1.  Title: Youth in the Middle East and North Africa: Demographic opportunity or challenge? Author: Assaad R; Roudi-Fahimi F Source: Washington, D.C., Population Reference Bureau [PRB], Middle East and North Africa Program, 2007 Apr. [8] p. (MENA Policy Briefs) Abstract: Nearly one in five people living in the Middle East and North Africa (MEAN) region is between the ages of 15 and 24-the age group defined as "youth." The current number of youth in the region is unprecedented: nearly 95 million in 2005. The extent to which this large group of young people will become healthy and productive members of their societies depends on how well governments and civil societies invest in social, economic, and political institutions that meet the current needs of young people. Ages 15 to 24 represent a period in life when one makes the transition from the dependence of childhood to the independence of adulthood-a period filled with enthusiasm, dreams, and ambitions. It is also a period during which a number of social, economic, biological, and demographic events occur that set the stage for adult life, such as education, marriage, and entrance into the job market. As the average years of education increases and marriage is delayed, the transition to adulthood extends over a longer period of time, making adolescence an increasingly important stage for policy attention. Despite a wealth of oil resources and major improvements in health and education over the past few decades, this region's political, social, and economic systems have not evolved in a way that effectively meets the changing needs of its rapidly growing young population. This policy brief gives an overview of demographic trends among youth and the implications of these trends for human and economic development in the MEAN region. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: MIDDLE EAST | AFRICA, NORTHERN | SUMMARY REPORT | YOUTH | EDUCATION | EMPLOYMENT | SCHOOL ENROLLMENT | ECONOMIC FACTORS | LABOR FORCE | Developing Countries | Africa | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Macroeconomic Factors | Educational Status | Socioeconomic Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Human Resources Document Number: 317997 |
| 2. Title: Challenges and opportunities: The population of the Middle East and North Africa. Author: Roudi-Fahimi F; Kent MM Source: Population Bulletin. 2007 Jun;62(2):[24] p. Abstract: The countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) continue to fascinate and concern the rest of the world. With two-thirds of the world's known petroleum reserves, the region's economic and political importance far outweighs its population size. It has the world's second-fastest growing population, after sub-Saharan Africa. Its demographic trends-especially the rapidly growing youth population-are complicating the region's capacity to adapt to social change, economic strains, and sometimes wrenching political transformations. The people of the Middle East and North Africa have long played an integral, if sometimes volatile, role in the history of human civilization. Three of the world's major religions originated in the region-Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. MENA contains some of the world's oldest cities; universities existed here long before they emerged in Europe. Today, the population is overwhelmingly Islamic, yet includes substantial Jewish and Christian minorities. And, while Arabic is the predominant language, two of the region's largest countries-Iran and Turkey-and Israel, are not Arabic-speaking. Thanks to rapidly declining death rates and slowly declining fertility rates, MENA's population size quadrupled in the last half of the 20th century. It stands at about 430 million in 2007. Despite recent fertility declines, MENA's population is projected to surpass 700 million by 2050. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: MIDDLE EAST | AFRICA, NORTHERN | SUMMARY REPORT | POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS | POPULATION GROWTH | DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION | FERTILITY DECLINE | MORTALITY DECLINE | MIGRATION | AGE FACTORS | DEMOGRAPHIC AGING | Developing Countries | Africa | Demographic Factors | Population | Population Dynamics | Fertility Changes | Fertility | Mortality Document Number: 313650 |
| 3. Title: Time to intervene: preventing the spread of HIV / AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa. Author: Roudi-Fahimi F Source: Washington, D.C., Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2007. [8] p. (MENA Policy Briefs) Abstract: The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa (MEAN) region increased from 87,000 in 2003 to 152,000 in 2005, according to United Nations' estimates. While these numbers may look small compared to about 40 million people who are living with HIV worldwide, the number of infections appears to be increasing rapidly in the region. More important, the low number of HIV infections does not mean low risk. MEAN's conservative culture--in which sexual relationships outside marriage are forbidden--has been partly responsible for keeping the rates of HIV infection relatively low. The same conservative norms, however, often contribute to a general attitude of denial, combined with strong stigmatization and social ostracism of people living with HIV/AIDS. Because HIV infection is concentrated for now among people who are often perceived as socially deviant, the AIDS epidemic has been shrouded in ignorance--and that ignorance does not help prevent the spread of the infection. Thepurpose of this policy brief is to raise awareness among MEAN's decision-makers and opinion leaders about the urgent need for action by presenting some of the warning signs, risks, and vulnerabilities that face the region. The current low rates of HIV infection and concentration among specific groups in MEAN offer the opportunity to develop policies and programs to prevent an epidemic that could have far-reaching social and economic implications. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: MIDDLE EAST | AFRICA, NORTHERN | PROGRESS REPORT | EPIDEMIOLOGIC METHODS | POLICYMAKERS | PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS | IV DRUG USERS | HIV PREVENTION | CONSERVATISM | PREVALENCE | RISK ASSESSMENT | HIV INFECTIONS | RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY | STIGMA | HIV TESTING | Developing Countries | Africa | Research Methodology | Administrative Personnel | Organization and Administration | Viral Diseases | Diseases | Drug Use and Abuse | Behavior | Political Factors | Sociocultural Factors | Measurement | Evaluation | Residence Characteristics | Population Distribution | Geographic Factors | Population | Social Problems | Laboratory Examinations and Diagnoses | Examinations and Diagnoses | Medical Procedures | Medicine | Health Services | Delivery of Health Care | Health Document Number: 314899 |
| 4. Title: Investing in global health: a regional spotlight on the Middle East and North Africa region. Author: World Bank. Disease Control Priorities Project Source: [Washington, D.C.], World Bank, Disease Control Priorities Project, 2006 Apr. [3] p. Abstract: Countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MEAN) are going through demographic and epidemiological transitions characterized by a reduction in fertility and mortality, a declining incidence of communicable diseases, and an increase in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries. As people in MENA live longer, there has been a corresponding increase in age-related noncommunicable diseases, particularly in the high-income Gulf States. In addition to demographic factors, rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles in the region have resulted in a dual burden of disease: NCDs and injuries (often associated with more developed countries) are increasing and, at the same time, infectious diseases (often associated with less developed countries) remain high. Lifestyle changes related to increased income and development such as smoking and decreased levels of physical activity, together with growing environmental risks like air pollution, have led to an increase in noncommunicable diseases. The health situation in the MENA region is diverse and changing and therefore requires interventions that meet the unique needs of the region. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: MIDDLE EAST | AFRICA, NORTHERN | SUMMARY REPORT | INTERVENTIONS | PUBLIC HEALTH | CAUSES OF DEATH | CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS | ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES | PREVENTION AND CONTROL | Africa | Developing Countries | Programs | Organization and Administration | Health | Mortality | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Physiology | Biology | Diseases Document Number: 311389 |
| 5. Title: Reforming family laws to promote progress in the Middle East and North Africa. [Réformer le droit régissant les familles afin de promouvoir le progrès au Moyen-Orient et en Afrique du Nord] Author: Moghadam VM; Roudi-Fahimi F Source: Washington, D.C., Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2005. [8] p. (MENA Policy Briefs) Abstract: The issue of women’s rights is gaining prominence in policy debates, as pressure for democracy in the Middle East and North Africa region (MEAN) continues to grow. Area experts contend that a larger role for women in the economy and society is vital to the region’s progress. But women in MEAN still face gender discrimination that prevents them from reaching their potential, despite their impressive gains in education and health. To varying degrees across MEAN countries, discrimination against women is built into the culture, government policies, and legal frameworks. In particular, the region’s family laws codify discrimination against women and girls, placing them in a subordinate position to men within the family— a position then replicated in the economy and society. This brief highlights recent trends in women’s activism and family law reform in the MEAN region, with a spotlight on Morocco, which recently adopted an entirely new family law. The new Moroccan law is consistent with the spirit of Islam, yet based on equal rights for both men and women. That a feminist campaign succeeded in altering family law in a MEAN country where laws are based on the Sharia, or Islamic law, shows how effective coalitions can be built in MEAN countries by linking social and economic development to women’s rights. (excerpt) French Abstract: Alors que s’exerce une pression dans le sens de la démocratie dans la région MENA (Moyen-Orient et Afrique du Nord), la question des droits des femmes occupe une place de plus en plus importante dans les débats sur l’orientation des politiques. Les experts qui étudient cette partie du monde affirment qu’il est vital pour le progrès de la région que les femmes jouent un rôle plus important dans la société et au niveau de l’économie. Toutefois, malgré des acquis considérables dans les domaines de l'éducation et de la santé, les femmes de la région MENA continuent de subir une discrimination fondée sur le sexe qui les empêche de réaliser leur potentiel. Bien qu’existant à des degrés divers dans tous les pays de la région MENA, la discrimination à l’encontre des femmes est inscrite dans la culture, dans les politiques gouvernementales et dans les systèmes juridiques. Cela est particulièrement vrai en ce qui concerne les lois familiales qui codifient la discrimination contre les femmes et les jeunes filles en leur assignant une place subordonnée aux hommes dans le cadre de la famille, statut qui est reproduit dans l’économie et dans la société. Ce résumé met l’accent sur les tendances récentes en matière de militantisme féminin et de réforme du droit familial dans la région MENA, en examinant notamment la situation au Maroc où a été récemment adoptée une toute nouvelle législation sur le droit de la famille. Bien que la nouvelle législation marocaine soit conforme à l’esprit de l’Islam, elle est néanmoins basée sur l’égalité des droits des hommes et des femmes. Le fait qu’une campagne féministe soit parvenue à modifier la législation dans un pays de la région MENA, où les lois sont basées sur la Charia ou loi islamique, montre bien que des coalitions efficaces peuvent être créées dans les pays de la région en liant le développement économique et social aux droits des femmes. (extrait) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | MIDDLE EAST | MOROCCO | PROGRESS REPORT | EVALUATION | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | FAMILY POLICY | LEGISLATION | WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT | SEX DISCRIMINATION | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | HUMAN RIGHTS | POLITICAL FACTORS | TREATIES | Developing Countries | Africa | Economic Factors | Social Policy | Policy | Sociocultural Factors | Women's Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Social Discrimination | Social Problems Document Number: 300739 |
| 6. Title: Investing in reproductive health to achieve development goals: the Middle East and North Africa. Author: Roudi-Fahimi F; Ashford L Source: Washington, D.C., Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2005. [8] p. (MENA Policy Briefs) Abstract: Development experts increasingly see family planning and other reproductive health care as vital for improving well-being and achieving other social and development goals. The use of modern contraceptives, for example, helps couples avoid unintended pregnancies and protects both mothers’ and children’s health. Other reproductive health care helps women have healthy pregnancies and helps protect women and men against sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. The linkages between reproductive health and development are particularly important in the Middle East and North Africa (MEAN), where progress toward development goals is uneven. Investing in reproductive health, however, rarely ranks high on the list of national priorities, which usually emphasize creating jobs and raising incomes. This lack of attention is counterproductive. Prioritizing women’s reproductive health at a national level would help accelerate progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)—a global development framework adopted by the United Nations (UN) for improving people’s lives and combating poverty. This policy brief examines how countries in the MEAN region are progressing toward achieving the MDGs and highlights how these countries could benefit from greater attention to reproductive health. The region is moving in the right direction on most MDG indicators, but priority attention is needed to increase gender equality, expand quality health services, and address freshwater scarcity. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: MIDDLE EAST | AFRICA, NORTHERN | PROGRESS REPORT | POPULATION STATISTICS | DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS | LOW INCOME POPULATION | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | DEVELOPMENT POLICY | GOALS | FAMILY PLANNING POLICY | UN | Developing Countries | Africa | Research Methodology | Social Class | Socioeconomic Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Economic Factors | Economic Development | Health | Policy | Political Factors | Sociocultural Factors | Planning | Organization and Administration | Family Planning | Population Policy | Social Policy | International Agencies | Organizations Document Number: 300738 |
| 7. Title: The human rights of Middle Eastern and Muslim women: a project for the 21st century. Author: Afary J Source: Human Rights Quarterly. 2004;26:106-125. Abstract: This article first explores the state of human rights of Middle Eastern/ Muslim Women in a selection of North African, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern countries. It then contrasts this present state of oppression with the emerging legal reforms and attempts made by a new generation of women’s rights activists. These activists are building new institutions in their homelands despite numerous obstacles and great personal and political risk, creating the need for a new dialogue and approach to human rights in the Middle East. (author's) Language: English Keywords: MIDDLE EAST | AFRICA, NORTHERN | ASIA, SOUTHERN | NIGERIA | TURKEY | CRITIQUE | WOMEN | HUMAN RIGHTS | SEX DISCRIMINATION | RELIGIOUS ASPECTS | ISLAM | FEMINISM | Africa | Developing Countries | Asia | Africa, Western | Africa, Sub Saharan | Europe, Southeastern | Europe | Demographic Factors | Population | Social Discrimination | Social Problems | Religion Document Number: 274414 |
| 8. Peer Reviewed Title: Sexual and bodily rights as human rights in the Middle East and North Africa. Author: Amado LE Source: Reproductive Health Matters. 2004 May;12(23):125-128. Abstract: A regional workshop on sexual and bodily rights as human rights in the Middle East and North Africa was held in Malta in 2003, attended by 22 NGO representatives from Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, Pakistan and USA. The meeting aimed to develop strategies for overcoming human rights violations in the region with reference to law and social and political practices. Session topics included sexuality and gender identity; sexuality and sexual health; sexuality and comparative penal law; sexual rights in international documents; advocacy and lobbying. Sexual rights, sexual health and education, sexual violence and adolescent sexuality were explored in depth, including taboos and emerging trends. Specific areas of concern included marital rape, early marriages, temporary marriages, sexual orientation, premarital and extramarital sexuality, honour crimes, female genital mutilation, unmarried mothers, adolescent sexuality, unwanted pregnancies and safe abortion, sexuality in education and health services. An analysis of civil codes, penal codes and personal status codes indicated a clear imperative for legal reform. Participants heard about efforts to promote the right to sexual orientation which have already been initiated in Lebanon, Turkey and Tunisia. Networking within the region and with counterparts in other regions in comparable situations and conditions was deemed essential. (author's) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | CONFERENCES AND CONGRESSES | HUMAN RIGHTS | SEXUALITY | GENDER ISSUES | TABOO | LEGISLATION | VIOLENCE | Developing Countries | Africa | Personality | Psychological Factors | Behavior | Culture Document Number: 194701 |
| 9. Title: Socio-economic development, population policies, and fertility decline in Muslim countries. Author: Karim MS Source: Pakistan Development Review. 2004 Winter;43(4 Pt 2):773-789. Abstract: As societies transform from a predominantly traditional to a predominantly modern system, they tend to experience considerable demographic changes. Coale (1984) notes that this "transformation is the substitution of slow growth achieved with low fertility and mortality for slow growth maintained with relatively high fertility and mortality rates". Demographic transition in Muslim countries is a fairly late phenomenon as discussed in the next section. Most of these countries have followed a similar trend as by many other developing countries. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: ASIA, SOUTHERN | AFRICA, NORTHERN | MIDDLE EAST | RESEARCH REPORT | DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS | ISLAM | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | POPULATION POLICY | SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS | FERTILITY DECLINE | DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION | URBANIZATION | Asia | Developing Countries | Africa | Research Methodology | Religion | Sociocultural Factors | Economic Factors | Social Policy | Policy | Political Factors | Fertility Changes | Fertility | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Urban Population Distribution | Population Distribution | Geographic Factors Document Number: 293802 |
| 10. Title: Progress toward the Millennium Development Goals in the Middle East and North Africa. Author: Roudi-Fahimi F Source: Washington, D.C., Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2004. [4] p. Abstract: The Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) has made significant strides over the past few decades in improving the health, education, and standard of living of its people. But countries in the region face a number of challenges to development, including wide social and economic gaps between rich and poor, rapid population growth, high youth unemployment, and persistent gender discrimination. MENA governments were among the 189 countries that attended the 2000 United Nations Millennium Summit, where leaders from around the world adopted the Millennium Declaration and made a commitment to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination against women. They also committed to creating a new global partnership for development that would include actions by developed countries to reduce debt and increase aid, trade, and technology transfer to developing countries. The Millennium Declaration provides concrete goals and quantifiable targets designed to help countries track their progress. Each country is encouraged to set its strategies and develop its national plans to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) according to its own economic and social circumstances. This publication provides information for 19 MENA countries and territories. The indicators presented here are among the Millennium Development Indicators chosen by the international community to monitor progress toward meeting the MDGs. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | MIDDLE EAST | PROGRESS REPORT | LOW INCOME POPULATION | YOUTH | WOMEN | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | INEQUALITIES | POVERTY | POPULATION GROWTH | UNEMPLOYMENT | GENDER ISSUES | Developing Countries | Africa | Social Class | Socioeconomic Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Economic Factors | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Population Dynamics | Employment | Macroeconomic Factors Document Number: 275341 |
| 11. Title: A demographic paradox: causes and consequences of female genital cutting in Northeastern Africa. Author: Yount KM; Balk DL Source: Advances in Gender Research. 2004;8:199-249. Abstract: Ritual female genital practices, widespread throughout Africa, are essential to gender identification and often are a pre-requisite for marriage. More severe forms of the practice, which are common in parts of Northeastern Africa, are also believed to enhance a woman's childbearing capacity. Here, we critically review the gender- and class-based theories that explain the origins and persistence of female genital practices and the factors that precipitate social change. We also critically review evidence of the association of certain forms of the practice with various health, demographic, and social consequences. Our review exposes several methodological limitations of existing research that preclude population-based inferences about the medical and social implications of these practices and suggest that existing policies targeting such practices draw more on concerns over human rights than on scientific evidence about their sequelae. This review nevertheless exposes a potential contradiction between local justifications for and consequences of certain forms of the practice. Namely, despite an intended function of female genital practices to enhance a woman's marital capital, certain forms may ironically lead to marital instability and dissolution through their negative effects on the health and reproductive capacity of women. We conclude with recommendations for research to examine the salience and implications of this potential paradox for women in Northeastern Africa. (author's) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, EASTERN | AFRICA, NORTHERN | CRITIQUE | FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING | CULTURE | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | INFERTILITY | INFECTIONS | PATRIARCHY | FEMINISM | HUMAN RIGHTS | VIRGINITY | Developing Countries | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Harmful Traditional Practices | Traditional Health Practices | Sociocultural Factors | Health | Reproduction | Diseases | Family Characteristics | Family and Household | Political Factors | Sex Behavior | Behavior Document Number: 298343 |
| 12. Title: Access to HIV prevention: closing the gap. Author: Global HIV Prevention Working Group Source: [Seattle, Washington], Global HIV Prevention Working Group, 2003 May. [4], 42 p. Abstract: Globally, fewer than one in five people have access to basic HIV prevention programs — the information and services that can help save lives and reverse the AIDS epidemic. But according to a research team led by UNAIDS and WHO, two-thirds of the 45 million new HIV infections that are projected to occur between now and 2010 could be averted, if proven prevention strategies, used in combination, are dramatically scaled up. A Burgeoning Epidemic: More than 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV — far more than epidemiologists predicted a decade ago — and the epidemic shows few signs of slowing. In sub-Saharan Africa — where one in three adults is living with HIV/AIDS in some countries — infection rates continue to rise beyond levels previously thought possible. China and India stand on the brink of widespread epidemics, as HIV spreads from groups at higher risk to the broader population. In the former Soviet Union, widespread injection drug use, earlier initiation of sexual activity among young people, and uncontrolled epidemics of sexually transmitted diseases are contributing to a swift increase in HIV infection rates. Combination Prevention Can Reverse Spread of HIV: Despite these disturbing signs, a massive expansion of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is not inevitable. The reversal of the AIDS epidemic can happen if proven prevention interventions are used in combination and brought to scale. As this report documents, there is no single solution— no magic bullet—to prevent the spread of HIV. Instead, interventions must be used in combination to target the many diverse populations affected by HIV, and the various routes of HIV transmission. Combination prevention uses a range of science-based strategies, from encouraging delayed sexual activity to condom promotion, from voluntary HIV counseling and testing to programs for injecting drug users. (See box, “Achieving Maximum Impact through Combination Prevention.”) Coordinating Prevention, Treatment and Care Prevention: Interventions will be even more potent if they are closely coordinated with treatment, care and support programs. Seizing the emerging opportunity to craft for the first time an integrated response to HIV/AIDS will require the rapid, coordinated and simultaneous scale-up prevention, care and treatment programs. Opportunities to forge a comprehensive approach to HIV/AIDS will likely become more numerous, as a result sharp declines in drug prices and increased donor support for treatment initiatives. As experience in industrialized countries has shown, however, failure to combine prevention with enhanced treatment access may actually lead to an increase in risk behavior and thereby make it more difficult to curb the spread of the virus. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, SUB SAHARAN | ASIA | EUROPE, EASTERN | CARIBBEAN | LATIN AMERICA | AFRICA, NORTHERN | OCEANIA | RECOMMENDATIONS | YOUTH | ADULTS | SEX WORKERS | WOMEN | LABOR FORCE | MEN | MIGRANT WORKERS | HIV PREVENTION | TREATMENT | RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT | INTERVENTIONS | PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY | Africa | Developing Countries | Europe | Americas | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Sex Behavior | Behavior | Human Resources | Economic Factors | HIV Infections | Viral Diseases | Diseases | Technology | Programs | Organization and Administration | Program Evaluation Document Number: 181380 |
| 13. Peer Reviewed Title: With her feet on the ground: women, religion and development in Muslim communities. Author: Balchin C Source: Development. 2003 Dec;46(4):39-49. Abstract: There has been a resurgence of donor interest in women and religion, conceptualizing religion alternately as a developmental obstacle, primary developmental issue and developmental solution. Both donors and recipient organizations need to interrogate the discourses underlying this focus and to examine their potentially harmful long-term impact on women's struggles in contexts where identity politics are a key factor in determining women's options. Cassandra Balchin relates the experience of the international solidarity network Women Living Under Muslim Laws. She argues against reinforcing Orientalist othering of women in Muslim contexts and efforts by extreme right politico-religious groups to monopolize definitions of women's role in society, while diverting attention away from the realities of women's struggles in Muslim contexts, secular alternatives and the community, national and international power structures that constrain women's development. (author's) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | CRITIQUE | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | FOREIGN AID | ISLAM | RELIGION | WOMEN'S STATUS | POLITICAL FACTORS | CULTURE | FEMINISM | DEVELOPMENT POLICY | Developing Countries | Africa | Economic Development | Economic Factors | Financial Activities | Socioeconomic Factors | Policy Document Number: 186370 |
| 14. Title: Voluntary associations of migrants and politics: the case of North African immigrants in France. Author: Hamidi C Source: Immigrants and Minorities. 2003 Jul-Nov;22(2-3):317-332. Abstract: Voluntary associations have long been held in distrust in France, but things have changed recently. Associations are now said to develop tolerance, civic and democratic virtues, political sophistication and so on. Nevertheless, few studies focus on the interactions that actually take place in the associational context in order to demonstrate these relations. In this essay we focus on voluntary associations of migrants and we ask whether they are schools of democracy and places of politicization. We then study individual careers in order to identify the consequences of such a context for individuals. We work on three voluntary associations of young people mainly from North Africa, dealing with social action and leisure. (author's) Language: English Keywords: FRANCE | AFRICA, NORTHERN | RESEARCH REPORT | CASE STUDIES | IMMIGRANTS | YOUTH | GROUPS | POLITICAL FACTORS | ACCULTURATION | SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS | Europe, Western | Europe | Developed Countries | Africa | Developing Countries | Studies | Research Methodology | Migrants | Migration | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Organizations | Sociocultural Factors | Social Change | Economic Factors Document Number: 299104 |
| 15. Title: The effects of fiscal policies on the economic development of women in the Middle East and North Africa. Author: Laframboise N; Trumbic T Source: Washington, D.C., International Monetary Fund, 2003 Dec. 31 p. (IMF Working Paper WP/03/244) Abstract: Statistics indicate that the economic and social development of women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) compares unfavorably with most regions in the world. This paper assesses the influence of governmental expenditure and taxation policies on the economic and social welfare of women in the region. On the expenditure side, we test the explanatory power of public social spending in the determination of key female social indicators. We find that the relatively weak social outcomes for MENA women are not explained by the amount of government social spending, suggesting the answer lies in the efficiency and reach of present spending. With respect to taxation, the main issues in the literature on gender bias in taxation are highlighted and applied in a general manner to the MENA context. Some simple policy recommendations are suggested. (author's) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | ASIA, SOUTHWESTERN | RESEARCH REPORT | COMPARATIVE STUDIES | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | ECONOMIC POLICY | EXPENDITURES | TAXATION | INEQUALITIES | SEX DISCRIMINATION | SOCIAL WELFARE | EDUCATIONAL STATUS | WOMEN'S HEALTH | Africa | Developing Countries | Asia | Studies | Research Methodology | Economic Development | Economic Factors | Policy | Financial Activities | Socioeconomic Factors | Social Discrimination | Social Problems | Socioeconomic Status | Health Document Number: 287307 |
| 16. Title: Food security, poverty, and economic policy in the Middle East and North Africa. Author: Lofgren H; Richards A Source: In: Food, agriculture, and economic policy in the Middle East and North Africa, edited by Hans Lofgren. Oxford, England, Elsevier Science, JAI, 2003. :1-31. (Research in Middle East Economics Vol. 5) Abstract: In MENA, household food insecurity, which is closely related to poverty and undernourishment, is most severe in rural areas and concentrated within Iraq, Sudan, and Yemen. Twenty-five percent of the MENA population may be poor and 7% undernourished. The key to increased national and household-level food security is pro-poor growth, driven by export-oriented, labor-intensive sectors. Agricultural sector policies should be subordinate to the pro-poor growth goal and not to the goal of food self-sufficiency. Such a strategy requires conflict resolution; macroeconomic stability; physical and human capital accumulation; reliance on markets and the private sector, and diffusion of ecologically friendly farming practices. (author's) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | CRITIQUE | EVALUATION | HOUSEHOLDS | DEVELOPMENT POLICY | FOOD SUPPLY | POVERTY | MALNUTRITION | MACROECONOMIC FACTORS | HUMAN CAPITAL | PRIVATE SECTOR | ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION | AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT | Developing Countries | Africa | Family and Household | Policy | Natural Resources | Environment | Socioeconomic Factors | Economic Factors | Nutrition Disorders | Diseases | Human Resources | Rural Development Document Number: 284198 |
| 17. Peer Reviewed Title: Public and private sector responses to essential drugs policies: a multilevel analysis of drug prescription and selling practices in Mali. Author: Maiga FI; Haddad S; Fournier P; Gauvin L Source: Social Science and Medicine. 2003 Sep;57(5):937-948. Abstract: Many African countries have introduced cost recovery mechanisms based on the sale of drugs and measures aimed at improving drug supply. This study compares prescribing and selling practices in Mali, in 3 cities where the public sector contributes differentially to the supply of drugs on the market. Multilevel models are used to analyse the content and cost of 700 medication transactions observed in 14 private and public legal points of sale. Results show that the objective of improving access to drugs seems to have been achieved in the sites studied. Costs of prescriptions were lower where public health services had been revitalized. Affordable generic drugs were accessible and widely used, even in the private sector. However, measures intended to rationalize the prescription and delivery of drugs did not always have the desired effect. While agents in the public sector tended to prescribe fewer antibiotics, injectables, or brand-name drugs, the data confirm the virtual absence of advice concerning the use or the side effects of the drugs in both public and private sectors. In addition, data supported the notion that the public and private sectors are closely intertwined. Notably, availability of drugs in the public sector contributed to diminishing the prices charged in the private sector. Similarly, the use that agents in the public sector made of the opportunities afforded by the presence of the private pharmaceutical sector provided another illustration of interrelatedness. Finally, the data showed that the presence of a private sector, which has not been affected by measures aimed at rationalizing prescription and sales practices, limits the effects of measures implemented in the public sector. More assertive policies, based on strategies encompassing actors in the private sector, are needed to increase the safety and effectiveness of prescription and sales practices. (author's) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | RESEARCH REPORT | SURVEYS | ADULTS | DRUGS | HEALTH POLICY | NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES | UTILIZATION OF HEALTH CARE | PRESCRIPTIONS | DISTRIBUTIONAL ACTIVITIES | Developing Countries | Africa | Sampling Studies | Studies | Research Methodology | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Treatment | Policy | Health Services | Delivery of Health Care | Health | Program Activities | Programs | Organization and Administration Document Number: 181806 |
| 18. Title: Empowering women, developing society: female education in the Middle East and North Africa. Author: Roudi-Fahimi F; Moghadam VM Source: Washington, D.C., Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2003 Oct. [8] p. Abstract: Education is a key part of strategies to improve individuals’ well-being and societies’ economic and social development. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA),* access to education has improved dramatically over the past few decades, and there have been a number of encouraging trends in girls’ and women’s education (see Figure 1). Primary school enrollment is high or universal in most MENA countries, and gender gaps in secondary school enrollment have already disappeared in several countries. Women in MENA countries are also more likely to enroll in universities than they were in the past. But great challenges remain. Many people— especially girls—are still excluded from education, and many more are enrolled in school but learning too little to prepare them for 21st-century job markets. In some countries, access to the secondary and higher education that helps create a skilled and knowledgeable labor force continues to be limited; even where access is not a problem, the quality of the education provided is often low. “The most worrying aspect of the crisis in education is education’s inability to provide the requirements for the development of Arab societies,” according to the 2002 Arab Human Development Report. This policy brief offers an overview of education’s benefits to women, families, economies, and societies and highlights the ongoing concerns about education in MENA countries. It also looks at education’s links with fertility and employment, two important elements in women’s empowerment. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | CRITIQUE | RECOMMENDATIONS | EVALUATION | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT | EDUCATION | DEVELOPMENT POLICY | GOALS | CULTURE | EMPLOYMENT | SEX DISCRIMINATION | REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | Developing Countries | Africa | Economic Development | Economic Factors | Women's Status | Socioeconomic Factors | Policy | Planning | Organization and Administration | Macroeconomic Factors | Social Discrimination | Social Problems | Human Rights Document Number: 191067 |
| 19. Title: Women's reproductive health in the Middle East and North Africa. Author: Roudi-Fahimi F Source: Washington, D.C., Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2003 Feb. [8] p. Abstract: This brief describes the key medical and demographic aspects of reproductive health in the Middle East and North Africa region for which data are readily available. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | LITERATURE REVIEW | DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS | MATERNAL MORTALITY | FERTILITY | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | WOMEN | REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | MORBIDITY | MATERNAL HEALTH SERVICES | REPRODUCTIVE TRACT INFECTIONS | SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES | FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMS | Developing Countries | Africa | Population | Mortality | Population Dynamics | Health | Human Rights | Diseases | Maternal-Child Health Services | Primary Health Care | Health Services | Delivery of Health Care | Infections | Family Planning | Programs | Organization and Administration Document Number: 175895 |
| 20. Peer Reviewed Title: Culture, infertility and gender -- vignettes from South Asia and North Africa. Author: Bharadwaj A Source: Sexual Health Exchange. 2002;(2):14-15. Abstract: Infertility is a global phenomenon. An estimated one in ten couples around the world has difficulty conceiving at some point in their reproductive lives. Although a growing body of social science and biomedical evidence suggests that nearly 40-50% of infertility is attributable to problems suffered by men, women bear the brunt of the blame for infertility problems. As a result, women may face guilt, anxiety, exposure to dangerous medical and ethnomedical interventions, social ostracism, stigma and the threat to divorce or abandonment. Anthropological research in India and ongoing observations in Morocco highlight some of the complexities underpinning infertility and its impact on the lives of women and men in these two countries. (author's) Language: English Keywords: CULTURE | GENDER ISSUES | INFERTILITY | AFRICA, NORTHERN | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | ASIA, SOUTHERN | Reproduction | Developing Countries | Africa | Health | Asia Document Number: 170447 |
| 21. Title: Child marriage and child prostitution: two forms of sexual exploitation. Author: Mikhail SL Source: Gender and Development. 2002 Mar;10(1):43-9. Abstract: This article highlights some of the similarities between child marriages and child prostitution. Both child marriage and prostitution involve economic transactions, lack of freedom, and the violation of a child's right to consent. This is often exacerbated by social and economic vulnerabilities of children linked to limited life options. In order to capture much of the ongoing discussion and debate taking place in North Africa and the Middle East, this article draws on anecdotal evidence, limited research samples, communication with local actors, and the author's own personal experiences in the region. It also discusses some initiatives undertaken by a range of institutions with the aim of preventing these practices. (author's) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | CHILD, FEMALE | CHILD MARRIAGE | SEX WORKERS | SEXUAL TRAFFICKING | SEXUAL ABUSE | Developing Countries | Africa | Child | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Marriage Patterns | Marriage | Nuptiality | Sex Behavior | Behavior | Crime | Social Problems Document Number: 168003 |
| 22. Title: Finding the balance: population and water scarcity in the Middle East and North Africa. Author: Roudi-Fahimi F; Creel L; De Souza RM Source: Washington, D.C., Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2002 Jul. [8] p. Abstract: The challenge of addressing freshwater shortages in Middle East and North Africa is exacerbated by the region's ongoing population pressures. Tapping new sources of water to meet the increased demand for fresh water would relieve some of the region's shortages, but as new sources of water become more expensive, they become less accessible to low-income countries, given those nations' limited financial and technical opportunities. At the same time, these low-income countries are often experiencing the fastest population growth in the region. Regional cooperation and political, legal, and institutional support are critical for enabling countries to address their freshwater shortages. Sound government policies regarding water allocation, distribution, and use can help countries to adopt better strategies to manage their scarce freshwater resources. Conservation is important in balancing the region's freshwater shortages and increased demand. Slower population growth would provide time for better water conservation and management strategies to be developed and would allow freshwater resources to be used more efficiently. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: MIDDLE EAST | AFRICA, NORTHERN | LITERATURE REVIEW | POPULATION | WATER SUPPLY | POPULATION PRESSURE | RESOURCE ALLOCATION | ECONOMIC FACTORS | Developing Countries | Africa | Natural Resources | Environment | Carrying Capacity | Financial Activities Document Number: 172245 |
| 23. Title: Fertility levels, trends, and differentials 1995-1999. [Niveles de fertilidad, tendencies y diferenciales, 1995-1999] Author: Rutstein SO Source: Calverton, Maryland, ORC Macro, MEASURE DHS+, 2002 Dec. vii, 68 p. (DHS Comparative Reports No. 3) Abstract: Many studies indicate that the effects of socioeconomic and cultural factors on fertility vary from one region to another. Moreover, the existence of substantial variations in fertility behavior across socioeconomic categories-place of residence, level of education, and occupation-is a pervasive finding of social demography. A pervasive decline in fertility in less developed countries is occurring in all regions of the world. This decline is a result of decreasing desire for large families due to improved infant and child mortality, increasing modernization, and the increased ease of controlling fertility. Confirming the scenario of fertility decline by Rutstein. The economic crises of the 1980s have spurred changes in fertility even in the most resistant region, sub-Saharan Africa. Declines in fertility have lead to reduced gender inequality and greater female empowerment. The objectives of this study are to examine country fertility levels, assess fertility trends, and analyze socioeconomic differentials in fertility in developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Near East and North Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The study provides an update to previous comparative studies on fertility based on data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). The report includes data from 43 countries in which DHS surveys were conducted between 1995 and 1999 in the third and fourth phases of the DHS program. Several measures of fertility are presented according to women’s residence, migration status, level of education, current work status, and husband’s education and occupation. The report examines trends in fertility for all 43 countries, using birth history data. In addition, for the 22 countries for which data are available from at least two DHS surveys, the study examines fertility trends. The study also examines age at first birth, parity progression ratios, and information on the length of birth intervals to evaluate changes in the onset of reproduction, spacing of births, and termination of childbearing. Finally, the study uses the Bongaarts proximate determinants framework to assess the levels of fertility inhibition due to later marriage and cohabitation, lactational amenorrhea and postpartum abstinence, and contraception. (excerpt) Spanish Abstract: Muchos estudios indican que los efectos de los factores socioeconómicos y culturales sobre la fertilidad varían de una región a otra. Asimismo, la existencia de variaciones sustanciales en la conducta relacionada con la fertilidad entre las diferentes categorías socioeconómicas (lugar de residencia, nivel de educación y ocupación) es un hallazgo dominante de la demografía social. En todas las regiones del mundo se observa una marcada reducción de la fertilidad en los países menos desarrollados. Esta reducción es el resultado de una disminución en el deseo de tener una familia numerosa debido a la mejora en la mortalidad neonatal e infantil, la mayor modernización y la mayor facilidad de control de la fertilidad. Esta tendencia confirma el escenario de descenso en las tasas fertilidad de Rutstein. Las crisis económicas de la década del 80 han impulsado los cambios en fertilidad incluso en la región que ha mostrado mayor resistencia, el África subsahariana. La disminución de la fertilidad ha provocado la reducción de la desigualdad entre géneros y un aumento del empoderamiento de las mujeres. Este estudio se propone examinar los niveles de fertilidad de los países, evaluar las tendencias de fertilidad y analizar los diferenciales socioeconómicos de fertilidad en los países en vías de desarrollo de África subsahariana, Asia, Cercano Oriente y Norte de África y América Latina y el Caribe. El trabajo actualiza los estudios comparativos previos sobre la fertilidad en función de los datos de las Encuestas de Demografía y Salud (EDS). El informe incluye datos de 43 países en los que se realizaron las encuestas EDS entre 1995 y 1999 en la tercera y cuarta fases del programa EDS. Se presentan diversas medidas de fertilidad de acuerdo con la residencia de las mujeres, condición de migración, nivel de educación, condición laboral actual y la educación y ocupación del cónyuge. El informe evalúa las tendencies en fertilidad para los 43 países, mediante datos históricos de nacimientos. Además, el estudio analiza las tendencias en fertilidad para los 22 países con datos disponibles de al menos dos encuestas EDS. EL estudio también analiza la edad al primer parto, coeficientes de progresión de la paridad e información sobre la duración de los intervalos entre partos para evaluar los cambios en el inicio de la reproducción, intervalos entre nacimientos y la esterilización Por último, el estudio utiliza el modelo de determinantes próximos de Bongaarts para analizar los niveles de inhibición de fertilidad debido a matrimonios o convivencias tardías, amenorrea de la lactancia y abstinencia post parto, y anticoncepción. (extracto) Language: English Keywords: LATIN AMERICA | CARIBBEAN | ASIA | AFRICA, NORTHERN | DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEYS | FERTILITY DECLINE | FERTILITY CHANGES | FERTILITY RATE | FERTILITY DETERMINANTS | DIFFERENTIAL FERTILITY | SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS | WOMEN | SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS | Developing Countries | Americas | Africa | Demographic Surveys | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Fertility | Birth Rate | Fertility Measurements | Economic Factors Document Number: 189231 |
| 24. Title: Report: HIV infections rise most rapidly in Eastern Europe. [Informe: las infecciones por VIH aumentan con suma rapidez en Europa oriental] Source: AIDS Policy and Law. 2001 Dec 21;16(22):3. Abstract: This article presents regional findings of the AIDS Epidemic Update, 2001 a report of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS and WHO, that reports that HIV is spreading rapidly throughout the entire eastern Europe region. Spanish Abstract: Este artículo presenta datos regionales de la Actualización Epidémica del SIDA, 2001 un informe de el Programa Conjunto de Naciones Unidas sobre VIH y SIDA (ONUSIDA) y la OMS, que declara que el VIH se está diseminando rápidamente por toda la región de Europa oriental. Language: English Keywords: EUROPE, EASTERN | AFRICA, SUB SAHARAN | ASIA | OCEANIA | AFRICA, NORTHERN | LATIN AMERICA | CARIBBEAN | AIDS | HIV INFECTIONS | IV DRUG USERS | EPIDEMICS | Developing Countries | Europe | Africa | Americas | Viral Diseases | Diseases | Drug Use and Abuse | Behavior Document Number: 172156 |
| 25. Title: Are population pressures creating a fertile ground for conflict in the Middle East? Author: Collymore Y Source: [Washington, D.C.], Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2001 Oct. 2 p. Abstract: This brief paper notes that growing populations and high unemployment, particularly among educated young men, are gaining attention in the Arab world. The World Bank describes the region as economically diverse--with both oil-rich and non-oil economies--with wide gaps between the rich and the poor, and high unemployment rates. Business Week noted that the failure of key Middle Eastern states to benefit from globalization has created a more fertile ground in which extreme ideas can grow. The World Labor Report 2000 of the International Labor Organization lists total unemployment as a percentage of the labor force for countries around the world. While male unemployment was 26% in Algeria, for example, the figure was 2.9% for the high-performing East Asian economies as a whole. Unemployment, fertility, and literacy statistics are presented for the region. Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | CRITIQUE | TABLES AND CHARTS | POPULATION GROWTH | UNEMPLOYMENT | SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS | Developing Countries | Africa | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Employment | Macroeconomic Factors | Economic Factors Document Number: 166521 |
| 26. Title: Fact sheet: Plasmodium vivax malaria. Author: Hooks C Source: [Seattle, Washington], Program for Appropriate Technology in Health [PATH], Malaria Vaccine Initiative, [2001]. [2] p. Abstract: Malaria is a devastating parasitic disease transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Endemic to tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, North and South America, the Middle East, North Africa, and the South Pacific, Plasmodium vivax is the most common of four human malaria species (P. falciparum, malariae, ovale, and vivax). P. vivax causes up to 65% of malaria in India and is becoming increasingly resistant to malaria drugs. By contrast, P. falciparum is the most deadly species and the subject of most malaria-related research and literature. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: ASIA | NORTH AMERICA | SOUTH AMERICA | AFRICA, NORTHERN | SUMMARY REPORT | MALARIA PREVENTION | CAUSES OF DEATH | DEATH RATE | SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS | VACCINES | COST EFFECTIVENESS | RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT | Developing Countries | Americas | Developed Countries | Latin America | Africa | Malaria | Parasitic Diseases | Diseases | Mortality | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Medical Procedures | Medicine | Health Services | Delivery of Health Care | Health | Evaluation Indexes | Quantitative Evaluation | Evaluation | Technology | Economic Factors Document Number: 305839 |
| 27. Title: AIDS and drug addiction a delicate subject. Author: Musso S Source: Peddro. 2001 Dec;:29-31. Abstract: Few data are available on addictive practices in the North African countries. Most of the material collected on this topic so far has not been published, apart from one study. Drug abuse seems to be increasing steadily, however, and the AIDS epidemic is sometimes more closely correlated with this habit than it may seem to be. Patterns of morbidity have changed conspicuously in the Maghreb societies during the last two decades. In addition to the persistent transmissible diseases (syphilis ravaged these countries at the beginning of the 20th. Century), diseases originally associated with the so-called "industrialised countries" have become increasingly frequent, due to poor hygiene and the wretched housing conditions generated by large-scale urban development (the French word for slums, "bidonville" was invented in Casablanca). (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | PROGRESS REPORT | EPIDEMIOLOGIC METHODS | IV DRUG USERS | NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS | SUBSTANCE ADDICTION | HIV INFECTIONS | PREVALENCE | PREVENTION AND CONTROL | HIV PREVENTION | NEEDLE CLEANING | SYRINGE | Developing Countries | Africa | Research Methodology | Drug Use and Abuse | Behavior | Organizations | Political Factors | Sociocultural Factors | Social Problems | Viral Diseases | Diseases | Measurement | Hygiene | Public Health | Health | Equipment and Supplies | Medical Procedures | Medicine | Health Services | Delivery of Health Care Document Number: 312415 |
| 28. Title: Population trends and challenges in the Middle East and North Africa. Author: Roudi F Source: Washington, D.C., Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2001. 8 p. Abstract: The people of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have long played an integral, if sometimes volatile, role in the history of human civilization. MENA is one of the cradles of civilization and of urban culture. Three of the world's major religions originated in the region-Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Universities existed in MENA long before they did in Europe. In modern times, MENA's politics, religion, and economics have been inextricably tied in ways that affect the globe. The region's vast petroleum supply-two-thirds of the world's known oil reserves-is a major reason for the world's interest. But the influence of MENA extends beyond its rich oil fields. It occupies a strategically important geographic position between Asia, Africa, and Europe. It has often been caught in a tug-of-war of land and influence that affects the entire world. Today, MENA's rapid population growth exacerbates the challenges that this region faces as it enters the third millennium. For hundreds of years, the population of MENA fluctuated around 30 million, reaching 60 million early in the 20th century. Only in the second half of 20th century did population growth in the region gain momentum. The total population increased from around 100 million in 1950 to around 380 million in 2000-an addition of 280 million people in 50 years. During this period the population of the MENA region increased 3.7 times, more than any other major world region. (excerpt) Language: English Keywords: AFRICA, NORTHERN | MIDDLE EAST | CRITIQUE | DATA ANALYSIS | POPULATION GROWTH | INFANT MORTALITY | FERTILITY RATE | DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS | Developing Countries | Africa | Research Methodology | Population Dynamics | Population | Mortality | Birth Rate | Fertility Measurements | Fertility Document Number: 178136 |
| 29. Title: Population trends and challenges in the Middle East and North Africa. Author: Roudi F Source: Washington, D.C., Population Reference Bureau [PRB], 2001. 8 p. Abstract: This paper presents population trends and challenges in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It notes that MENA is one of the cradles of civilization and of urban culture and has experienced the highest rate of population growth of any region in the world over the past century. Regardless of the level of economic development or national income, MENA governments are increasingly challenged to provide the basic needs for a growing number of citizens and to combat poverty, narrow the gap between rich and poor, and generally improve the standard of living. In addition, the region's scarce water resources need to be managed in the face of growing demand. A section in this paper briefly highlights how the international community is addressing population at a global level and what MENA's experience has been. Language: English Keywords: MIDDLE EAST | AFRICA, NORTHERN | POPULATION | POPULATION GROWTH | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS | SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS | RELIGION | Developing Countries | Africa | Population Dynamics | Health | Economic Factors Document Number: 170251 |
| 30. Title: [Industrial companies in Morocco: foreign capital and international integration through export] Entreprises industrielles au Maroc: capital étranger et insertion internationale par les exportations. Author: Fouguig B Source: In: L’économie marocaine: vers quelle insertion internationale?, [compiled by] Université Mohammed V, Rabat-Souissi. Faculté des Sciences Juridiques, Economiques et Sociales. Groupe de Recherche et d'Etude sur la Mondialisation et le Developpement [GREMED]. Rabat, Morocco, Revue Marocaine d'Administration Locale et de Développement, 2000. :113-134. (Thèmes Actuels No. 21) Abstract: The objective of this article is to show the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), represented by Moroccan companies with foreign capital present in the industrial sector, and exports of manufactured products. It notes that the distribution of the number of Foreign Capital Companies (FCC) investing in 1996 shows that Europe makes up 79% with France at the top, investing 38% in 495 companies and that the rest, or 21%, is divided among countries from the Middle East and North Africa. The orientation of these companies by industrial activity tends to concentrate in several consumer market industrial activities, classified in two broad categories of FCC taking up 90% of invested capital. This study of the relationship between the evolution in foreign invested capital and that in exports attempts to clarify the contribution of FCC to international integration via exports from industrial activities. It shows that the growth in this capital is accompanied by a rise in FCC exports. Furthermore, the author suggests that differences in industrial activities are explained by the influence of the growth of capital from exports which is strong in those activities with moderate penetration of foreign capital. According to the author, performance pertaining to the FCC exports has improved as a result of the relative progression in the number of exporting firms and the passage of segments of relatively low performance towards high performance segments, these trends present new opportunities in terms of exports and integration of the country into the world economy. French Abstract: Cet article a pour objet de montrer la relation entre les Investissements Directs Etrangers (IDE) représentés par les entreprises marocaines à capitaux étrangers implantées dans le secteur industriel et les exportations des produits manufacturés. Il signale que la distribution du nombre d’Entreprises à Capitaux Etrangers (ECE) investi en 1996 indique que l’Europe concentre 79% avec en tête la France qui s’approprie 38% dans 495 entreprises, et que le reste, soit 21% est partagé entre les pays du Moyen Orient et de l’Afrique du Nord. L’orientation de ces entreprises par activité industrielle montre une tendance à la concentration dans quelques activités industrielles de grande consommation classées en deux grandes catégories d’ECE accaparant 90% du capital investi. L’étude de la nature de la relation existante entre l’évolution du capital étranger investi et celle des exportations vise à clarifier la contribution des ECE à l’insertion internationale par les exportations des activités industrielles. Elle montre que la croissance de ce capital s’est accompagnée d’une hausse des exportations des ECE. Par ailleurs, l’auteur avance que des différences apparaissent au niveau des activités industrielles qui s’expliquent par l’influence de la croissance du capital sur les exportations qui est forte dans les activités moyennement pénétrées par le capital étranger. Selon l’auteur, la performance relative à l’exportation des ECE est améliorée par la progression relative du nombre de firmes exportatrices et par le passage des tranches de performance relatives inférieure vers les tranches supérieurs, ces tendances présentent des nouvelles opportunités en matière d’exportation et d’insertion du pays dans l’économie mondiale. Language: French Keywords: MOROCCO | EUROPE | FRANCE | AFRICA, NORTHERN | INDUSTRY | INVESTMENTS | INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION | CAPITAL | COMMERCE | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | Developing Countries | Africa | Developed Countries | Europe, Western | Macroeconomic Factors | Economic Factors | Financial Activities Document Number: 183004 |
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