, Turkey, other experiences2. Key design factors/ conditions

Underpinning evidence-based analytics crucial ▪ Raise the profile of gender in government agenda▪ E.g. Estimation of opportunity cost of low participation

Dialogue and ownership needed way before DPL prep.▪ DPLs most likely harvest low hanging fruits;▪ In-country champions may need to be empowered first

Programmatic setting often more appropriate;▪ Gender constraints often of medium-to-long-term nature;▪ Adopting laws and regulations not enough: change should be

real!

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How can DPLs help? What Success Factors?

Key design factors/ conditions….. Reform sequencing matters: what are the

binding constraints? Handholding accompanying TA needed in

most cases ()▪ Help often needed in multiple fronts

(regulatory, institutional, etc.)▪ DPL pressure may lead to incomplete

reforms… Carefully crafted result framework