Governance has been an explicit part of the Bank s developmental agenda since the latter part of the 1990s, though elements of good governance have always played a role in the institution s work on development. These ranged from project focused work on financial management and procurement to the...

A well-functioning financial sector is critical for efficient resource allocation leading to increased productivity, greater investment, and higher overall levels of economic growth. This is particularly critical in Iraq, where years of political instability and violence have impeded the...

The political and social upheavals that followed the Arab Spring of 2011 continue to dominate economic activity and near term prospects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Although political transitions bring promises of greater political and economic freedom, in MENA the process remains...

There is a momentum in Egypt for a critical assessment of pressing development challenges in the aftermath of dramatic political shifts in the country. This change is fueling demand for new, more open and innovative approaches, offering an opportunity for policy-makers to develop information and...

For thousands of years, the people of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have coped with the challenges of climate variability by adapting their survival strategies to changes in rainfall and temperature. Temperatures are expected to increase, and in most places less rainfall.is expected. Water...

Well-functioning institutions are critical to reducing poverty and boosting growth. However, fragile and conflict-affected states generally lack the political and institutional structures needed to address pockets of poverty and promote development. One relevant example where the World Bank met...

The Republic of Yemen, situated on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, is one of the poorest countries in the world. In addition to significant development challenges, Yemen is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Rainfall is erratic and variable, a situation made worse by high...

South-South knowledge exchanges are increasingly recognized as one of the most effective learning and development tools. While it is important to facilitate such exchange of first-hand experiences and lessons across developing countries, what is even more important is what is actually done with...

The integration of consultation mechanisms throughout the policymaking process has proved to be a valuable instrument to help strengthen government-citizen interaction and improve the quality of government policies on key development areas by leading to better designed development projects, more...

The Palestinian Authority (PA)- administered Cash Transfer Program (CTP) is considered one of the most advanced cash assistance programs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Using its sophisticated management information system (MIS), which includes a poverty-targeting database, it...