Transmitting Reform? Assessing New Media Influence on Political Rights in the Middle East

The case method has made inroads as a pedagogical tool that can sharpen students’ analytical skills and better prepare them for the reality awaiting them professionally. Despite its deep-seated origins in the West, the case method remains underused in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The purpose of this study is to explore the main challenges that MENA business higher education institutions face in effecting case-based learning and the key initiatives that may help in addressing them. Building on our extensive experience with case studies production and teaching in the MENA context, and a pioneering exploratory research involving 40 instructors, students, and administrators from three leading business schools in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia, we shed new light on the skills and contextual challenges that MENA business higher education institutions encounter when implementing the case method. We also propose a framework that integrates a wide range of initiatives to promote case-based learning in MENA. At the heart of this framework is the “community building” effort advocated as a catalyst to support case writing, teaching, solving, and publishing, as well as the development of a culture conducive to an effective deployment of the case method in the specific MENA context.

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are now widely recognized as engines of economic development. This paper discusses the importance of SMEs in the MENA economic area and identifies the challenges and barriers facing SMEs in MENA countries. In addition, this study analyses the effects of two 'black swan' Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) phenomena and a decline in oil prices on the economy of MENA in 2020. The current study found that the most significant challenges were identified as lack of access to finance, lack of managerial expertise, inefficiencies of government, lack of a well-trained workforce, inadequate infrastructure, corruption and bureaucratic obstacles. Among these challenges, the lack of access to finance appears to be the major challenge and suggests that future research is required to identify the role of Islamic finance models in the financing of SMEs in MENA countries. This research provides all stakeholders with policy implications intended for enhancing the different features of SME improvement in the MENA region and generally in developing countries.

The vast arid and semi-arid regions of the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) constitute 85% of the region's land area and are home to approximately 60% of the region's population. Limited water resources pose severe constraints on people's economic and social progress, testing their resilience and threatening their livelihoods. Rainfall is not only scarce and unpredictable, but the region is also subject to frequent and severe droughts. Available surface water is declining and the over-pumping of groundwater beyond natural recharge rates is occurring, lowering the water table and causing an increase in groundwater salinity and ecological degradation. Water Demand Management (WDM) is about governance and tools that motivate people and their activities to regulate the amount and manner in which they access, use and dispose of water to alleviate pressure on freshwater supplies. It is also about protecting water quality. The development and promotion of such WDM practices, primarily for governments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, have constituted the core objectives supported by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and its partners through the Water Demand Management Forums. Managing Water Demand provides a comprehensive account of the tools used to manage water demand in the MENA region. A critical review is presented of the efficacy of WDM techniques in the areas of wastewater reuse, water valuation, public-private partnerships and decentralization, and participatory irrigation management. This book will provide some of the necessary knowledge required to further promote WDM in the MENA region, while providing insight into the work required for much needed change to improve water governance. ISBN: 9781843391043 (Print) ISBN: 9781780402628 (eBook)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most important contributing factors to infertility. In this study, we report the burden of PCOS by age and sociodemographic index (SDI) for the 21 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Publicly available data on the point prevalence, incidence and years lived with disability (YLDs), from 1990 to 2019, were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study for the 21 countries in MENA. The results are presented with age-standardised numbers and rates per 100,000 population, along with their corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). In 2019, the age-standardised point prevalence and incidence rate for PCOS in the MENA region were 2079.7 (95% UI: 1392.0 to 2812.3) and 77.2 (95% UI: 51.6 to 105.4) per 100,000, respectively, which represents a 37.9% (95% UI: 31.7 to 45.0) and a 33.7% (95% UI: 27.7 to 40.3) increase since 1990, respectively. Also in 2019, the age-standardised YLD rate of PCOS in this region was 18.7 (95% UI: 7.8 to 37.9) per 100,000 women, which has increased by 36.1% (95% UI: 29.4 to 43.4) since 1990. Kuwait [25.4 (10.7, 51.2)] had the highest age-standardised YLD rate, while Afghanistan [10.8 (10.1, 49.2)] had the lowest. Moreover, the largest increase in the YLD rate, from 1990 to 2019, was seen in Sudan [90.3% (64.1, 120.9)], whereas no country decreased during the measurement period. The total prevalent number and point prevalence of PCOS (per 100,000) were both highest in the 20–24 age group. The prevalence of PCOS was highest among women of reproductive age, but decreased rapidly after 45 years of age. Moreover, at the country level there was a positive association between SDI and the age-standardised YLD rates of PCOS. The growing prevalence and burden of PCOS in the MENA region highlights the need to implement cost-effective preventive programs, especially for women in their third decade of life, and in MENA countries with higher SDI levels.

The main purpose of this study is to measure the technical efficiency of twenty health systems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to inform evidence-based health policy decisions. In addition, the effects of alternative stochastic frontier model specification on the empirical results are examined. We conducted a stochastic frontier analysis to estimate the country-level technical efficiencies using secondary panel data for 20 MENA countries for the period of 1995-2012 from the World Bank database. We also tested the effect of alternative frontier model specification using three random-effects approaches: a time-invariant model where efficiency effects are assumed to be static with regard to time, and a time-varying efficiency model where efficiency effects have temporal variation, and one model to account for heterogeneity. The average estimated technical inefficiency of health systems in the MENA region was 6.9% with a range of 5.7-7.9% across the three models. Among the top performers, Lebanon, Qatar, and Morocco are ranked consistently high according to the three different inefficiency model specifications. On the opposite side, Sudan, Yemen and Djibouti ranked among the worst performers. On average, the two most technically efficient countries were Qatar and Lebanon. We found that the estimated technical efficiency scores vary substantially across alternative parametric models. Based on the findings reported in this study, most MENA countries appear to be operating, on average, with a reasonably high degree of technical efficiency compared with other countries in the region. However, there is evidence to suggest that there are considerable efficiency gains yet to be made by some MENA countries. Additional empirical research is needed to inform future health policies aimed at improving both the efficiency and sustainability of the health systems in the MENA region.

Two decades after the fall of the shah, Iran is still going through a long and frequently interrupted post-revolutionary transition, which has a significant impact on the country's politics and its external relations. This paper discusses the implications of Iran's foreign policy on security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with a specific focus on the national security of Egypt. The study was carried out in Egypt and North Africa, and it studied a sample of 50 adult male and female professors who specialize in Iranian affairs, politics, and diplomats. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of Iran's foreign policy in the MENA region. The specific objectives of the study were: 1) to examine the current situation of Iran's foreign policy on security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); 2) to assess how Iran's foreign policy on security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) impact’s on Egypt's stability and; 3) to investigate strategies being used by Egypt to navigate security challenges and improve relations with Iran. The study is based on the shock theory. Data gathered from interviews and questionnaires using both qualitative and quantitative research methods have been used in the research. After gathering the data, they were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The findings of the study indicate that security challenges in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are highly complex and are influenced by various factors such as politics, history, economics, and religion. The insights contained herein form the basis for understanding how Iran's foreign policy affects regional security and geopolitical stability, thereby necessitating context-dependent measures to address contemporary security threats in the MENA region.

Emphasizes the importance of water security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in a global context, including impacts on human well-being and economic prosperity. Chronic scarcity, variable hydrology, poor governance, and soaring demand are causing overexploitation of the region’s scarce water resources. The surface water resources of the MENA region are not only the scarcest; they also constitute the most variable and unpredictable in the world. The MENA region, as well as Central Asia and parts of South and East Asia, stand out as areas in which water resources are being unsustainably exploited. Achieving water security involves actions across a range of elements related to water resources management and service delivery; without enhanced water security, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will prove difficult, in particular SDG 6, the so-called water SDG, which seeks to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

PurposeThis article explores the current trends in civic engagement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region after a decade of social media growth in the region.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is based on a case studies approach. In these case studies, the authors use an exploratory approach to case study research. The authors employ a mixed-method approach to exploring the development of civic engagement in the MENA region.FindingsThe study’s finding shows that the MENA region's social media growth has enabled digital natives to play a vital role in enriching and empowering their communities and their lives.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper could have explored more examples from around the MENA region.Practical implicationsThe paper's practical significance is the understanding that the ground is shifting around Internet access and how digital natives in the MENA region are employing it for their civic engagement initiative. It is an important indication that the MENA region's next innovation could be in the civic engagement arena. Unlike their parents, who are digital immigrants, these young and energetic digital natives are out to shape all aspects of their lives. Paving the way for more innovative and creative ways of civic engagement in the MENA region.Originality/valueThe paper explores civic engagement development in the MENA region, shedding light on the issues concerning MENA region youth such as cleaning the environment, waste and food recycling, combating extremism, developing education curricula and even promoting peace. The paper's value is that it gives an update on civic engagement in the MENA region.

Norovirus (NoV) is considered the second leading cause of viral acute gastroenteritis (AGE). To our knowledge, there are no systematic reviews assessing the role of NoV in AGE in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Consequently, we conducted an extensive systematic literature review on articles studying NoV in the 24 countries of the MENA region during the past 15 years (2000-2015). The methods and reporting were set according to the 2015 PRISMA-P and based on the elements from the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO). We retrieved 38 studies meeting our predefined inclusion criteria and were used to extract full data. Studies reporting on NoV were conducted in 15 out of the 24 countries of the region. The reported NoV infection rates in MENA countries ranged between 0.82% and 36.84%. The majority of studies were clinical observational studies assessing NoV rates mainly among children. Participants were recruited from in- and outpatient clinics. NoV infection was reported all year round with with peaks observed mainly during cold months. GII.4 was the predominant genotype detected in stool of participants as reported by 16 out of 25 studies (64%). Overall, there is an increasing recognition of NoV as an important causative agent of AGE across all age groups in the MENA region. Further studies are needed to assess the national and the regional burden of NoV among different age groups, its molecular diversity and seasonal variability.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region suffers from low precipitation and high evaporation. Coastal areas of the MENA region are usually densely populated; hence, the coastal aquifers are easily over-exploited beyond their safe yield, and seawater intrusion and aquifer salinization have been caused by the groundwater-level declines. Four studies in MENA coastal aquifers, on seawater intrusion modeling and aquifer recharge and salinization using isotopes, have been brought together in a topical collection and are discussed in this essay. A brief overview is given of managed aquifer recharge as an effective method to combat groundwater-level decline, seawater intrusion and aquifer salinization in MENA counties.

Introduction: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is mainly transmitted through contaminated water supplies which make the virus endemic in developing countries including countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.Recent reports suggest potential risk of HEV transmission via blood transfusion particularly in endemic areas.Materials and Methods: Related articles on HEV were collected by searching through the 25 countries of the MENA region using Pubmed and Medline within the past 14 years: January 2000-August 2014.Results: One hundred articles were extracted, of which 25 were not eligible.The articles discussed the seroprevalence of HEV and HEV markers in 12 countries.Eight articles provided data on HEV in blood donors.The seroprevalence of HEV in the general MENA population ranged from 2.0%-37.5% and was higher in males than in females.Prevalence increased with age, but exposure seems to be in early life.Discussion: In the MENA region the role of HEV as an infectious threat to blood safety is under-investigated.More data are needed to quantify the risk of transmission and to assess clinical outcomes.This requires, at least, surveillance screening of donors and recipients for HEV markers using sensitive and specific serological tests.At the present time, serious consideration should be given to selective screening for certain groups of patients (e.g.immunocompromised, pregnant women and others) who commonly require blood transfusion and are at high risk of hepatic failure or chronicity from HEV infection.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is endowed with solar energy that can be harvested and stored as hydrogen, which has gained increasing focus as a secondary energy medium. This paper introduces modeling and feasibility analysis of cost-optimized hydrogen production, storage, shipment, and methanation in the MENA region. The analysis is based on the economic modeling of hydrogen production through the combination of photovoltaic solar power and electrolysis systems, utilizing NASA surface Meteorology and Solar Energy database (2010) [1]. A system of 100MW grid-connected photovoltaic PV power plant (grid-PV) in combination with hydrogen producing electrolyzer are simulated using spatial data for the MENA region. Then, the simulation assesses cost of methane production by Sabatier synthesis of carbon dioxide. The unit cost of hydrogen from a system, which consists of 100MW PV solar plant and electrolyzer, ranged 4-8 US$/kg. Methanation was found to be expensive vis-a-vis regionally traded natural gas. Location is a major determinant to hydrogen cost due to the difference in irradiation and logistics. In conclusion, this paper can serve as an atlas for mapping the cost of solar power and hydrogen production in the MENA region, and facilitates further research in the future.

e13567 Background: Similar to other regions of the world, cancer incidence in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is rising, which has been attributed to increased life expectancy and adoption of western lifestyle habits. Conducting clinical trials in the region is important to assess efficacy and safety of oncology medications in the specific population (response to drugs can be impacted by genetics, demographics and lifestyle factors). Although the MENA comprises around 5% of the global population, the region only participates in approximately 3% of clinical trials worldwide. It is important to understand the challenges in conducting trials in MENA and identify strategies to overcome these in order to facilitate advances in clinical research in the region. Methods: A literature review was conducted (via e.g. PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov) to understand the current oncology clinical research landscape in MENA (from Jan 2015-Dec 2020), with the aim of identifying key challenges and potential strategies to overcome these. Results: Conduct of oncology clinical trials (phases 1-4) has risen in recent years in MENA, from 47 trials in 2015 to 53 trials in 2020. Despite the presence of various research-favourable factors in MENA (large patient pool, high demand for medication, lower clinical trial operational costs, compliance with ICH-GCP standards), the region still falls behind other countries in clinical research. Key factors identified as challenges in conducting clinical trials in MENA include the research infrastructure and patient awareness/understanding of research. We propose the following strategies to support the advancement of clinical research in the region: (1) Enhance research infrastructure through bolstering national clinical research networks and supporting collaboration between healthcare institutes, academia and the pharma industry; (2) Diversify methods of patient engagement (e.g. patient advisory groups and social media networks) and provide education on pros/cons of participating in research to raise awareness and improve trial participation rates; and (3) Improve availability of comprehensive oncology registries to enhance understanding of disease burden and support clinical research. Conclusions: The conduct of oncology clinical trials in MENA is increasing, yet the region is still under-represented in the global clinical trial market, despite its significant potential. The advancement of clinical research in the region will require a multi-level approach, involving collaboration between multiple stakeholders including the pharma industry, regulators, government, and healthcare professionals.

Purpose: this study investigates factors influencing foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Approach/design: using a balanced Panel data from 24 MENA economies covering 1980-2022 we employ econometric techniques (unit root, cointegration, FMOLS, DOLS, AMG, CCEMG) to evaluate the impacts of market and resource-seeking motives, institutional, government policies (macroeconomic level), and political risk on FDI inflows into MENA region. Findings: The long-term results suggest that market size, low corruption, government effectiveness and exchange rate contribute to FDI inflows while natural resources availability, role of law and voice and accountability deters FDI inflows to MENA. Contrary, political stability and regulatory quality factors has no significant effects on FDI inflows. Originality/Value: the study has potential implications for boosting FDI inflows into MENA region MENA such as: Policymakers of MENA economies should adopt stable monetary policies, implement policies and regulations to Promote private sector development, improve institutional quality and maintain macroeconomic stability. Diversification of economies and reduction of reliance on natural resources are essential for long-term FDI attraction. Additionally, green innovation should be encouraged by spending more on R&D, green technology and improving policies regarding the rule of law to create a good investment environment. Future Research: Further research is needed to explore the specific mechanisms through which these factors influence FDI inflows and to assess the potential impact of other variables, such as technological advancements and regional integration.

Measuring Monetary Poverty in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region: Data Gaps and Different Options to Address Them