Education and work in the Middle East and North Africa region will determine the livelihoods of over 300 million people and drive growth and development for generations to come.

As one of the youngest populations in the world, it is imperative that the region make adequate investments in education and learning that hold value in the labour market and prepare citizens for the world of tomorrow. In addition, as the global transformation of work unfolds in the region, policymakers, business leaders and workers must be prepared to proactively manage this period of transition.

The Executive Briefing – drawing on the insight and project work of the Forum’s System Initiative on Shaping the Future of Education, Gender and Work – aims to serve as a practical guide for leaders from business, government, civil society and the education sector to plan for the needs of the future.

It is also a call to action to the region’s leaders to address urgently the reforms that are needed today to ensure that the Middle East and North Africa’s young people can harness the new opportunities that are coming their way.

Report by the Human Rights Watch