Fulfilling the Promise of Young People in the Middle East

The Dubai School of Government and the Wolfensohn Center for Development hosted a panel discussion on the occasion of the release of their new edited book, Generation in Waiting: The Unfulfilled Promise of Young People in the Middle East (Brookings Institution Press, 2009), illuminating the complex issues facing Middle Eastern youth. Speakers included: Johannes Linn, Wolfensohn Center for Development, The Brookings Institution; Mary Kawar, International Labor Organization; Ahmed Younis, Silatech/ Gallup; Nader Kabbani, Syria Trust for Development; Rami Khouri, Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy & International Affairs, American University of Beirut; and Tarik Yousef, Dubai School of Government.

There are over 100 million young people in the Middle East between the ages of 15 and 29, representing the largest youth cohort in the history of the region. While today’s young men and women are more educated than previous generations, educational quality is poor. Moreover, these youth face diminishing opportunities to secure good jobs, access credit and housing, achieve financial independence, and form successful families. Generation in Waiting, edited by Navtej Dhillon and Tarik Yousef, represents three years of research on the economic and social inclusion of Middle Eastern youth in these areas. Bringing together perspectives from Morocco to Iran, the volume is an essential resource for researchers, policymakers, civil society and private sector leaders hoping to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing this demographic. Generation in Waiting presents an agenda for economic development policies that empower youth as they make the transition to adulthood.

Visit the Dubai School of Government website for more information on the November 9 event: "Fulfilling the Promise of Young People in the Middle East."