MENAAP: Strengthening legal rights to drive women's economic participation Ousmane Dione March 08, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 The World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/arabvoices/menaap--strengthening-legal-rights-to-drive-women-s-economic-par Fully leveraging the workforce is essential to building a more inclusive society and boosting living standards across the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP) region. Despite the impressive educational achievements of women, only about 20% of working age women are participating in the labor force. Imagine the possibilities if this gap was closed! Closing gender employment gaps could raise GDP per capita by about 50% in the long run in the typical MENA economy, according to World Bank reports. That’s a game-changer not just for women, but for our communities and economies as a whole. © 2026 The World Bank Group,