...of the formal and informal economy, impacting women and girls.
Lebanon, like many countries in the Med, have in-built resilience in their cultural DNA. Lebanon is also an entrepreneurial nation with a large active and enlightened diaspora. With the war in Syria, Lebanon has been incurring significant inflows of refugees hosted over the last 8 years in its cities and rural communities.
Lebanon, like many countries in the region and the world, has an informal economy that sucks the energy out of the formal economic growth. Women and girls are kept in the informal economy structures even though they are a key part of the producing economy of any country. Recent data analysis show Lebanon’s almost flat economic growth rate and a creeping unemployment rate.
Evidently, this data informed analysis indicates the gap that exists in an economy that can be strengthened through the participation of girls in education and women in business.
The multilateral institutions that support the Lebanese economy, the diaspora investors, Lebanon’s own business leadership in men and women must take notice and remediate. The refugee community of women and girls can be a driver of economic growth and in strengthening productive output in the formal economy.
Easier said than done, but it must be said, as we look at ways to get things done. Because each and every country in the Mediterranean must strengthen its economic outlook, have the standing and wherewithal to create synergies with neighbours.
Women and girls are a most important socio-economic component to ensure growth, stability and peace.