Economy

Jordan: COVID-19 Impact on Micro-Businesses and Landless Labourers – Final Report (August 2022)

REACH This report focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (lockdown measures and restrictions, and their economic impacts) on agricultural microenterprises, income-generating activities, and income-diversification activities in Jordan. The enterprises and activities selected for this study correspond to four specific occupational groups: farming micro-businesses, food processing micro-businesses, artisanal micro-businesses, and landless laborers. Report

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Menstrual Health and Period Poverty in Lebanon during Economic Crisis: A Qualitative Analysis of the Challenges and Recommendations

Frontiers in Reproductive Health This article aims to explore stakeholder’s perspective on the Lebanese public health policy regarding menstrual health, the evolving challenges it faces in the context of the current economic collapse and the COVID-19 pandemic, and to suggest recommendations for solutions. Journal Article

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First, Do No Harm? The World Health Organization in the MENA Region

Arab Center Washington D.C. This article reflects on the successes and the failures of the World Health Organization in the MENA region during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies challenges facing the WHO in the region including the exodus of health professionals, resource-poor health facilities, and a lack of specialized resources for women, children, refugees, people…

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COVID, Care and the City: Perspectives from MENA

London School of Economics This article inquires whether the interval of COVID-19 produced particular challenges and practices in the MENA region, and how these shifted over the period from 2020-2022. The authors draw on contributions related to different urban centres including Lebanon, Egypt and Tunis, and with a special focus on Palestine and Palestinians in…

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How the COVID Vaccine Rollout Exposed Inequality in the Middle East

Middle East Eye This article shows how the pandemic and the subsequent rush towards vaccination illustrated the tremendous gap between rich countries and poorer countries and also the immense inequities that exist between countries and regions themselves. The article points to the Middle East as the region where inequities have been most intense. Article

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AMF Provided $2.25 bn to Support Arab Countries Since COVID Start

Middle East Economy This article highlights the role of the Arab Monetary Fund in providing financial resources to a number of its member states in the form of new loans, or withdrawals from existing loans, amounting to about $2.25 billion from the beginning of 2020 until mid-2022. Article

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Women’s Employment and Care Work in MENA during the Pandemic

Economic Research Forum This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s employment and gender disparities in the MENA region. It shows that the experience of the pandemic underscores the persistent gender inequality in unpaid care work in MENA, and the necessity of redressing gender norms underlying this inequality to allow women equal…

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Bahrain First Again in COVID-19 Recovery Index

Zawya This article reports on the Kingdom of Bahrain ranking first among 121 countries in the Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index. The monthly index assesses countries and regions on infection management, vaccine rollouts and social mobility. Article

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Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Djibouti

The Borgen Project This article examines the impact of the protective measures taken by the Djiboutian government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on food security, income, unemployment and women. Long-term consequences of these measures reflect in the increased vulnerability of all citizens, increased dependence on the government for basic needs and significantly reduced income…

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Labor Market: The Case of Sudan

Economic Research Forum This article shows how workers in Sudan suffered from temporary or permanent layoffs/suspensions (without pay), delays in wage payment, reduced earnings or delayed payments, and changes in personal net monthly wage during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provides policy recommendations to increase government support to manage the impact of COVID-19 on the…

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