Youth Empowerment in the Arab World: Successes and Remaining Gaps

Youth represent both a major demographic asset and a critical development challenge in the Arab world. While programs in entrepreneurship, skills training, and civic engagement have created pockets of impact, systemic gaps persist in aligning education with labor market needs, integrating marginalized youth, and scaling successful pilots. Empowerment efforts that combine access to finance, mentorship, and digital literacy—backed by measurable outcomes—can amplify youth contribution to economic resilience and social stability. Collaboration between governments, civil society, and the private sector is key to turning youthful potential into sustained opportunity.