North Africa
When Culture Clashes with Politics: Celebrating Amazigh New Year in Morocco and Beyond
As Amazigh people celebrate the beginning of their new year today, the Amazigh movement in Morocco is seeking to preserve the Amazigh cultural and historical heritage.
Overcoming the Odds: The Challenges for Women’s Financial Inclusion in the MENA Region
Despite various attempts to increase the participation rates of women in financial systems worldwide, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region still lags behind.
Microinsurance: One Startup “Insures” Better Future for MENA Region’s Poorest
Insurance technology (InsurTech), a new sector in the global startup scene, is attracting a growing number of companies that are revolutionizing the world of insurance using new digital technologies. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Democrance is on a mission to provide insurance to the region’s poor through mobile technology.
Boosting Women’s Entrepreneurship in the MENA Region Through Impact Investment
Women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem face formidable obstacles when it comes to accessing finance. The introduction of impact investment and the increasing number of female impact investors in the region could usher in a new age of gender, social, and financial inclusion in the Arab world.
Banking on the Future: Developing Financial Opportunities for MENA Women
Low rates of female participation in public life in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have long undermined the region’s potential. However, the new global push for financial inclusion for women is likely to have a transformative effect on the region’s economy and society.
Feminist Thought in the Muslim World: From Secular Feminism to Islamic Feminism
Feminist thought has evolved in the context of the historical, social, cultural, and political norms of the societies in which it has originated. In the Muslim world, two major feminist trends have emerged in recent years: Islamic feminism and secular feminism.
The Art of Language: Celebrating Arabic Through the Ages
With an estimated 422 million speakers globally, making it the fifth most widely spoken language in the world, and a designation as one of the six official languages of the United Nations, the Arabic language is celebrated today on Arabic Language Day for its richness and cultural diversity.
#HearMeToo: Arab Women Raise Their Voices in “16 Days of Activism”
The International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, and the following 16 Days of Activism that are now underway, are a reminder that gender-based violence (GBV) is still prevalent throughout the world, and that proactive engagement and education are the only way to eradicate it.
Empowering Arab Women through Financial Technology
Although the financial exclusion of women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has historically undermined the economic potential of the region, the recent introduction of financial technology (fintech) could play a vital role in disrupting regional financial systems, social paradigms, and gender stereotypes
Fantasy and Morals in the Stories of Juha
Juha, the “wise fool” of Arabic folklore, offers a playful escape from reality, while also communicating societal values.
