A capacity expansion planning model for integrated water desalination and power supply chain problem

BackgroundDonor countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been among the largest donors in the world. However, little is known about their contributions for health. In this study, we addressed this gap by estimating the amount of development assistance for health (DAH) contributed by MENA country donors from 2000 to 2017.MethodsWe tracked DAH provided and received by the MENA region leveraging publicly available development assistance data in the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) database of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), government agency reports and financial statements from key international development agencies. We generated estimates of DAH provided by the three largest donor countries in the MENA region (UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia) and compared contributions to their relative gross domestic product (GDP) and government spending; We captured DAH contributions by other MENA country governments (Egypt, Iran, Qatar, Turkey, etc.) disbursed through multilateral agencies. Additionally, we compared DAH contributed from and provided to the MENA region.ResultsIn 2017, DAH contributed by the MENA region reached $514.8 million. While UAE ($220.1 million, 43.2%), Saudi Arabia ($177.3 million, 34.8%) and Kuwait ($59.8 million, 11.6%) as sources contributed the majority of DAH in 2017, 58.5% of total DAH from MENA was disbursed through their bilateral agencies, 12.0% through the World Health Organization (WHO) and 3.3% through other United Nations agencies. 44.8% of DAH contributions from MENA was directed to health system strengthening/sector-wide approaches. Relative to their GDP and government spending, DAH level fluctuated across 2000 to 2017 but UAE and Saudi Arabia indicated increasing trends. While considering all MENA countries as recipients, only 10.5% of DAH received by MENA countries were from MENA donors in 2017.ConclusionMENA country donors especially UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have been providing substantial amount of DAH, channeled through their bilateral agencies, WHO and other multilateral agencies, with a prioritized focus on health system strengthening. DAH from the MENA region has been increasing for the past decade and could lend itself to important contributions for the region and the globe.

ObjectivesDespite the rising risk factor exposure and non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality across the Middle East and the North African (MENA) region, public health policy responses have been slow and appear discordant with the social, economic and political circumstances in each country. Good health policy and outcomes are intimately linked to a research-active culture, particularly in NCD. In this study we present the results of a comprehensive analysis of NCD research with particular a focus on cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease in 10 key countries that represent a spectrum across MENA between 1991 and 2018.MethodsThe study uses a well validated bibliometric approach to undertake a quantitative analysis of research output in the ten leading countries in biomedical research in the MENA region on the basis of articles and reviews in the Web of Science database. We used filters for each of the three NCDs and biomedical research to identify relevant papers in the WoS. The countries selected for the analyses were based on the volume of research outputs during the period of analysis and stability, included Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.ResultsA total of 495,108 biomedical papers were found in 12,341 journals for the ten MENA countries (here we consider Turkey in the context of MENA). For all three NCDs, Turkey's output is consistently the highest. Iran has had considerable growth in research output to occupy second place across all three NCDs. It appears that, relative to their wealth (measured by GDP), some MENA countries, particularly Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, are substantially under-investing in biomedical research. In terms of investment on particular NCDs, we note the relatively greater commitment on cancer research compared with diabetes or cardiovascular disease in most MENA countries, despite cardiovascular disease causing the greatest health-related burden. When considering the citation impact of research outputs, there have been marked rises in citation scores in Qatar, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates and Oman. However, Turkey, which has the largest biomedical research output in the Middle East has the lowest citation scores overall. The level of intra-regional collaboration in NCD research is highly variable. Saudi Arabia and Egypt are the dominant research collaborators across the MENA region. However, Turkey and Iran, which are amongst the leading research-active countries in the area, show little evidence of collaboration. With respect to international collaboration, the United States and United Kingdom are the dominant research partners across the region followed by Germany and France.ConclusionThe increase in research activity in NCDs across the MENA region countries during the time period of analysis may signal both an increasing focus on NCDs which reflects general global trends, and greater investment in research in some countries. However, there are several risks to the sustainability of these improvements that have been identified in particular countries within the region. For example, a lack of suitably trained researchers, low political commitment and poor financial support, and minimal international collaboration which is essential for wider global impact.

Psychometric evaluation of the COPD assessment test: Data from the BREATHE study in the Middle East and North Africa region

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is a large, complex, and diverse region, which faces a wide range of economic issues. The MENA group includes Algeria, Bahrain, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. This book uses analytical tools drawn from the trade, labor, finance, and development literature to critically analyze and compare these countries' economic policies. The approach taken in this book is to focus on the economic policies and institutional arrangements which have evolved in MENA and which may serve to explain the differences in each country's economic performance. The key objective of the book is to unravel the context-specific variety of growth-promoting policies within MENA rather than focus on specific countries. This book stresses that the poor performance of Arab MENA can be chiefly explained by their aversion to a Western paradigm of market economics. In the advanced industrial countries and in Israel, i°globalizationi± is largely viewed in economic terms ia the free movement of goods, services, labor and capital across borders. In the Arab MENA, however, i°globalizationi± is viewed in largely ideological terms and has been regarded as a new version of imperialism. Consequently, the Arab MENA region remains one of the most un-globalized regions in the world. The book serves as both a textbook and a summary of the very large literature on MENA. It examines the following economic realities of the region and compares them across the MENA economies: Technology gap and comparative development The value of education and human capital development Water and food security The economics and politics of oil Population growth, role of gender, and labor mobility The role of the state as economic actor The economic value of democracy The prospects for regional integration Key Features: There are no economic textbooks covering this material. The proposed textbook will have no or limited competition This volume presents a unique approach to discuss the MENA economies. It focuses on specific development issues and examines how it applies to the individual countries. In effect, the basis for comparison will be an economic construct. This avoids biased comparison of one country's performance to another The analysis presented in this volume is based on mainstream economic analysis found in the development and growth literature

Background. The principle reason for this paper is to completely understand females’ business involvement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) zone. Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates provide a good environment for research about women’s status in business and this topic requires more thorough exploration. Research aims. The purpose of the article is an initial analysis of women’s situation in the Arab countries and assessment of the risks and open doors for women who are willing to own and work their establishments all through the MENA region, however the remarkable attention was given to two chosen nations from the region: Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. Methodology. The paper is in light of composing a review of the conducted research and data gathered on females’ business in MENA area. It takes into consideration studies done on women in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates and the analysis of figures and tables. Thus, it is a literature review and an analysis of secondary resources of data. Key findings. Females’ business has not reached its full capability. Now is the time to enhance women’s entrepreneurship. Women in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates are still facing several social, cultural, and economic obstacles as part of the workforce. The ability of administrations both to generate measures that are valid, reactive, and inclusive and to improve gender orientation balance is crucial.

Regional Environmental Cooperation on Transboundary Air Pollution in the Middle East and North Africa Inkyoung Kim (bio) Introduction1 Since the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972, international communities have endeavored to clarify the right and responsibility of states regarding transboundary pollution. Principle 21 of the 1972 Declaration at this Conference stated that countries have "the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction."2 Europe has been successful in tackling transboundary air pollution through the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution in 1979. Furthermore, the Agenda 21 of the 1992 Declaration of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development urged European countries to share their successful experiences with other regional communities to help them solve transboundary pollution issues. Have European experiences on transboundary air pollution been shared [End Page 1] with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region? What are the main sources of transboundary air pollution in MENA? To address those issues, what kinds of cooperative mechanisms have been created in this region? While many studies have attempted to tease out the motivations, success, and limitations of European regional environmental cooperation, regional environmental cooperation in MENA has been understudied. This study aims to investigate regional environmental cooperation in MENA, focusing on transboundary air pollution. Transboundary Pollution Most pollution problems are caused by local or regional sources, but pollution does not stay within and stop at national borders. It can travel by air or water thousands of miles. Transboundary flows of pollutants occur among countries in the same region as well as between continents. The United Nations (UN) defines transboundary pollution as "pollution that originates in one country but, by crossing the border through pathways of water or air, is able to cause damage to the environment in another country."3 More specifically, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) defines transboundary air pollution as "air pollution whose physical origin is situated wholly or in part within the area under the national jurisdiction of one State and which as adverse effects in the area under the jurisdiction of another State at such a distance that it is not generally possible to distinguish the contribution of individual emission sources or groups of sources" in Article 1 of the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution.4 It is known that some air pollutants circulate even globally and deposit on land and water bodies far from their original sources.5 Acid rain problems in Europe have led 51 countries to adopt the Convention on the Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution and various numbers of countries to ratify eight protocols on the reduction of sulfur, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, persistent organic pollutants, and ozone emissions since 1979.6 East Asia has also addressed acid rain [End Page 2] and dust sandstorms since the 1990s. As the Sahara Desert in North Africa and the whole region of the Middle East are the two hot spots of primary dust storms around the world, it is important to understand what the main sources of dust storms are and if MENA has developed any significant cooperative mechanisms to tackle transboundary impact of dust storms originated in this region. MENA Different entities identify the MENA region differently. For example, the World Bank identifies MENA as one of six regions of the world.7 It classifies the 19 countries or territories as part of the Middle East and North Africa, including Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.8 The OECD does not include Iran but does include Mauritania and Palestinian Authority instead of West Bank and Gaza. The UN does not identify MENA as one of its five regional groups.9 Its agencies and programs define the MENA region differently and sometimes contradictorily. For instance, United Nations Environment Programme has six regional offices including Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin American and the Caribbean, North America, and West Asia. The regional office for Africa covers the entire African continent...

Following decades of success in solar energy projects, the Missouri Legislature designated Crowder College in 1992 as the State's renewable energy education center. The resulting Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Technology (MARET) Center is recognized internationally for its contributions to the energy field. The mission of the MARET Center is to expand renewable energy throughout the region with education, applied research, and economic development. Educational programs include certification and transfer degrees encompassing green construction, solar thermal energy, solar electricity, and wind. The MARET Center also assists in new product development and other business support services in renewable energy. The Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Technology (MARET) Center at Crowder College hopes to eventually develop a 27,500 ft2 facility as a living laboratory to support solar and other renewable and sustainable energy development through professional degrees, new product development and commercialization, renewable energy business incubation, and consumer education. The primary objective of the current project was to complete Stage One of this building, with solar, wind, and geothermal technologies installed to power its 9,216 ft2 office, classroom, and research spaces. This MARET Center includes a modular roof structure that permits both solar module mounting and daylighting, PV/thermal hybrid modules pioneered in Crowder Solar Decathlon homes, modular electrical management subsystems; and modular delivery systems for heating and cooling the structure. The MARET Facility will operate as a Net Positive energy building, consistently producing surplus energy for distributed generation on the utility grid. The modular design of the energy systems within the building is to serve as a scalable and repeatable model for a wide variety of building applications and climate zones. As a living laboratory of renewable energy, exploring and validating new applications of solar and other renewable technologies, the MARET Facility will house a wide variety of programs which will advance implementation of renewable energy throughout the region. These program goals include; Curriculum in renewable energy for pre-engineering transfer programs; Certification and degree programs for technical degrees for Energy Efficiency, Wind, Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal professionals; Short courses and workshops for building management and design professionals; Public education and demonstration projects in renewable energy through conferences and K-12 educational outreach; Technical degree offering in building construction incorporating “best practices” for energy efficiency and renewables; and Business incubators for new renewable energy businesses and new product development The new MARET facility will support the mission of the US Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Program, “to improve America’s security, environmental quality, and economic prosperity through public-private partnerships that bring reliable and affordable solar energy technologies to the marketplace,” through a variety of educational and business assistance programs. Further, technical innovations planned for the MARET facility and its applied research activities will advance the Solar Program strategic goals to “reduce the cost of solar energy to the point it becomes competitive in relevant energy markets (e.g., buildings, power plants) and for solar technology to enable a sustainable solar industry.” Overarching Goals relative to program needs, future expansion, flexibility, quality of materials, and construction and operational costs:; Experimental: The structure and systems of the building operate as an educational resource. The systems are meant to be a source for data collection and study for building users and instructors; Educational: Part of the evolution of this building and its ongoing goals is to use the building as an educational tool, one where new ideas developed in the world and especially at Crowder can be tested further as part of MARET's curriculum; LEED Platinum: achieve highest level of LEED certification; Net Zero: The building will utilize existing wind and alternate energy sources on campus and add solar PVT panels and achieve as close as possible to a net zero energy usage; and Phase II: The phase II portion of this project will expand the Internet student area, additional classrooms, and labs, as well as an auditorium and exhibit area.

e19041 Background: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a rare yet important hematologic malignancy of B-cell origin. While global incidence rates vary, the epidemiology of HL in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is not well understood due to limited regional data. This study uses Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data to analyze HL incidence trends in MENA over the past three decades, aiming to shed light on the evolving burden of the disease in this region. Methods: Data on age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) for HL in the MENA from 1990 to 2019 were collected from the GBD database. Joinpoint regression software was utilized to calculate the annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) in ASIR, with stratification by country. Results: From 1990 to 2019, an estimated total of 94,221 cases of HL were reported in the MENA, with 58.2% of cases in males. A statistically significant increase in ASIR was observed across the region, with an AAPC of 0.40 (95% CI 0.37 to 0.43, p<0.001). Significant increases in ASIR were observed in Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Tunisia, with the most prominent rise in Iran (AAPC 2.84). In contrast, Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Sudan, Turkey, and Yemen experienced significant declines in ASIR, with the steepest decrease seen in Morocco (AAPC -0.27). No significant changes were observed in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Conclusions: Our analysis shows a significant increase in HL incidence across the MENA from 1990 to 2019. The rise was especially noted in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia. This increase could reflect improved early detection, better reporting systems, and changes in environmental or lifestyle factors. However, Morocco, Yemen, and Iraq saw declines, while Egypt and the UAE showed no significant changes. The varying trends reflect the complex, often bimodal patterns seen globally, likely driven by a combination of better healthcare access, epidemiological shifts, and environmental influences. These findings emphasize the need for region-specific healthcare strategies to address the growing HL burden in the MENA.

In regions susceptible to external economic shocks, such as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), corporate governance plays a pivotal role in maintaining financial system resilience. Despite facing significant economic challenges over the past 15 years, including oil price fluctuations and global financial crises, certain MENA states have achieved economic prosperity through effective policies. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), with its stable political and economic environment, stands out as a diverse and growing economy. However, many MENA nations lack adherence to established corporate governance standards. While the 2016 MENA-OECD Ministerial Conference endorsed corporate governance measures, their impact on state-owned enterprises and financial institutions remains under evaluation. This paper investigates the performance and corporate governance practices of UAE and MENA banks, with a focus on determining if UAE banks exhibit superior governance compared to their regional counterparts. Key areas of inquiry include ownership structures, accountability mechanisms, and reporting practices, analyzed through various theoretical lenses. Utilizing static panel regression techniques, the study assesses data from UAE and MENA banks, highlighting the significance of corporate governance in differentiating bank performance. The findings underscore the positive impact of corporate governance on UAE banks’ Tobin’s Q, contributing to a nuanced understanding of corporate governance dynamics in the MENA region and facilitating informed policy decisions for economic stability.

Oil rents (OR) and natural gas rents (NGR) have significant contributions to the income of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) economies and may increase emissions. Moreover, spatial autocorrelation is expected in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions due to the geographically closed economies in the MENA region. Thus, we examine the impact of OR and NGR on CO2 emissions caring spatial dimensions and analyze the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). We apply the spatial Durbin model technique on the effects of OR, NGR, and economic growth on CO2 emissions in 17 MENA nations from 2000-2019, i.e., Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Yemen. Moreover, diagnostic tests are applied to reach the most appropriate spatial specification and to have the most robust results. The results disclose that CO2 emissions have spillovers and emissions of any country can damage the environment of neighboring countries. The EKC is corroborated with a turning point of 38,698 constant 2015 US dollars. Israel and Qatar are in 2nd phase of the EKC, and 15 MENA economies are in 1st stage. Thus, the economic expansion of most economies has ecological concerns. The effect of natural gas rents is found statistically insignificant. Oil rents have minute negative effects on emissions of local economies with an elasticity coefficient of -0.2117. Nevertheless, these have a positive indirect effect with an elasticity coefficient of 0.5328. Thus, the net effect of oil rents is positive. One percent increase in oil rents could accelerate 0.3211% of emissions. Thus, we suggest the MENA countries reduce reliance on oil rents in their income to avoid the negative environmental effects of the oil sector.

This study is concerned with the foreign aid provided by non-member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) (non-DAC donors) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Non-DAC donors in the MENA region are mainly composed of Arab donors, such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Asian non-DAC donors, such as China and India. This research poses two questions as conceptual reference guides in the context of the MENA region. First, what international dynamics have driven non-DAC donors to give foreign aid to the MENA countries? Second, what are the impacts of foreign aid by non-DAC donors on the MENA states and societies, and are they ‘rogue donors’? This research investigates the general trends of economic assistance by non-DAC donors, compares and contrasts their behaviours, and then discusses the impacts of their increasing presence in the world politics.

This study explores the impact of corporate governance (CG) on the performance of banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a focus on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The MENA region, characterized by diverse economic landscapes, is analysed through a comparative study encompassing 141 financial institutions across 12 countries from 2016 to 2020. Key performance indicators, such as Tobin's Q ratio (TBQ), Return on Equity (ROE), and Return on Total Assets (ROTA), are assessed in relation to CG mechanisms. The research employs principles components analysis (PCA) to delve into CG practices, covering board size, independence, diversification, meetings, remuneration, and ownership concentration. External factors such as GDP growth rate, bank size, and market capitalization are also considered. Findings indicate a stable relationship between CG and financial performance, emphasizing effective governance's significance. The UAE has emerged as a CG leader since 2007, boasting a legislative framework that strengthens practices. Disparities in CG standards across the MENA region are noted, with some countries relying on regulatory standards and others implementing comprehensive CG codes. The study highlights CG's positive impact on financial performance, particularly on ROE and ROTA, in the UAE and the broader MENA region. The UAE's robust CG mechanisms, recent regulatory changes, and investor-friendly policies make it attractive for investors. Economic factors, such as GDP growth rate and bank size, are also considered. Acknowledging limitations, such as reliance on historical data, the study suggests future research avenues, including exploring specific CG mechanisms contributing to performance improvement and investigating cultural and institutional factors' impact on governance practices.

In this book, we study demographic developments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In the past, the demographic developments in the Middle East and North Africa have been described as "peculiar" and "unique". In particular, the development of fertility got attention from a western point of view because it did not show the sharp decline with increasing development as the western countries did. Moreover, the growing population size and the bulk of young people caused worries, particularly in Europe, where a discussion about "the death of the West" has started. Thus, the demographic processes in the Middle East and North Africa call for a closer inspection of the recent levels and tends. Surprisingly, there is not much literature on these countries, leading us to compile essential descriptive findings. In the present book, we evaluate the current state and recent demographic developments in the MENA countries by presenting comparable and recent data on changes since 1950 and on the current characteristics of the population in the 22 countries of the Arab League (Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, State of Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) plus three neighboring countries (Israel, Turkey, and Iran) using databases of various United Nations agencies and the World Bank. We deliberately refrain from discussing population forecasts which, due to assumptions underlying to them, would be worth to be discussed separately.

We reviewed the scope of countries, diseases, technologies, and methods involved in the health economic evaluations published in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. PRISMA guidelines were followed. A PubMed search was conducted up to December 15, 2019. English language full-text articles were included if they reported original research on humans; involved the local population from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, or Yemen; reported costs; and involved a full or partial health economic analysis comparing alternative health technologies. Data on publication year, country of origin, disease area according to ICD-10, type of health technology, and applied methods were extracted. From 105 eligible articles, 57.1% were published between 2015 and 2019. Egypt (30.5%) and Saudi Arabia (27.6%) were the most frequently involved countries. Infectious diseases were most often studied (27.6%). The assessed technology was a system (eg, infection control, screening, coverage/access, hospital management, or healthcare delivery program) in 41.9% of studies. Cost-utility analysis (CUA) was the most frequent method (29.5%) and was growing rapidly. Health system perspective was adopted in 52.4% of studies, whereas societal perspective was scarce (8.6%). The majority of studies (46.7%) were published in Scimago Q1 journals. Over half of the studies (54.2%) did not report or did not have a funding source. From 2015, health economic analysis became more frequent in the MENA region, providing input to value-based health policy and financing. For further growth, in addition to the development of the institutional background, valid and more standardized local cost and outcome data should be available.

This concluding chapter summarizes what has been learned from this work’s case studies and the surveys of citizens in the western U.S. As discussed in the introductory chapter, the three Pacific Coast states of Washington, Oregon and California have been active participants in the Pacific Coast Action Plan on Climate and Energy. These three states are host to numerous alternative energy technology (AET) installation controversies; each state has a long history of environmental concerns and has spawned major home-grown environmental movements; and each state has extensive experience with both carbon-based and non-carbon-based (such as hydroelectric) energy production for the power grid. The state of Idaho is included in the analyses as the case of a neighboring state that has not been so proactive promoting non-hydro AET. The case studies demonstrated that the process of siting AET should be transparent, fair, and incorporate local concerns about the local environmental consequences of AET siting. The case studies and survey data also reveal that values—including political orientations, postmaterialism, and most importantly the NEP—are important predictors of support for renewable energy technologies, but also play a role in predicting public preferences concerning environmental tradeoffs. At the same time, this study also found that globalists (strong environmental values with strong support for AET over local environmental concerns) differ in certain of their values from localists (strong environmental values with strong support for local environmental concerns over AET).