Tamkeen partners with World Economic Forum to address gender skills gap in Bahrain

Women's Tabloid News Desk

The Bahrain Skills and Gender Parity Accelerator, launched earlier this year during the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, aims to address gender skills gaps and enhance workforce readiness in high-growth industries. This initiative is a collaboration between the World Economic Forum, Bahrain’s public sector leaders, and private sector stakeholders. The first meeting was held on April 13th with the World Economic Forum, public sector Co-chairs, and the appointed private sectors Co-Chairs.

This initiative is managed by Skills Bahrain, which coordinates efforts to address gender skills gaps and enhance workforce readiness in Bahrain. The program leverages partnerships and global research to develop actionable strategies for talent development and gender parity in economic participation. It is jointly led by the Bahrain Economic Development Board and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) through its Skills Bahrain initiative.

The meeting was attended by prominent public sector leaders, including Her Excellency Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Her Excellency Maha Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), along with the recently appointed private sector Co-Chairs:

His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Mumtalakat
His Excellency Khalid Al Rumaihi, Chairman of Alba
Yaser Al Sharifi, Chairman of the Bahrain Association of Banks

In addition to outlining important accomplishments, the group evaluated the Accelerator’s strategic aims. These include improving gender parity, filling important skills shortages, and boosting Bahrain’s competitiveness in industries with rapid growth.

The Bahrain Economic Development Board, Tamkeen, and Skills Bahrain will collaborate closely with the designated private sector co-chairs to create a national action plan that bolsters the public-private partnership at the core of the Accelerator’s mission. These business titans will contribute to the development of future-focused, responsive programs, such as those that provide opportunities for women in high-growth sectors.

“As Bahrain remains committed to diversifying its economy and enhancing its global competitiveness, we take pride in our human capital, which remains one of our greatest strengths. While the Kingdom has made significant progress in STEM training and female empowerment, achieving gender parity remains a priority,” said Her Excellency Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board, adding, “The Bahrain Skills & Gender Parity Accelerator will enable us to drive further progress by increasing female participation and future-proofing our workforce. Through a data-driven approach and strong public-private partnerships, we aim to build a more resilient economic future.”

Her Excellency Maha Mofeez, Chief Executive of Labor Fund (Tamkeen) said: “Bahrain remains steadfast in its investment in its human capital. Our focus is on creating tangible impact—empowering local talent, increasing opportunities for women, and ensuring our workforce is equipped for the demands of a dynamic global economy.”

Skills Bahrain is an initiative by Tamkeen and works in alignment with Tamkeen’s strategic priorities, which focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of Bahrainis in the private sector, supporting enterprise growth, promoting digitization and sustainability, and advancing labor market and private sector development.

Saadia Zahidi, World Economic Forum Managing Director commented:

“Amid major technological and economic changes, Bahrain’s Skills and Gender Parity Accelerator reflects the country’s forward-looking vision and commitment to inclusive economic growth. This initiative builds on solid foundations to accelerate investment in human capital and expand opportunities for women to thrive across high-growth sectors. By equipping its population with the skills needed for the future of work, Bahrain is preparing for a rapidly evolving global economy. We are pleased to support this important step and look forward to enabling this initiative to serve as a powerful example in the region and beyond.”