The Regional Research Network (RRN) of Central Banks of the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (MENAAP) was launched in 2021 at the initiative of the World Bank’s Office of the Chief Economist for MENAAP. 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 MENAAP; 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, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Initiatives
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan Gender Innovation Lab (MENAAPGIL)
The MENAAP GIL aims to close the gender gaps in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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 MENAAP 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 MENAAP GIL collects, curates, and disseminates knowledge on evidence-based solutions to decision-makers, practitioners, and research audiences. Third, the MENAAP GIL facilitates the incorporation of empirically tested solutions in policies and programs supported by the World Bank.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan Macro Monitor "Latest Edition"
The World Bank’s Office of the Chief Economist for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (MENAAP) 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, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
The research program on Decarbonization and Diversification in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan aims to build a new body of empirical work describing how decarbonization, diversification, and adaptation to climate change will impact MENAAP 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.