This report analyses the role of social protection in promoting young people’s transition to work (YPTW) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It is expected that during the first half of this century, a large proportion of the population in the region will move into their most productive years, creating the opportunity of realising a demographic dividend. However, this will not be achieved without ensuring that an enabling environment is in place for promoting YPTW. Building a stronger mandate and environment focusing on young people and their transition to work not only has the potential of improving labour market and economic outcomes, it can also lead to stronger ties in societies and thus improve the social fabric and lower political unrest.