The Regional Research Network (RRN) of Central Banks of the Middle East and North Africa was launched in 2021 at the initiative of the World Bank’s Office of the Chief Economist for MENA. The RRN aims to strengthen the role of research in decision-making; to promote economic and policy dialogue on the development challenges and opportunities faced by the economies of MENA; and to facilitate the exchange of experiences among the global academic community and Central Banks to help reinforce their research capabilities.
Office of the Chief Economist, Middle East and North Africa
Initiatives
Middle East and North Africa Gender Innovation Lab (MNAGIL)
The MENA GIL aims to close the gender gaps in Middle Eastern and North African countries by promoting evidence-based solutions. This is a global public good that helps governments in the region to incorporate gender friendly policies in their economic decision making. This is achieved through three sets of activities. First, the MNA GIL supports rigorous research activities – primarily impact evaluations and, as necessary, inferential research – to identify and test innovative solutions in selected thematic areas. Second, the MNA GIL collects, curates, and disseminates knowledge on evidence-based solutions to decision-makers, practitioners, and research audiences. Third, the MNA-GIL facilitates the incorporation of empirically tested solutions in policies and programs supported by the World Bank.
Middle East and North Africa Macro Monitor "Latest Edition"
The World Bank’s Office of the Chief Economist for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) publishes roughly twice monthly an update of macroeconomic developments in the region: recent growth forecasts, select news stories, past trends and future forecasts of oil and gas prices, as well as information on exchange rate movements, headline and food inflation, unemployment rates, capital market indices, etc.
Decarbonization and Diversification in the Middle East and North Africa
The research program on Decarbonization and Diversification in the Middle East and North Africa aims to build a new body of empirical work describing how decarbonization, diversification, and adaptation to climate change will impact MENA countries and their economic structures and populations. The program supports internal World Bank and external researchers in producing a series of academic research papers that address important policy-relevant questions.