Unlocking Potential: A Vision for Youth Employment in the MENA Region

The COVID-19 pandemic, while bringing significant hardships worldwide, also presented a unique opportunity for reflection and deep soul searching. This period of global pause allowed me to delve into an issue close to both my heart and mind: youth employment and job creation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Working with the Chief Economist Office, Middle East and North Africa at the World Bank for two years provided me with a profound perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing young people in this region.

Growing up in Nablus city in the West Bank, I started my first business at the age of 12, selling Nablusi sweets to pay for school transport. This early experience taught me the value of education as a long-term investment, contrasting sharply with the immediate benefits of short-term work. This realization became a cornerstone of my understanding and approach to the youth economic opportunities of the MENA region.

One significant observation from my recent travels across the Middle East post-COVID-19 is the lack of integration in the region's core economic production

and outputs. Countries like Jordan, Egypt, and Morocco, with a combined population of almost 158 million, represent about 33% of the region's total population and hold immense human talent. Yet, this potential remains largely untapped due to a disjointed approach between the natural resources concentrated in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the human resources of these three nations.

However, there are signs of positive change. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the world's largest oil exporter as of 2023, is opening its economy to foreign direct investment and implementing policies to attract mega infrastructure projects, such as the Neom city on the Red Sea. This shift presents an unprecedented opportunity for the MENA region to harness its combined natural wealth and human capital towards sustainable economic development.

Despite the challenges, including fragmented political leadership and limited vision, I am optimistic about the region's future. I dream of a unified economic bloc in the MENA region, characterized by a single currency, economic board, and central bank. Such bold steps are essential for creating employment opportunities for millions of talented youths, especially women, in this historically and culturally rich but politically fragmented area.

To realize this vision, leadership matters. It's about finding the delicate balance between stability and economic growth, security, and prosperity. The youth, if given the chance to lead, could turn this vision into reality in record time. However, social norms and current leadership structures often impede this progress. It's only through bold, visionary steps that the MENA region can truly harness its potential, transforming challenges into opportunities for all its inhabitants.

By Hisham jabi, the CEO of Jabi Consulting in Washingtin, DC [email protected]

www.jabiconsulting.com

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