With special focus on the importance of the gender agenda in the MENA region at this point in time, Serageldin spoke at the forum held at the World Bank by The Gender Economic Research and Policy Analysis (GERPA), entitled Changing Times, Emerging Issues on Gender Equality and Women''s Empowerment in MENA. Serageldin’s co-speakers at the forum, which was open to the public inside and outside the bank, were Professor Gary Becker, Nobel Laureate for Economics, University of Chicago; Dr. Fatima Al Balooshi, Minister for Human Rights and Social Development, Bahrain; and Rahma Bourqia, University Hassan II, Morocco. The session was moderated by Caroline Freund, Chief Economist in the MENA Region of the World Bank.
Serageldin is chairman of the steering committee of GERPA, which was created by the Center for Arab Women Training and Research (CAWTAR) and the World Bank in 2005. Its purpose is to advance women’s economic participation and economic rights in the MENA region.