The most important agents for change in the Arab world are women and youth. Their impact on leading local initiatives, generating digital innovation, and developing more democratic processes is necessary in a region facing economic stagnation, social tension, and turmoil. The Renaissance Strategic Center believes that without elevating the voices, abilities, and leadership of women and young people, sustainable development cannot be achieved.
This belief constitutes the underpinning for RSC’s commitment to Women and Youth Empowerment as an area of focus for our research and strategic efforts.
Framing a Future Powered by Women and Youth
RSC’s agenda on Women and Youth Empowerment aims to:
- Identify and inform policy on women and youth in a development or humanitarian context.
- Underscore and uplift leading changemaker experiences as the best practices in the region.
- Identify the significant transformative processes that are emerging in the region.
- Enhance youth and women’s mobility by providing more avenues for scaling their initiatives.
Our objective is straightforward: to enhance agency for women, girls, and youth to inform decision-making at the national and/or regional level.
In this respect, ARDD launched two flagship networks to provide support:
Al Nahda Youth Network
Established on International Youth Day (August 12, 2020), the network provides a platform for coordinating youth efforts, creating civic participation, and preparing the next generation of leaders.
Al Nahda Women’s Network
A dynamic network within ARDD that connects women from different sectors who are collaborating to support women’s leadership, exchange stories, and engender new professional options.
Women and Youth Transformative Processes: Advocating for Policy Reform
Under the wider program, RSC’s Women and Youth Transformative Processes initiative aims to follow and advocate for legal and policy reform that contributes to social justice for women and youth empowerment.
This role entails:
- Reviewing national policies and legal frameworks.
- Advocating for reforms that advance rights and expand opportunities.
- Engaging with institutions, sign NGOs-civil society, and community leaders.
RSC, by fostering an environment that institutionalizes equity, works towards creating a sustainable platform for women and youth to flourish.
Ordinary Choices, Extraordinary Impact: Women’s Leadership in Finance
RSC recently showcased its dedication to Women and Youth Empowerment through the dialogue session “Ordinary Choices for Extraordinary Impact: Women in Financial Leadership,” which took place on October 7, 2025, with Renaissance Women’s Network.
The session featured prominent experts, including former Minister of Investment Kholoud Al-Saqqaf, economic expert Dr. Adly Qandah, and Dr. Sawsan Majali, to discuss the expanding role of women in financial leadership and economic development.
Key insights from the session included:
Women’s contribution to growth
Women are increasingly influencing both financial management and entrepreneurship across the Arab region. Countries in which a higher percentage of leadership roles are held by women, such as Bahrain, the UAE, and Qatar, also demonstrate better financial inclusion.
Importance of early financial literacy
Dr. Qandah mentioned that Jordan has been a leader in creating pathways for schools to integrate financial literacy into their school curricula (grades 7-12) since 2015 in collaboration with the Central Bank and the Ministry of Education. He believes that financial literacy is more than knowledge; it is a skill set that is lifelong and can shape responsible behavior and independent decisions.
Women excel in financial management
Research indicates that women often outperform in managing their business due to their organized, detail-oriented way of managing their planning, budgeting, and decisions.
Barriers still exist
Al-Saqqaf identified obstacles that impede women’s access to leadership positions, including social stereotypes, the absence of executive development programs, and ongoing structural barriers. Yet her own career trajectory, which began as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan (the first woman in the Arab world to do so), to today as Chairperson of the Social Security Investment Fund and Minister of Investment, uniquely exemplifies determination and ability.
Financial leadership starts at home
ARDD’s Executive Director, Samar Muharib, reminded participants that financial leadership is not limited to the boardroom, but begins with the small choices we make every day. With women are financially literate, they can take charge of their families, influence their children’s choices later in life, and become more resilient in tough economic times.
Strengthening the Path Ahead
Participants ended with concrete recommendations:
- Investing in women’s support and expanding opportunities in economic leadership.
- Promoting transparency via strong oversight practices.
- Highlighting and documenting women’s success stories throughout the region.
- Forming professional networks that advance women’s careers.
- Conducting more research on future opportunities and gaps in policy and practice.
These suggestions are fully aligned with RSC’s trajectory over the long haul regarding Women and Youth Empowerment. It is where policy, community, and institutional systems advance in one direction to achieve an equitable future.
RSC’s Commitment: Empowerment as a Transformative Force
At the Renaissance Strategic Center, we do not consider women and youth as mere beneficiaries of development programs; they are also agents of change, innovators, and collaborators to transform the region of the Arab world.
Through research, policy advocacy, networking, and building leadership, RSC continues to build an ecosystem for women and youth to lead, have an influence, and inspire others.
Empowerment cannot be an isolated effort; it is a communal movement. RSC is dedicated to growing this movement more each year in depth, inclusiveness, and impact.
