Jihad Azour

As the world economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia (ME&CA) region faces an existential question. Will the pandemic usher in a new social contract that would help countries to emerge stronger and generate strong, sustainable, and inclusive…

In the wake of an unprecedented crisis comes a once-in-a-generation opportunity for countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to transform their economies and build a better future for their citizens. The choice for policymakers is clear: Will the pandemic set the region back for years,…

The COVID-19 health and economic crisis underscores, as few other major events in modern history have, the vital role of public institutions. When emergencies strike, it is the state’s responsibility to respond, especially when millions of lives and livelihoods are at stake. That is why ensuring…

Now is the time to address vulnerabilities in the Middle East and Central Asia’s emerging economies Emerging market economies in the Middle East and Central Asia are confronting one of the most severe and widespread crises ever, with a confluence of fast-moving shocks ranging from the COVID-19…

In 1989, exactly 30 years ago, all five Maghreb countries of Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia established the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states of North Africa. At the time it was widely understood: there were clear benefits to…