Cawtar's Publications

This Report explores women's empowerment within the Green and Circular Economy (GCE) in Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia, with the goal of fostering sustainable development and enhancing climate resilience throughout the region. The project acknowledges the firm commitment of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries to both climate action and the advancement of women's empowerment, particularly within the framework of the globally adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Despite this commitment, the report underscores that the pace of implementing comprehensive climate goals remains a significant challenge, and critically, women are notably under-represented in the vital decision-making processes related to climate change. The report further highlights the significant environmental challenges and existing gender disparities that are prevalent across Arab States. While the region faces substantial needs for climate finance to address these challenges, there is a growing recognition and awareness of the urgent need for action among a diverse array of stakeholders. The essential transition towards a GCE, characterized by its efforts to minimize environmental impact and effectively close the loop of the value chain, presents a significant and timely opportunity to enhance gender equality as a fundamental component in the pursuit of effective climate change solutions. Addressing the very definition of the GCE, the report acknowledges the absence of a universally accepted definition and therefore proposes a pragmatic definition tailored for the specific purposes of this project. This working definition states that products and materials should be designed with the explicit intention of being reused, remanufactured, recycled, or recovered for the longest possible duration, thereby minimizing the generation of waste, especially hazardous waste, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This definition underscores the core principles of closed-loop systems and efficient resource utilization. The project further clarifies that its primary focus will be on circular economies, recognizing them as inherently green. To provide clarity on the economic actors involved, women-owned businesses are defined as enterprises where women hold a 51 percent or greater ownership stake, or where specific combinations of ownership percentage and leadership roles (such as Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operating Officer) are met. Recognizing a significant factor influencing women's economic participation, the Report also addresses the substantial impact of informality on women's employment and entrepreneurial endeavors within the region.