Gender Equality

The present policy brief examines three main barriers to women’s political participation in the Arab region, namely the limited application of temporary special measures, discriminatory laws and practices against women in the private and public spheres, and institutional attitudes towards women such as negative views and stereotypes about women’s capabilities in leadership roles. The brief presents best policy practices from Arab countries and globally that have contributed to closing the gaps across these three main dimensions related to women’s political participation. It also offers policy options for Arab Governments using specific country examples from the region to address existing barriers to increasing women’s political participation. It illustrates how these policy options can support countries in improving their performance on international developmental and gender equality indices. This policy brief is the third in a policy briefs series on “the contribution of development indices in closing the gender gap and advancing social and economic development”.

Everyone lives in a changing climate, but climate change does not affect everyone equally. Impacts of climate change are experienced differently by people of different gender, ages, social and economic groups, geographical location, relationships with the environment, and other factors. These factors affect people’s varied roles, responsibilities and access to power and resources, which in turn affect their ability to manage the risks and cope with the impacts of climate change. UNDP in partnership with the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) is strengthening Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) in public climate finance by developing mechanisms that will support government agencies at the national and sub-national levels to systematically integrate gender and social analysis in the climate change budget formulation. The policy brief titled “Gender-responsive and socially inclusive public finance” shows experience of Mek-dum community in Maha Sarakham province of Northeastern Thailand to demonstrate the importance of and the approach in mainstreaming gender and social inclusion (GSI) in climate change policy, planning, and financing.

Thirty years after the Copenhagen Declaration’s landmark commitments to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment, and foster social integration, the Arab region remains at a crossroads. Despite progress in health, education, and infrastructure, deep inequalities, fragile governance, widespread informality, environmental degradation, and ongoing conflicts continue to define daily life for millions. Rising climate stresses, shrinking civic space, and the digital divide compound these challenges, underscoring the urgency for a new, justice-driven approach to sustainable development. With the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) approaching, the region’s experiences and perspectives hold critical relevance for shaping a more inclusive global agenda. This policy brief distills the insights of the Arab regional consultation convened in May 2025 by ESCWA and UNRISD, which gathered voices from across civil society, academia, and policy circles. It outlines the main challenges facing the region while highlighting the participants’ shared call for a values-based social contract grounded in dignity, equality, and ecological balance. By presenting priority themes and actionable policy recommendations, the brief offers a compelling regional vision to inform the WSSD deliberations. It calls on the summit to move beyond symbolic declarations toward transformative action capable of addressing structural injustices and fostering genuine peace, inclusion, and sustainability.