The International Planned Parenthood Federation – Arab World Region (IPPF AWRO) is pleased to announce the publication of its new mapping report titled: “Microenterprises as Pathways for the Inclusion of Youth and Women in the Arab World: Identifying Challenges, Opportunities, and Recommendations.” The report was developed as part of the “Economic and Social Empowerment for Family Health and Well-being” project, implemented in partnership with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.
This report reflects IPPF AWRO’s continued commitment to advancing integrated approaches that link economic empowerment with health, dignity, and sustainable development outcomes for women and young people across the Arab region.
Across many contexts in the Arab world, youth and women continue to face significant barriers to economic participation, including limited access to finance, skills development, markets, and formal employment opportunities. These structural constraints often deepen inequalities and reduce pathways to sustainable livelihoods. In response, the mapping report examines the role of microenterprises as a practical and accessible entry point for economic inclusion, providing an evidence-based analysis of how small-scale entrepreneurship can contribute to improved income generation, resilience, and social participation, particularly for marginalized groups.
The report analyzes the main barriers affecting youth and women’s participation in microenterprises, identifies emerging opportunities within local and regional economic ecosystems, highlights good practices and enabling factors for sustainable entrepreneurship, and provides actionable recommendations for stakeholders working on economic empowerment and development programming. It underscores the importance of strengthening access to inclusive financial services and microfinance solutions, expanding entrepreneurship training and tailored capacity-building initiatives, enhancing market access and value chain integration for micro-entrepreneurs, supporting enabling policy environments that promote sustainable small business growth, and fostering cross-sectoral partnerships to maximize development impact.
Key insights from the mapping highlight persistent structural and financial barriers limiting enterprise growth for women and youth, the importance of skills development, mentorship, and business development services, the potential of digital tools and innovation in expanding economic opportunities, and the role of microenterprises in strengthening household resilience and community well-being. The report also emphasizes the need for integrated and cross-sectoral approaches that link economic empowerment with broader development priorities, including health, education, and social protection.
Through this publication, IPPF AWRO reaffirms its commitment to promoting inclusive development pathways that empower women and young people economically while contributing to broader goals of health, rights, and well-being. Microenterprises represent more than economic activity; they are a foundation for opportunity, resilience, and social transformation. By investing in inclusive economic systems, stakeholders can help unlock the full potential of youth and women as drivers of sustainable development across the Arab world.
This mapping report was developed in collaboration with IPPF AWRO Member Associations: ATSR (Association Tunisienne de la Santé de la Reproduction), SFPA (Sudan Family Planning Association), and AMPF (Association Mauritanienne pour la Promotion de la Famille) targeting Tunisia, Sudan and Mauritania. These partnerships reflect a shared commitment to advancing evidence-based programming, strengthening economic inclusion, and promoting integrated approaches that link economic empowerment with health, rights, and well-being across the region.
The International Planned Parenthood Federation – Arab World Region works with Member Associations and partners to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights while promoting integrated approaches that connect health, empowerment, and sustainable development.
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