World Bank - Middle East and North Africa

The project Yemen Accountability Enhancement Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

2014-06-24T04:00:00.000Z2014-06-24T04:00:00.000ZYemen, Republic ofP148288RYNEW RELEASENEW

The project Local Governance and Services Improvement Program is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

2014-06-23T04:00:00.000Z2014-06-23T04:00:00.000ZWest Bank and GazaP148896GZNEW RELEASENEW

While circumstances vary by country, there are some generic principles for Public Financial Management, or PFM reform. For this quick note these principles were drawn from the personal experience (within and outside the World Bank) of the author as well as selected readings presented at the end of the note.2014-11-07T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-07T05:00:00.000ZPublic Sector Development|Social Development|Private Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentEnterprise Development & Reform|Public Sector Corruption & Anticorruption Measures|Children and Youth|Debt Markets|Access to FinanceMiddle East and North AfricaWaly, Hisham Ahmed18 key principles of PFM reform in MENAEnglishMiddle East and North AfricaPublic Sector Development|Social Development|Private Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentEnterprise Development & Reform|Public Sector Corruption & Anticorruption Measures|Children and Youth|Debt Markets|Access to Finance92439Middle East and North AfricaEnglishBriefMiddle East and North Africa

Although child mortality rates have declined all across the developing world over the past 40 years, they have declined the most in the Middle East and North Africa region. This quick note documents this remarkable experience both at the country and regional levels. This paper shows how child mortality rates (measured as the number of deaths of children fewer than five years of age per 1000 live births) have declined in the 17 MENA countries for which we have data for the period 1970-2010. It is clear from the figure that all MENA countries experienced substantial declines in child mortality rates over the past four decades. What also stands out from the figure is the phenomenon of convergence. The gap between countries with high mortality rates and those with low mortality rates narrowed substantially between 1970 and 2010, suggesting the former have been converging with the latter.2014-11-07T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-07T05:00:00.000ZLaw and Development|Urban Development|Private Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentCorporate Law|Corporate Governance|Access to Finance|Hazard Risk Management|Banks & Banking ReformMiddle East and North AfricaIqbal, FarrukhThe decline of child mortality rates in MENA in comparative perspectiveEnglishMiddle East and North AfricaLaw and Development|Urban Development|Private Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentCorporate Law|Corporate Governance|Access to Finance|Hazard Risk Management|Banks & Banking Reform92441Middle East and North AfricaEnglishBriefMiddle East and North Africa

This economy profile for Doing Business 2015 presents the 11 Doing Business indicators for Qatar. To allow for useful comparison, the profile also provides data for other selected economies (comparator economies) for each indicator. Doing Business 2015 is the 12th edition in a series of annual reports measuring the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business; for 2015 Qatar ranks 50. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 189 economies from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and over time. Doing Business measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business known as indicators. Ten of these areas are included in this year's ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures labor market regulation, which is not included in this year's ranking. The data in this report are current as of June 1, 2014 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period from January to December 2013).2014-11-06T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-06T05:00:00.000ZPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentE-Business|Debt Markets|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business in Development|Business EnvironmentMiddle East and North AfricaDoing Business 2015 : going beyond efficiency - QatarEnglishQatarPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentE-Business|Debt Markets|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business in Development|Business Environment92112QatarEnglishWorking PaperMiddle East and North Africa

This economy profile for Doing Business 2015 presents the 11 Doing Business indicators for Saudi Arabia. To allow for useful comparison, the profile also provides data for other selected economies (comparator economies) for each indicator. Doing Business 2015 is the 12th edition in a series of annual reports measuring the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business; for 2015 Saudi Arabia ranks 49. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 189 economies from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and over time. Doing Business measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business known as indicators. Ten of these areas are included in this year's ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures labor market regulation, which is not included in this year's ranking. The data in this report are current as of June 1, 2014 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period from January to December 2013).2014-11-06T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-06T05:00:00.000ZPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentE-Business|Debt Markets|Business in Development|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business EnvironmentMiddle East and North AfricaDoing Business 2015 : going beyond efficiency - Saudi ArabiaEnglishSaudi ArabiaPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentE-Business|Debt Markets|Business in Development|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business Environment92119Saudi ArabiaEnglishWorking PaperMiddle East and North Africa

Ratings for the Second Education Development Policy Loan (DPL) Project for Morocco were as follows: outcomes were moderately satisfactory, risk to development outcome was substantial, Bank performance was moderately satisfactory, and Borrower performance was moderately satisfactory. Some lessons learned included: the DPL, particularly when it is limited to one year, is not an efficient instrument to promote institutional reforms in the education sector. Reform processes in the education sector should go through long successive phases without interruption (development, consultation, feasibility study, and a pilot before a full scale implementation) to be successful. The decentralization to the regional academy of education and training (academie regionale d’education et de formation) (AREFs) is essential for assessing the needs, locating investments, targeting social programs, motivating teaching staff, assessing quality, and more broadly achieving better sector performance. To measure quality, national learning assessments should be frequent, procedures should be standard, and results should be disseminated widely at the school level and to all stakeholders. The establishment of internal audit units in the AREFs was a useful action. Teachers' pre- service training (university education programs (filieres universitaires de l’education) (FUE) and regional centers for education and training (centres regionaux metier education et formation) (CRMEF)) should be assessed urgently to determine the corrective measures necessary to improve its quality and efficiency.2014-11-06T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-06T05:00:00.000ZEducationEducation For All|Primary Education|Tertiary Education|Teaching and Learning|Access & Equity in Basic EducationMiddle East and North AfricaMorocco - Second Education Development Policy Loan ProjectEnglishMoroccoEducationEducation For All|Primary Education|Tertiary Education|Teaching and Learning|Access & Equity in Basic EducationICR3129MoroccoEnglishImplementation Completion and Results ReportMiddle East and North Africa

2014-11-06T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-06T05:00:00.000ZTunisiaDe Daruvar,Jean-Charles MarieEnglishOfficial Documents- Disbursement Letter for Loan 8413-TN (Closing Package)Disbursement LetterEnglishTunisia

2014-11-06T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-06T05:00:00.000ZTunisiaDe Daruvar,Jean-Charles MarieEnglishOfficial Documents- Statutory Committee Report for Loan 8413-TN (Closing Package)Statutory Committee ReportEnglishTunisia

2014-11-06T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-06T05:00:00.000ZTunisiaDe Daruvar,Jean-Charles MarieEnglishOfficial Documents- Supplemental Letter Ref. Financial Data for Loan 8413-TN (Closing Package)Side LetterEnglishTunisia

The project MA-Health Sector Support is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

2014-11-06T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-06T05:00:00.000ZMoroccoP148017MANEW RELEASENEW

This economy profile for Doing Business 2015 presents the 11 Doing Business indicators for Malta. To allow for useful comparison, the profile also provides data for other selected economies (comparator economies) for each indicator. Doing Business 2015 is the 12th edition in a series of annual reports measuring the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business; for 2015 Malta ranks 94. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 189 economies from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and over time. Doing Business measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business known as indicators. Ten of these areas are included in this year's ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures labor market regulation, which is not included in this year's ranking. The data in this report are current as of June 1, 2014 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period from January to December 2013).2014-11-05T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-05T05:00:00.000ZEnvironment|Private Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentE-Business|Debt Markets|Environmental Economics & Policies|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business in DevelopmentMiddle East and North AfricaDoing Business 2015 : going beyond efficiency - MaltaEnglishMaltaEnvironment|Private Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentE-Business|Debt Markets|Environmental Economics & Policies|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business in Development92081MaltaEnglishWorking PaperMiddle East and North Africa

This economy profile for Doing Business 2015 presents the 11 Doing Business indicators for Morocco. To allow for useful comparison, the profile also provides data for other selected economies (comparator economies) for each indicator. Doing Business 2015 is the 12th edition in a series of annual reports measuring the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business; for 2015 Morocco ranks 71. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 189 economies from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and over time. Doing Business measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business known as indicators. Ten of these areas are included in this year's ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures labor market regulation, which is not included in this year's ranking. The data in this report are current as of June 1, 2014 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period from January to December 2013).2014-11-05T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-05T05:00:00.000ZPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentDebt Markets|E-Business|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business in Development|Business EnvironmentMiddle East and North AfricaDoing Business 2015 : going beyond efficiency - MoroccoEnglishMoroccoPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentDebt Markets|E-Business|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business in Development|Business Environment92090MoroccoEnglishWorking PaperMiddle East and North Africa

This economy profile for Doing Business 2015 presents the 11 Doing Business indicators for Oman. To allow for useful comparison, the profile also provides data for other selected economies (comparator economies) for each indicator. Doing Business 2015 is the 12th edition in a series of annual reports measuring the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business; for 2015 Oman ranks 66. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 189 economies from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and over time. Doing Business measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business known as indicators. Ten of these areas are included in this year's ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures labor market regulation, which is not included in this year's ranking. The data in this report are current as of June 1, 2014 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period from January to December 2013).2014-11-05T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-05T05:00:00.000ZPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentE-Business|Debt Markets|Business in Development|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business EnvironmentMiddle East and North AfricaDoing Business 2015 : going beyond efficiency - OmanEnglishOmanPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentE-Business|Debt Markets|Business in Development|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business Environment92101OmanEnglishWorking PaperMiddle East and North Africa

The project Additional Financing for Water Supply & Sewage Systems Improvement is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Water Supply and Sewage Systems Improvement Project (WSSSIP) for West Bank and Gaza is to improve the quality and efficiency of water supply and wastewater service provision in Gaza by (i) rehabilitating and expanding existing water and wastewater systems, and (ii) enhancing the capacity of the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) to sustain water and wastewater services. The additional financing will help finance the costs associated with the scaling-up of project activities in response to circumstances arising during implementation, and specifically it would finance rehabilitating water and wastewater infrastructure damaged in Gaza as a result of the conflict that took place from July 5 to August 26, 2014. It will finance civil works, goods, consulting services, non-consulting services, training, operating costs and recurrent costs to: (i) conduct the most urgent repairs to damage water and wastewater systems in order to restore basic water and wastewater services; and (ii) restore and enhance the capacity of the CMWU to deliver these services.2014-11-05T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-05T05:00:00.000ZWest Bank and GazaP151032GZNEW RELEASENEW

The project GZ Emergency Budget Support Supplemental is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The supplemental grant for the Palestinian National Development Plan and Sixth Development Policy Grant Project for West Bank and Gaza will have significant impact and benefits. The quick disbursement of the supplemental grant will assist the Palestinian Authority (PA) in meeting the immediate, urgent and enormous needs for relief and reconstruction of the conflict-stricken Gaza. While the financing need is substantially larger than the proposed grant amount, the Bank's decision to provide urgent assistance is also likely to encourage other donors who contribute to the Palestinian Reconstruction and Development Plan to provide additional budget support through this mechanism. The proposed grant along with other extraordinary financing will help the PA prevent a humanitarian disaster in Gaza without reducing its ability to maintain basic functions, to pay salaries, social benefits, and suppliers at the time of economic recession. As various studies of conflict and fragility have shown, if governments are not able to fulfill the core functions expected of them in terms of basic public services, social unrest may ensue: the Bank and other donors are providing grants to reduce that risk.2014-11-05T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-05T05:00:00.000ZWest Bank and GazaP152527GZNEW RELEASENEW

This economy profile for Doing Business 2015 presents the 11 Doing Business indicators for Iran, Islamic Republic. To allow for useful comparison, the profile also provides data for other selected economies (comparator economies) for each indicator. Doing Business 2015 is the 12th edition in a series of annual reports measuring the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business; for 2015 Iran, Islamic Republic ranks 130. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 189 economies from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and over time. Doing Business measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business known as indicators. Ten of these areas are included in this year's ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures labor market regulation, which is not included in this year's ranking. The data in this report are current as of June 1, 2014 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period from January to December 2013).2014-11-04T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-04T05:00:00.000ZPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentE-Business|Debt Markets|Business in Development|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business EnvironmentMiddle East and North AfricaDoing Business 2015 : going beyond efficiency - Iran, Islamic RepublicEnglishIran, Islamic Republic ofPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentE-Business|Debt Markets|Business in Development|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business Environment92044Iran, Islamic Republic ofEnglishWorking PaperMiddle East and North Africa

This economy profile for Doing Business 2015 presents the 11 Doing Business indicators for Iraq. To allow for useful comparison, the profile also provides data for other selected economies (comparator economies) for each indicator. Doing Business 2015 is the 12th edition in a series of annual reports measuring the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business; for 2015 Iraq ranks 156. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 189 economies from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and over time. Doing Business measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business known as indicators. Ten of these areas are included in this year's ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures labor market regulation, which is not included in this year's ranking. The data in this report are current as of June 1, 2014 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period from January to December 2013).2014-11-04T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-04T05:00:00.000ZPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentDebt Markets|E-Business|Business in Development|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business EnvironmentMiddle East and North AfricaDoing Business 2015 : going beyond efficiency - IraqEnglishIraqPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentDebt Markets|E-Business|Business in Development|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business Environment92045IraqEnglishWorking PaperMiddle East and North Africa

This economy profile for Doing Business 2015 presents the 11 Doing Business indicators for Israel. To allow for useful comparison, the profile also provides data for other selected economies (comparator economies) for each indicator. Doing Business 2015 is the 12th edition in a series of annual reports measuring the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business; for 2015 Israel ranks 40. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 189 economies from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and over time. Doing Business measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business known as indicators. Ten of these areas are included in this year's ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures labor market regulation, which is not included in this year's ranking. The data in this report are current as of June 1, 2014 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period from January to December 2013).2014-11-04T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-04T05:00:00.000ZPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentDebt Markets|E-Business|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business in Development|Business EnvironmentMiddle East and North AfricaDoing Business 2015 : going beyond efficiency - IsraelEnglishIsraelPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentDebt Markets|E-Business|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business in Development|Business Environment92048IsraelEnglishWorking PaperMiddle East and North Africa

This economy profile for Doing Business 2015 presents the 11 Doing Business indicators for Jordan. To allow for useful comparison, the profile also provides data for other selected economies (comparator economies) for each indicator. Doing Business 2015 is the 12th edition in a series of annual reports measuring the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business; for 2015 Jordan ranks 117. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 189 economies from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and over time. Doing Business measures regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business known as indicators. Ten of these areas are included in this year's ranking on the ease of doing business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures labor market regulation, which is not included in this year's ranking. The data in this report are current as of June 1, 2014 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period from January to December 2013).2014-11-04T05:00:00.000Z2014-11-04T05:00:00.000ZPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentE-Business|Debt Markets|Business in Development|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business EnvironmentMiddle East and North AfricaDoing Business 2015 : going beyond efficiency - JordanEnglishJordanPrivate Sector Development|Finance and Financial Sector DevelopmentE-Business|Debt Markets|Business in Development|Competitiveness and Competition Policy|Business Environment92053JordanEnglishWorking PaperMiddle East and North Africa