This paper analyses Egypt's social protection systems. It asks why poverty is so widespread and why ? despite the country's numerous sophisticated social protection systems - social risks are a major contributing factor to poverty in Egypt. It concludes that reforms are due. The existing systems...

Most countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region spend a considerable share of their national income on social protection. In Egypt and Jordan, for example, this share ranges between 20 and 25 %. Most of the money, however, is used for social protection instruments that suffer...

Many informal sector employees in developing and emerging countries lack access to reliable forms of social protection: They cannot afford to buy private insurance, they are not covered by social insurance, and they are not entitled to social assistance. Therefore, micro-insurance schemes have...

Human development laggs considerably behind economic development in all Arab countries. Countries with similar per-capita income levels in other parts of the world score on average much better with regards to most indicators for education, helath, social protection, sanitation and other elements...