Middle East And North Africa Research Articles

Human capital and manufacturing activities under environmentally-driven urbanization in the MENA region

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region possesses immense capacity for renewable energy generation. Despite the potential, most countries in the region are yet to fully embrace renewable energy. Non-renewable sources still dominate their energy mix. This study examines the interplay between urbanization, renewable and non-renewable energy consumption, and environmental quality in the six Middle Eastern and North African countries from 1990 to 2021, using the mean group (MG), the mean group dynamic least squares (DOLSMG), the common correlated effect (CCE), augmented mean group (AMG) and the cross-section augmented ARDL (CS–ARDL). Accounting for urbanization, and economic growth, the findings of DOLSMG indicate that while renewable energy and manufacturing activities significantly contribute to environmental quality, urbanization and human capital development significantly contributes to environmental degradation. The CS-ARDL short-term and long run estimation result showed that manufacturing activities significantly contribute to environmental quality, When examined by country, it was found that there is a unidirectional causal relationship from economic growth, manufacturing value added, urbanization, human capital development to dioxide emissions in Saudi Arabia. While there is a unidirectional causality from manufacturing value added to dioxide emissions in Jordan, and a unidirectional causality from urbanization to dioxide emissions in Tunisia.

Feasibility analysis and Atlas for green hydrogen project in MENA region: Production, cost, and environmental maps

Renewable energy markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries are growing quickly. Therefore, the objective of the current study is to investigate the feasibility of green hydrogen production based on the meteorological conditions within each MENAcountry utilizing a water electrolysis system powered by available solar and wind energies. In addition, it shows the opportunities for constructing hydrogen projects in MENA countries based on the available power, system performance, cost, and CO2 emission mitigation. The simulation is conducted using MATLAB/Simulink software. In addition, five degradation rates are examined in economic analysis in the context of hydrogen production from photovoltaic panels and wind turbines due to the unpredictability of the future value of money. The results revealed that the highest hydrogen production density for WT/H2 is 1.29 kg/m2 in Morocco, 1.26 kg/m2 in Egypt, 5.7 kg/m2 in Saudi Arabia, and 5.58 kg/m2 in Egypt for PV/H2. The WT/H2 system is more efficient than the PV/H2 system, with a maximum value of 31.54 %. The minimal production cost is 2.12 $/kg in Morocco and 2.17 $/kg in Egypt for the WT/H2. In the case of PV/H2, it is 3.28 $/kg in Saudi Arabia and 3.35 $/kg in Egypt. MENA countries have significant potential in hydrogen production and hydrogen investment. The range of CO2 mitigation lies between 11.47 and 87.4 kgCO2/m2. Finally, the current investigation revealed that the MENA region has an excellent opportunity to construct green hydrogen production projects based on wind/solar energies.

Proactive Environmental Management's Drive for Green Technology Adoption in MENA Firms: Regulatory Mediation and Financial Moderation

This empirical study explores the determinants of Green Technologies and Practices (GTP) adoption within Middle East and North Africa (MENA) firms, focusing on Proactive Environmental Management (PEM), Environmental Regulation (ER), and Financial Exposure to Environmental Impediments (FEEI). Using World Bank Enterprise Survey data from 5381 firms across six MENA countries, we apply an ordered logit model and General Structured Equation Model (GSEM) to examine the direct and mediated effects of PEM on GTP adoption through ER, and moderation by FEEI. Our analysis reveals a significant impact of PEM on GTP adoption, enhanced by ER mediation. Additionally, FEEI moderation unveils a nuanced relationship between environmental financial exposures and green adoption propensity. The study also investigates control variables, revealing varying GTP adoption propensities across firm characteristics, and offers policy and firm-level recommendations to bolster GTP adoption in the MENA region.

A scoping review of the social determinants of maternal health in the MENA region.

One crucial step to improving maternal health outcomes in any region is understanding the social determinants of maternal health, which vary significantly across the world´s geographical areas and within individual countries. The variability in these determinants is manifested in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Using a scoping review process, we identified articles analyzing social factors influencing maternal health outcomes in the MENA region. A total of 50 articles were included in this review. Several social factors impact independently or in association with maternal health outcomes or utilization of maternal health in the MENA region. These factors include: residing in an area of conflict, residing in a rural region, low accessibility and quality of health care, low level of education, antagonistic relationship with spouse and family-in-law, cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and early marriage, traditional practices, and beliefs, low household wealth, women´s financial security, women's bad childbirth history, and interpersonal violence. Multi-sector collaboration across governmental ministries, non-governmental organizations, local authorities, healthcare delivery programs, and community members is critical to creating long-term solutions in maternal health for MENA nations. Together they must address traditional practices harmful to women, poor accessibility, availability, and affordability of health services. To benefit women, a long-term commitment of organizations at local, national, and international levels to social investments in women´s education, financial status, and cultural norms is recommended for MENA nations.

Preparedness and Response Strategies for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Incidents in the Middle East and North Africa: An Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Delphi Approach.

Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents require meticulous preparedness, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study evaluated CBRN response operational flowcharts, tabletop training scenarios methods, and a health sector preparedness assessment tool specific to the MENA region. An online Delphi survey engaging international disaster medicine experts was conducted. Content validity indices (CVIs) were used to validate the items. Consensus metrics, including interquartile ranges (IQRs) and Kendall's W coefficient, were utilized to assess the panelists' agreement levels. Advanced artificial intelligence computing methods, including sentiment analysis and machine-learning methods (t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding [t-SNE] and k-means), were used to cluster the consensus data. Forty experts participated in this study. The item-level CVIs for the CBRN response flowcharts, preparedness assessment tool, and tabletop scenarios were 0.96, 0.85, and 0.84, respectively, indicating strong content validity. Consensus analysis demonstrated an IQR of 0 for most items and a strong Kendall's W coefficient, indicating a high level of agreement among the panelists. The t-SNE and k-means identified four clusters with greater European response engagement. This study validated essential CBRN preparedness and response tools using broad expert consensus, demonstrating their applicability across different geographic areas.

Urban challenges in the Middle East and North Africa

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has one of the world?s most rapidly expanding populations. Urban areas are the primary locus of this growth, as urban share of total population grew from 48% in 1985 to close to 60% in 2017, and it is expected to exceed 70 % by 2027. Against this very high rate of urbanization and the provision of adequate infrastructure and public services for the increase in the rates of urban, the key urban challenge the accumulation of population in urban areas and lack of services and the increasing pressure on the fragile environment from urbanization. Another major challenge in MENA is the very high percentage of informal housing, reaching 20-40% in some parts of the region creating social pressures and linking to economic opportunity for lower income groups. As well as the problems of unemployment. Finally, there is also need to develop the capacity to manage natural disasters protection of the environment.

Prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents and adults in the Middle East and North Africa region: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesTo systematically estimate the overall prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, adolescents and adults across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis conducted according...

The Worrying Phenomenon of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Its Negative Impact on Pandemic Control Efforts: Common Themes that Emerged in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region.

Since the declaration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic, intensive measures were taken to mitigate its negative health, psychological, social, and economic impact. COVID-19 continues to pose serious threats globally, with vaccination as the central safe strategy to control the pandemic. However, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a major concern, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Concerns regarding vaccine safety, efficacy, and misinformation contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Addressing these concerns and providing accurate information is crucial for increasing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake in this region, where the coverage is low. Variable rates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy were found in the numerous studies conducted in the region. Complex factors contributed to vaccination hesitancy in the region including concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy, low trust in healthcare systems, complacency toward the risks of COVID-19, constraints hindering access to COVID-19 vaccination services, as well as the circulation of misinformation and conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 and its vaccination. Effective approaches to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the MENA region rely on developing evidence-based communication strategies that are recommended to build trust in vaccination, highlight the disease risks, and counter COVID-19 vaccine-related misinformation. Ensuring COVID-19 vaccine affordability is also necessary besides the cautious consideration of implementing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Based on the preceding discussion, this chapter aims to identify the common themes of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the MENA region. In addition, the chapter highlights the importance of understanding the root causes of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and its associated determinants to develop effective strategies for promoting COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake in the MENA region. To build community trust, promote community education and awareness, and counter misinformation for better COVID-19 vaccine coverage in the region, it is recommended to involve healthcare professionals and policymakers.

EMS Potentials in MENA region

Background Emergency Medical Services (EMS) have been always considered as a vital service provided by of many Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) national societies worldwide and in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in particular during emergency and non-emergency contexts. The role to supporting the national wide health system in prehospital stage has got special attention during COVID 19 due to overwhelming health care facilities. The national societies have played a key role in mitigating the impact of the COVID 19 on the healthcare facilities by activating and growing their EMS capacities and expanding their scope of services in the prehospital stage. To define capacities and areas for improvement in RCRC national societies, we've developed a tool to survey different aspects of EMS. Methodology A questionnaire was designed by the IFRC MENA health team based on Prehospital emergency management system PEMS conceptual framework for assessment. 67 questions were grouped into 5 domains: governance and dispatch, Human Resources (H.R.) & Logistics, EMS Education, EMS operation and quality , and EMS disaster preparedness. Two open-ended questions were added to define areas of improvement and what national societies can offer to enhance capacities for other national societies in the region… The questionnaire was piloted with EMS leaders at Lebanese Red Cross. Between the period of April 2022 and August 2022, the online questionnaire was sent to four national society EMS managements, Lebanese Red Cross LRC , Palestine Red Crescent Society PRCS , Saudi Red Crescent Authority SRCA and Syria Arab Red Crescent SARC. The answers were collected using SurveyMonkey platform and validation workshops were held with all four EMS managements. For the qualitative questions of the perceived weaknesses and strengths, interviews with EMS managements were recorded and transcript. Analysis tools of SurveyMonkey was utilized for quantitative data analysis, and qualitative data was explored manually using thematic analysis methodology. Results The input from the four national societies revealed variation in governance, structure, and scope of services of EMS among them. We can highlight the main outcomes under each domain EMS Governance and Dispatch The four NSs are considering scoop and run operational model. The percentage of acute to cold cases in day to day practice is varying with predominance of cold cases among all. SRCA, PRCS in West Bank, and LRCS central dispatch center are using fully automated dispatch system, while LRC is using semi-automated in the regional dispatch centers, and SARC and PRCS branches in Gaza and Jerusalem are using manual (paper based) dispatch system. EMS H.R. & Logistics LRC, PRCS and SARC are mainly relying on volunteers to run EMS daily operations while SRCA depends on 6000 full time employees to operate 24/7 EMS services. SRCA EMS fleet is considered the largest among the four NSs with around 1,400 vehicles, LRC came next with 390 vehicles, then PRCS with 180, and lastly SARC with 112. EMS Education Both LRC and SRCA are running international accredited emergency courses including Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support, Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PTLS), Advanced Trauma Life Support, and other relevant courses. On the other hand, PRCS and SARC are considering academic and locally customized training courses to train their EMS staff and volunteers. EMS Operation and Quality The service coverage of the four EMS in urban areas ranges between 80 – 100% while coverage decreases in rural areas to reach under 50% in some regions. Quality assurance and regular monitoring are areas that need to be standardized and systematized in most cases. EMS Disaster Preparedness Specialized training program for Mass Causality Incidences (MCI) is conducted in LRC, PRCS and SRCA. LRC, SARC, and SRCA possess a standardized approach for major incidence management as part of their disaster management

Climate Change and the Potential for Conflict in the Middle East: Emerging Threats to Security and Human Rights

ABSTRACT: The traditional notion of national security, primarily concerned with accumulating military power and technological prowess, is likely to lose its traction in the face of emerging security threats caused by water scarcity, food insecurity, rising temperatures, frequent floods, sandstorms, rising sea levels, and declining precipitation throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This essay's overarching question is: will climate change lead to more generalized violence rooted in structural inequities and unequal power relations, and hence human rights abuses? We argue that climate change has the potential to destabilize the region by creating the conditions for conflict given the deteriorating climatic conditions. The case for reconsidering how to tackle climate threats, while also integrating socio-economic and environmental approaches into climate governance, could not be more urgent. We argue that the traditional tools of promoting state security cannot withstand the widespread and cross-cutting challenges that climate change poses to the survival, livelihoods, and dignity of the people.

Benchmarking banks’ board characteristics and profitability in the MENA region

This paper examines the significance and robustness of banks’ board characteristics and profitability. As far as the design of a board is examined in the literature using qualitative analysis, this paper adds a quantitative analysis to the board design that contributes significantly to bank profitability. Three distinct profitability indicators are examined in order to reach robust outcomes. The paper extends the related studies to develop a quantitative benchmark for the outperformance of bank profitability and board characteristics. The data used in this paper includes 113 rated banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during the annual period 2013–2020. The issues of linearity of the data, effects of fixed and random effects, and heteroskedasticity are examined. The cointegration regression is carried out to reach relevant and robust estimates. A discriminant analysis is utilized for benchmarking robust board characteristics and bank profitability. The results of the robustness test show that (a) two robust board characteristics have negative impacts on bank profitability, namely the number of independent directors, and the number of women on the board, (b) the relative weight of the negative impact of women on board is much greater than the negative impact of independent directors, (c) the negative impact of these two characteristics match other related studies in other countries. As far as many other related studies in the literature have examined common board characteristics, this paper contributes to the related literature by examining two issues. The first issue has to do with the robustness of the board characteristics and bank profitability. The second issue has to do with building a benchmark using the robust board characteristics. This benchmark is a practical guide for managing bank profitability

Are Institutions Improving the Contribution of Remittances to Economic Growth? A Panel Data Analysis

This paper is to test the hypothesis that better governance can improve the response of remittances on economic growth. Using panel data for 12 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries over the period of 2002 to 2020, the various estimates were carried out by the system generalised method of moments (GMM) method to examine the problem of endogeneity, and unobserved heterogeneity. The results indicate that migrant remittances have a direct negative link to economic growth due to it being mainly used for consumption. This increases the likelihood of dependency, which leads to the reduction of labour supply. The joint relationship between the governance composite index, and remittances, may moderate this negative effect on economic growth. However, considering the individual dimensions of governance, this shows that only the interaction between remittances and the control of corruption gives a positive and significant impact. The interaction between remittances and the five other governance quality indicators appears to be negative and insignificant. This shows that political instability, ineffective government, and poor regulatory quality encourages money transfer through informal channels that thwart economic growth in MENA countries.

Threshold of financial development and currency devaluation that stimulates stock market returns

In this study, we endeavored to establish a threshold of financial sector development (FSD) and exchange rate devaluation (EXD) that stimulates stock market returns (SR) based on an analysis of 25 stock exchanges in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Threshold generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) regressions were estimated. Only the Istanbul Gold Exchange stock return was found fit for GARCH volatility analysis. However, results from threshold regression revealed that EXD does have significant threshold effects on SR and when EXD falls lower than its threshold of 19.69 percent, FSD had an increased influence on SR by 11.8 percent. The effects of EXD and FSD on SR are greater when the FSD level is beyond the threshold value of 23.45 percent. FSD below thresholds of 23.5 percent, and 51.1 percent would be insignificant in predicting SR. Lagged SR within an economy below the FSD threshold of 50.59 percent will negatively affect SR. By and large, our results reveal that FSD cannot influence returns of stock on their exchange floors given the devaluation of local currencies beyond the threshold value of 19.69 percent. Future studies could extend our threshold regression framework to allow for endogenous threshold variables.

The impact of IFRS 9, liquidity risk, credit risk, and capital on banks’ performance

This study investigates the impact of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 9, liquidity risk, credit risk, and capital on Jordanian banks’ performance. Aiming to mitigate liquidity and credit risks while ensuring adequate capital ratios to prevent bankruptcy. The study aligns with the findings of Abbas et al. (2019) and Abdelaziz et al. (2022), highlighting the influence of these factors on profitability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Data from annual reports of 13 banks listed on the Amman Stock Exchange from 2012 to 2021 was analysed quantitatively, focusing on profitability metrics like return on assets (ROA) and equity (ROE). The results indicate a significant impact of IFRS 9 implementation and a negligible effect of liquidity risk. Notably, an increase in credit risk detrimentally impacts both ROA and ROE. The study also discovers a positive link between bank capital and ROA but a negative association with ROE, underscoring the nuanced interplay between risk management and financial performance in banking.

Corporate governance and board conflict solution: The case of Lebanese family healthcare businesses

This study examines the intricate relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and the performance of family-owned hospitals in Lebanon. Specifically, it examined the impact of various governance factors, including board size, independence, duality, meeting frequency, and ownership structure, on the financial performance of these hospitals. By employing agency theory as the conceptual framework and qualitative methodology, which involves interviews with managers from three distinct hospitals in Lebanon, this study sheds light on the dynamics of conflicts between shareholders and managers within the context of family-owned hospitals. This study also explores how corporate governance mechanisms can effectively mitigate these conflicts and enhance shareholder value. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to the understanding of corporate governance practices within the Lebanese healthcare sector, offering valuable insights that extend to developing countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. These findings suggest that fostering a more autonomous board structure can play a pivotal role in controlling top management and aligning the interests of shareholders and managers within the Lebanese healthcare landscape. Through a nuanced exploration of governance dynamics and their implications for financial performance, this study underscores the importance of robust governance frameworks for ensuring the sustainable success of family-owned hospitals. Ultimately, by elucidating the mechanisms by which governance practices influence organizational outcomes, this study offers practical implications for healthcare practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders seeking to enhance governance effectiveness and performance in similar contexts.

The impact of COVID-19 on stock markets: A systematic literature review

This research investigates the disruptive impact of COVID-19 on the financial performance of stock markets in the United States of America (USA), Asia (China, Japan, South Korea, India), and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region context being the sample region. The research aim is to reveal the impact of COVID-19 on stock market returns in the sample regions. prior research suggests that 74 percent (Rakshit & Neog, 2022) of the global stock markets reported negative stock returns, increased volatility, and cumulative abnormal returns during the pandemic. The research considers an empirical approach that employs event studies, panel data regression models, and paired sample t-tests. In so doing this research considers the objective impact of the COVID-19 phenomenon. The results suggest that only 5 percent suggested stock returns indicated positive effects on stock market return and volatility, while 21 percent indicated mixed positive and negative impacts. The pandemic led to negative stock market returns in the sample region. The research reveals the negative impact was primarily due to government intervention in stock markets. The research adds support to current findings that encourage governments to swiftly adopt proactive measures to minimize the disruptive impact of stock markets.

Motorcycle Accidents in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region: A Systematic Review

Motorcycle accidents are prevalent worldwide and pose a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Motorcyclists are more likely to succumb to accidents compared to car users. The impact of motorcycle accidents is substantial on individuals, healthcare centers, and governments. This systematic literature review aims to summarize findings related to the mechanisms of motorcycle accidents, profiles of associated injuries, and mortality rates, with a focus on motorcyclists aged 15 to 65 years in the MENA region. PubMed and Web of Science were systematically searched from October 2013 to October 2022. Relevant reports were collected and reviewed for eligibility based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. We identified 15 articles from the MENA region, covering countries such as Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. The frequency of motorcycle accidents was highest during the summer season, and the most common mechanism involved collisions with other vehicles. Head and lower limb injuries were the most frequently reported anatomical injury sites. The mortality rate ranged from 0.49% to 4.5%.Motorcycle accidents can lead to severe injuries and fatalities. Governments and healthcare workers play a crucial role in raising awareness about preventable factors contributing to accidents and emphasizing the importance of wearing protective measures.

Rekonsiliasi Arab Saudi dan Iran dalam Perspektif Konstruktivisme

Abstract This article describes the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran that recently occurred. This study aims to explore more deeply related to how the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran is post-reconciliation. Then, revealing China's interests as an actor mediating Saudi-Iran. The writer uses constructivism theory as a tool to analyze the discussion. Then the author uses a qualitative type method with a literature study approach. This research concludes that reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran through Chinese mediation succeeded in reuniting the two countries which were often involved in tensions for a long time. This reconciliation also has an impact on the political constellation in the Middle East where countries in alliance with Saudi and Iran will be softer towards countries that are considered enemies. Then, China has an interest in increasing its economic sector in the Middle East such as the BRI policy, especially with Saudi-Iran. Then China expects maximum support from Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries in international forums. Furthermore, China seeks to compete with the United States as a threat in the field of security through its presence in the Middle East as a party capable of giving hope for peace..

Synergies and potential of hybrid solar photovoltaic for enhanced desalination: A review of selected countries

In an effort to construct a desalination pilot plant, a study of several kinds of literature is needed to ensure Indonesia develops advanced and environmentally friendly desalination technology. This research aims to explore several research papers referenced in developing the desalination pilot plant to gain information on environmentally friendly and sustainable desalination technologies in selected countries such as Spain (Burriana), Mexico, Chile, the Philippines, and Iran (Kish Island), including in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region on the development of desalination technology for environmentally friendly and sustainable-based communities. This research used a systematic literature review (SLR) approach emphasizing secondary information from several studies based on selected countries to develop desalination technology. Each technology developed is examined for suitability with environmental conditions and desalination technology to be further applied in Indonesia. The main reason for building desalination plants in selected countries is to support sustainable development based on green energy and technology. They are combining desalination technology with photovoltaic (PV) electrical energy, which is a critical factor in promoting green technology through electrodialysis (ED) or reverse osmosis (RO) techniques. The developed desalination pilot plant can achieve 7-14 L/(m2.h) productivity at approximately 0.36-0.78 USD/m3. If implemented in Indonesia, it is necessary to prepare financial support to construct, operate, and maintain. Desalination technology in Indonesia should prioritize environmentally friendly technology. Indonesia's topographic region is a golden advantage to supporting sustainable green energy by utilizing PV-RO or PV-ED-RO to create fresh water from seawater.

Rekonsiliasi Arab Saudi dan Iran dalam Perspektif Konstruktivisme

Abstract This article describes the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran that recently occurred. This study aims to explore more deeply related to how the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran is post-reconciliation. Then, revealing China's interests as an actor mediating Saudi-Iran. The writer uses constructivism theory as a tool to analyze the discussion. Then the author uses a qualitative type method with a literature study approach. This research concludes that reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran through Chinese mediation succeeded in reuniting the two countries which were often involved in tensions for a long time. This reconciliation also has an impact on the political constellation in the Middle East where countries in alliance with Saudi and Iran will be softer towards countries that are considered enemies. Then, China has an interest in increasing its economic sector in the Middle East such as the BRI policy, especially with Saudi-Iran. Then China expects maximum support from Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries in international forums. Furthermore, China seeks to compete with the United States as a threat in the field of security through its presence in the Middle East as a party capable of giving hope for peace..