Selected Development Indicators

for Arab Countries, Turkey and Iran

Perrihan Al-Riffai

A presentation based on WDI indicators and 2011 IFPRI report “Beyond the Arab Awakening…”

Purpose

Overview of the state of food security and poverty in Arab Countries, Turkey and Iran

To inform participants before the voting

Other support material for participants:

IFPRI report “Beyond the Arab Awakening…”

Objectives and Selected Indicators

• Reduce rural poverty – GDP per capita, Rural and urban poverty

• Increase food security, nutrition and health – Micro-level food insecurity, Macro-level food

insecurity

• Improve sustainability of natural resources – Share of population using improved drinking water

source, Water stress & economic growth

• Enhance opportunities for and participation of women – Ratio of girls/boys in primary & secondary education,

Women employed in non agricultural sectors

GDP per Capita ($)

Rural and Urban Poverty (%)

IFAD. Rural Poverty Report. 2011

Social indicators may not have improved…

Micro-level Food Insecurity

Macro-level Food Insecurity

Share of population using an improved drinking water source (%)

Water stress & economic growth outlook used (%)

Ratio of girls to boys in primary and secondary education

Share of women employed in non-agricultural sectors (%)

Conclusions

• Several indicators are alarmingly high

• Poverty and income inequality, and more broadly the deficiency of social indicators, are likely higher than official numbers suggest

• We need a multi-sectoral approach to address the challenges and move forward

• Due to budgetary limitations, we need to prioritize fund allocation to the research and policy agenda of the region

YOU will decide!