Middle East and North Africa

Arab countries are ill prepared for the effects of climate change in the region

The impact of climate change on this fragile region is expected to be immense, however, very little is being done to prepare for it. This report uses the latest research findings to describe the vulnerabilities of natural and human systems in the Arab world to climate change and the impacts on different sectors. In an attempt to help shape adequate policies, the report discusses options for a post-Kyoto regime and outlines the state of international negotiations in this regard.

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Principles for policymakers to reassure investors and the public after the financial crisis: ( International Monetary Fund , 2010); As the financial crisis winds down, policymakers need to formulate and begin to implement strategies for exiting from crisis related intervention policies. This paper identifies broad principles fo...
Improving security and justice through security sector reform: ( N. Bagayoko-Penone / Eldis Gateway to Development and Environment Information , 2010); Since the late 1990s, security sector reform (SSR) has emerged as a principal activity for promoting peace and stability, and a priority for donors in post-conflict countries. This issue of insight...
Fallout from the financial crisis will change the landscape for finance and growth over the next 10 years: ( World Bank , 2010); Developing countries facing higher borrowing costs, lower credit levels, and reduced international capital flows. 2010's Global Economic Prospects report examines the consequences of the financial cri...
Labour markets will continue to struggle despite signs of economic growth: ( International Labour Organization , 2010); Even though the global economy appeared to start growing again during the closing months of 2009, labour markets showed little sign of improving. The number of unemployed persons is estimated at 212 m...
The proportion of older persons in the world will double by 2050: ( Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations , 2009); This report provides a description of global trends in population ageing and includes a series of indicators of the ageing process by development regions, major areas, regions and countries. This edit...
Rebuilding democracy: elections in post-conflict settings: ( Carlos Valenzuela / Public Broadcasting Service , 2008); This Point of View interview is conducted with Carlos Valenzuela, who headed the Independent Election Commission of the UN during the 2005 elections in Iraq. He responds to questions about the day-...
Better integrated management of water resources and regulation is needed to manage chronic water scarcity in this region: ( K. Frenken (ed) / Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations , 2009); This FAO report aims to provide an accurate status of rural water resources management, with a special focus on irrigation, highlighting the major changes that have occurred in the last d...
Pressing the Egyptian government for more political space for civil society: ( M. Tadros / Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UK , 2009); The focus of this paper is on the top-down introduction of advocacy in the Egyptian context in the 1990s as part of the bid to promote democratisation in the Arab world. The paper argues that in au...
How can internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq attain parity with the non-IDP population?: ( J. Bigio;J. Scott / Brookings Institution , 2009); With increased levels of security in Iraq in 2008-9, displaced persons have begun to make decisions about their future, and the number of displaced Iraqis making settlement decisions is expected to in...
Urgent need for climate change adaptation measures in Arab countries: ( M.K. Tolba (ed);N.W. Saab (ed) / Arab Forum for Environment and Development , 2009); Although greenhouse gas emissions from the Arab world amount to 4.2% of global emissions, the impact of climate change on the fragile environment of the region and its people is expected to be imme...