Middle East and North Africa Publications

Jul 8, 2021

Navigating through COVID-19: Country snapshots on how the pandemic affected MSMEs in the Middle East and Africa

These country snapshots look at the state of business operations in countries across the Middle East and Africa and how businesses are navigating the challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The notes look at three main areas: The financial health and resilience of the MSME sector in the country, the crisis response and future plans of businesses, and MSME support needed from governments and financial institutions.

Jun 21, 2021

Barriers and Opportunities for Refugee Women to Engage in the Digital Economy

The digital economy 1 can offer a new and promising path forward for people seeking employment across the globe. Online platforms are altering the future of work, reducing barriers to entry and blurring the distinction between formal and informal labor.

English | 75 pages | 2021 IFC

Dec 21, 2020

Creating Markets in Egypt: Country Private Sector Diagnostic

The Egypt Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD) provides IFC & World Bank analysis of growth and investment opportunities, constraints, & policy recommendations.

English - 144 pages | Arabic - 119 pages | 2020 IFC

Dec 9, 2020

Case Study: Exploring Client Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response - Alcazar Energy, Egypt

Alcazar Energy recognizes that workplace bullying, and in particular any forms of sexual harassment, could impact business operations and the employee’s wellbeing.

8 pages | © December 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Dec 9, 2020

Case Study: Exploring Client Approaches to Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response - TAQA Arabia, Energy, Egypt

TAQA Arabia recognized a need to consider specific risks for women as part of the project’s environmental, social, and health and safety requirements.

6 pages | © December 2020 IFC | Complimentary

Nov 18, 2020

Supply Chain Finance in Morocco: Preparing for the Future

Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Morocco face critical issues even though they represent over 95 percent of all companies and are a major source of employment and wealth.

Jul 23, 2020

Business Pulse Survey Tunisia : Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on the Private Sector in Tunisia

IFC and Tunisia’s National Institute of Statistics (INS) conducted a Business Pulse Survey from May to December, 2020 to check how Tunisian businesses were faring in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey sought views from representatives of 2500 businesses on their state of operation during the COVID-19 pandemic, how their activities were impacted and the measures available to them to deal with the crisis. This report offers the findings from the first, second and third phases of the survey.

May 29, 2020

COVID-19 Economic Impact: Middle East and North Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to trigger a severe economic contraction in Middle East and North Africa. IFC is working with existing clients in the region to evaluate where our support is needed most.

English | 2 pages | 2020 IFC

Oct 15, 2019

Creating Markets in Morocco: Country Private Sector Diagnostic

The Morocco Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD) examines the constraints that prevent the private sector from creating the jobs that Moroccans need and from contributing more dynamically to the country’s development goals. It also identifies sectors where the private investment can support of greater spillovers to the economy and higher quality jobs in productive sectors. These include the automotive and aeronautics industries and tertiary education and vocational training.

English - 132 pages | French - 142 pages | 2019 IFC

Oct 7, 2019

Scaling Infrastructure: Seven Sisters (Jordan)

Oct 7, 2019

Scaling Infrastructure: Nubian Suns (Egypt)

May 11, 2019

Private Sector & Refugees—Pathways to Scale

A new IFC study—Private Sector & Refugees: Pathways to Scale—produced in partnership with The Bridgespan Group, takes an unprecedented look at over 170 initiatives in both Africa and the Middle East to understand the nature of, and derive lessons from, private sector engagement with refugees and host communities.

English | 80 pages | 2019 IFC

Jan 31, 2018

Luminus

Luminus Education is committed to transforming technical and vocational education (TVET) in Jordan and advancing the Education 4 Employment philosophy. Based in the region with the highest youth unemployment rate in the world, Luminus offers high-quality, market-oriented programs and recognizes that equipping Jordanian youth with vocational skills is important for both economic and security reasons.

Feb 15, 2017

Tafila Region Wind Power Projects - Cumulative Effects Assessment

The Tafila Region Wind Power Project Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) is the first of its kind in the Eastern Europe, Middle East, and North Africa region. It aims to promote more sustainable wind energy investments in Jordan while assessing and managing potential adverse environmental and social effects of renewables. The overall management and technical direction of the CEA was undertaken by IFC, supported by a team of multidisciplinary international and Jordanian experts and advisors.

184 pages | © February 2017 IFC | Complimentary

Oct 27, 2016

Unlocking Value: Alternative Fuels For Egypt’s Cement Industry

111| IFC

Oct 21, 2016

Profit with Purpose - Making Banking on Women Impactful

English 94| IFC

Oct 14, 2016

BLC Bank - Lebanon: Leading in Banking on Women - A study

English 27| IFC

Jun 22, 2016

Corporate Governance Handbook - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions about Corporate Governance and how it can benefit businesses. Corporate Governance Handbook - Frequently Asked Questions

English 84 pages || @IFC 2016 |

Jun 15, 2016

Sustaining Growth - Cleaner Production in Pakistan

IFC’s Resource Efficiency Program has funded the production of Sustaining Growth: Cleaner Production in Pakistan report, that identify patterns of energy consumption and opportunities for energy, material and water savings in the leather, textile, sugar and pulp and paper sectors across Pakistan.

English 138 pages | | @2016 IFC

Jun 6, 2016

Cleaner Production in Pakistan

IFC’s Resource Efficiency Program has funded the production of Sustaining Growth: Cleaner Production in Pakistan report. Since 2006, Pakistan’s National Productivity Organization (NPO) and the Lahore-based Cleaner Production Institute (CPI) have conducted more than 200 resource efficiency audits to identify patterns of energy consumption and opportunities for energy, material and water savings in the leather, textile, sugar and pulp and paper sectors. For each of the sectors, the audits found that opportunities to cut costs and improve efficiency abound. IFC commissioned Ernst and Young (EY) to analyze the audit information and recommend resource-efficient practices and technologies. The report identifies several criteria necessary for the implementation of cleaner production measures, looking at both the potential for resource savings and the estimated payback period. This report is the first of its kind in both scope and scale. NPO & CPI aim to offer industrial stakeholders essential data and raise awareness of the potential for cleaner and more sustainable production methods. An IFC-funded study

135 pages || @ 2016 IFC |

Jan 19, 2016

A Solar Developers Guide to Pakistan

The Solar Developer’s Guide to Pakistan provides background for those who are implementing or intending to invest in solar generating plants in Pakistan. The Guide includes an overview of how a solar project is developed in Pakistan and the legal and regulatory support mechanisms for that project. A Solar Developers Guide to Pakistan

English 85 pages || @2016 IFC |

Nov 3, 2015

Voices. An Assessment of the Perceived Risks Facing the Microfinance Sector in the Arab World

49 pages || 2015 IFC |

Nov 3, 2015

Developing a Housing Microfinance. Product: The First Microfinance Bank's Experience in Afghanistan

30 pages || 2015 IFC |

Oct 27, 2015

Impact. IFC in the Middle East and North Africa, FY2015

24 pages || 2015 IFC |

Jun 29, 2015

Corporate Governance Success Stories - Middle East and North Africa

This report shares the experiences of 19 companies that have made governance improvements over the past few years, summarizing the changes they made, and the impacts they reported.