About
Our mission is to promote the economic and social inclusion of young people in the Middle East.
Who We Are
The Middle East Youth Initiative (MEYI) was launched by the Wolfensohn Center for Development at the Brookings Institution and the Dubai School of Government in July 2006. Our objective is to accelerate the international community's ability to better understand and respond to the changing needs of young people in the Middle East. By creating an international alliance of academics, policymakers, youth leaders and leading thinkers from the private sector and civil society, we aim to develop and promote a progressive agenda of youth inclusion.
What We Do
The initiative blends activities in an attempt to bridge the divide between thinkers and practitioners and utilizes robust research as a foundation for effective policy and programs. The initiative has three complementary pillars:
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Research and Policy
We advance understanding of economic and social issues to promote solutions for the inclusion of young people through cutting edge research. The main target group is youth 15-29 years old. The research framework focuses on youth making two major transitions to adulthood: education to employment to household formation (marriage and home-ownership). -
Advocacy and Networking
The initiative aspires to be a hub for knowledge and ideas, open to all stakeholders who can make change happen. Strong partnerships with policymakers, government officials, representatives from the private sector and civil society organizations, donors and the media will pioneer forms of dialogue that bridge the divide between ideas and action. By bringing in the voice and the new perspectives of young people, we will revitalize debate on development in the Middle East. -
Practical Action
Outcomes matter. With a focus on areas with the greatest potential for innovation and impact, the initiative will mobilize partners for practical action that can improve young people's lives. The initiative will help develop policies and program interventions which provide youth with skills, expand opportunities for employment and facilitate access to credit, housing and civic participation.
Iran's Election Exposes the Country's Deep Divisions
Monitoring the Global Recession in the Middle East
A new Middle East Youth Initiative report, "Missed by the Boom, Hurt by the Bust: Making Markets Work for Young People in the Middle East," advises against a reversal of open market policies in the region, stating that instead "the crisis should serve as an opportunity for increasing competitiveness, promoting job creation, and developing a better skilled workforce."
Middle East Youth Initiative Convenes with Young Arab Leaders Forum and Silatech in Beirut
Representatives from the Middle East Youth Initiative participated in two notable events on youth development issues in the Middle East: the Young Arab Leaders Annual Forum from May 1 to 3 and a Silatech Knowledge Consortium meeting on May 3. Both events were held in Beirut, Lebanon.
Navtej Dhillon Reacts to Obama's Turkey Visit on KCRW's "To the Point"
As U.S. President Barack Obama began his two-day visit to Turkey, Navtej Dhillon spoke on KCRW's To the Point about the significance of the President's visit for the econonomic development agenda in the Middle East.
Missed by the Boom, Hurt by the Bust: Making Markets Work for Young People in the Middle East
A new Middle East Youth Initiative report is the first of its kind to assess the early risks faced by young people during the economic downturn, calling on policy makers to help prevent an intensified jobs crisis in the region.
Location: Middle East, Global
Type: Analysis
Why Young Syrians Prefer Public Sector Jobs
In this Middle East Youth Initiative Policy Outlook, Nader Kabbani examines how incentives determine young people's choices between public and private sector employment.
Did Housing Policy Reforms Curb the Delay in Marriage Among Young Men in Egypt?
In this Middle East Youth Initiative Policy Outlook, Ragui Assaad and Mohamed Ramadan demonstrate that housing policy reforms in Egypt have made rental housing more affordable and accessible to young people and have also contributed to a declining age at marriage among young men.
Stalled Youth Transitions in the Middle East: A Framework for Policy Reform
Djavad Salehi-Isfahani and Navtej Dhillon present a framework for policymakers to improve youth outcomes by addressing institutional distortions across sectors: from the education system to the employment, housing, and credit markets.
Location: Middle East
Type: Working Paper
Inclusion: Meeting the 100 Million Youth Challenge
2009 Silatech Summit
The Doha Summit brought together leading international and regional organizations, thought leaders, policy-makers, investors, community organizations and young people to discuss the impact of and responses to the current economic challenges facing young people across the Middle East.
Young Arab Leaders Annual Forum
Hosted under the patronage of General Michel Sleiman, President of Lebanon, the Young Arab Leaders (YAL) Annual Forum took place in Beirut from May 1 to 3. The Forum addressed key areas in youth development such as education, employment opportunities for Arab youth, leadership skills development, and entrepreneurship.
