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MEYI Hosts Panel at Economic Research Forum, Cairo, Egypt

28 December 2007

 

The Middle East Youth Initiative hosted a panel on youth employment at this year's annual Economic Research Forum (ERF) conference, held in Cairo from 28th-30th December 2007. Below are main highlights from the panel hosted by the Initiative. For a comprehensive view of the ERF event, please visit their conference site. 

 Chairperson: Tarik Yousef, Dean of Dubai School of Government and Nonresident Senior Fellow at Brookings

Speakers:

  • Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, and Navtej Dhillon (A Framework for your Policy Research in Middle East and North Africa)
  • Ragui Assaad - Egypt (Country Perspectives)
  • Nader Kabbani -  Syria (Country Perspectives)
  • Ibrahim Saif - Jordan (Country Perspectives)

Open Discussant: Cynthia Lloyd, Senior Associate, Population Council

 Main Highlights

The session focused on two main areas: 1) The role of signals and incentives from the labor market and its affect on education, employment skills and family formation, and 2) policy implications at the regional level with a country snapshot examples from Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iran.

Emerging from this discussion were the following three points:

  • The emphasis on skills developed versus years of employment
  • On the career versus jobs distinction
  • The regional element of the project and the need for a regional initiative
Research Outlook
 

In this context, areas in need of further research include:

  • "Exclusion" versus "Emerging Adulthood": The distinction between exclusion or “waithood” and what is typically termed as “emerging adulthood” in reference to transitional delays to youth in the United States.
  • Military: The military is an institution that affects the lives of young men and their families and has an important role to play in developing a concept of citizenship. At the same time, it receives no coverage in youth development literature.
  • Gender component: Exploring the potential to develop projects or policies that will allow the private sector to serve as a model for non-discriminatory practices.  A forthcoming publication by Population Council called “Girls Count” outlines a broad view of the types of investments that need to be made in girls and women. Major recommendations are a) girls’ need of “safe spaces,” b) mentorship, and c) access to networks.\

 

For event announcement, please visit archives.

Countries
Middle East